Well there`s been lots of fun and excitement since I arrived in Ecuador, the number one thing being that Ruthie has had a lovely baby boy and I am now an auntie anna! While my sister was at home puffing and panting for 48 hours wondering whether the little squiggler was ever going to make an appearance I was hopping back and forth from the northern to the southern hemisphere on the equatorial line... you know like you do!

Quito is a pretty nice city. There`s a fair amount to see. As well as visiting the equator... the false one and the correct one (a big tourist complex was built and a line drawn which was believed to be the equator and later discovered to be a few hundred metres away! The correct one is a low budget but fun museum where you can perform experiments like watching a sink of water draining on either side of the equator and seeing the swirls change direction) I`ve been up to vista points to get a good view of the city and it`s a lot bigger than i expected. I`ve been to a nice craft market, raced go carts, wandered around the old town, sampled chicken foot soup which comes with as a staple with the set lunches here... it`s all been very lovely.

The second most exciting thing after Ruth and her new arrival is that I`ve booked a last minute trip to the Galapagos Islands! I`m so dizzy with excitement and can`t believe I`m going. I got a really great deal but even so it`s way out of my budget. But I thought b***** it, it will be an experience of a lifetime and a beastie watching dream come true. So I leave on Sunday for 11 days. The cruise itself is actually 8 days but I decided to delay the flight back and hang out on one of the islands for a couple more days just hiking and passing the time with the sealions!

So signing off for a while. Will be back soon with tales of blue footed boobies! x