Hi Guys,

Thought I would update this as I have a free afternoon and I seem to have done quite a bit within a week.

Since I last spoke I am getting to grips with Quito and it doesnt seem as scary as I first thought it to be, I am finding my way around although I still seem to get lost alot! Even going to school everyday I seem to get lost on one road! Jill I can hear you laughing at my sence of direction and I hope it gets better soon.

School is going really well, but we do get bombarded with alot of information and it is quite mind numbing at times, plus we get alot of homework to do as well, just as well as spanish tv and mini Hitler aka Ana Maria my house mum can be quite something!

On Wednesday night we went to see Quitos football team play, Liga, who apparetenly play Manu in September, it was really funny to see the different stadiums, there are no seats just concrete blocks, and people have flares and can climb the fences! Also there were alot of police with dogs going around but we didnt see any trouble, plus it was soooooooo cheap. Ok it cost 0.25c to get the bus which is 12p, then $2 dollars for ticket and $4 for shirt so in all it cost me $6.50, 3 quid!!! And it was a really good night, I have put some pictures up.

On the thursday in spanish class I went to the old town with the teacher, which was really nice there is so much beautiful architect, and the town is classed as an UNESCO world heritage site. Didnt get a chance to explore it fully so I am going to go back.

On Friday after class, a few of us took a trip to a place called Mindo, which is a mellow town snuggled in the Andes, it is so beautiful and was only 2 hrs from Quito, getting the bus there was quite an adventure as they had sold a few seats three times so people were sitting and standing in the isle, the bus went up in the hills and wasnt too scary on the cliff edges, he was quite sensible. Mindo is known for its waterfalls, rivers and gorgeous premontanee cloud forest.

That night we got a hostel called La Casa de Cecillia, which was really nice, the rooms were part open to the forests and we had moscito nets over the beds, and hammocks to sleep in as well, it was all made from wood and was so tranquil compared to Quito it was great. That night we just go food which was also very cheap and cost me 1.50 for a drink and pizza.

The next day we went into the hills to go on the zip wires across the canopy, this was so much fun, it lasted about 2 hours and there were 13 in total the views were amazing! Then we zoomed across the treetops on a wire basket hooked to steel cables that cruises 152m high across a river basin and joins the trails to the waterfalls in which we went swimming. In the afternoon we went on a tour of a coffee plantation which is a tiny organic plantation with an excentric old man that likes to talk, it won the best coffe in ecuador! It was really good to see how they specify the bean, select it using water and the bean density and then roast it!

On the saturday night we had to switch hostels and stayed in private rooms with bathroom and pool for 6 quid plus breakfast. On the sunday we hired bikes and rode to an orchaid plantation and then went horse riding, which was fun when my horse decided to gallop when I was trying to take a photo and I nearly fell off and the guide had to come and get me.

We returned to quito in the afternoon and Spencer and I, my room mate, found an Indian restuarant which was nearly authentic but it was really nice to have some different food. Yes I still get soup and rice twice a day, I think my body is getting used to it as it is becoming more edible by the day!

Anyway of to do my spanish homework, oh and I have a ecuadorian phone too but need to figure it out so will send number soon.

Love to all

Ps Rich hope you get better soon and it doesnt ruin your holiday too much, thinking of you guys.