Hello peeps!

just an update from the travelling macs! We are just about to depart the secret garden to venture off to our next destination, Riobambus a city in the highlands. Its part of our route down to Guayaquil for the galapagos!

There is a train ride called the devils nose that we want to try and do and by all accounts its not for the faint hearted well let you know!

The last few days here have been eventful. The first night we ate on the roof terrace and were entertained by an  Ecuadorian band whilst eating the most delicious shrimp stew with rice and salad yumm more like kingens than shrimps!

THe following day we took it easy inthe morning whilst writing a few cards! and then took a wander through the streets of Quito old town. We now have our bearing around the town and know where and maybe where not to go!!

We were warned that certain areas are not for us gringos and that there not. Mostly safe round here just being careful. I know.. ive learnt a new skill to be less than optimistic!

We negotiated our way to the post office..... the fact that we could ask the question but not understand the answer proved a little challenging however after asking the same question to 15 different people created us the opportunity to practise our spanish!!

we ate again at the hostel , this time chicken, the food is soo cheap but the quality is amazing .They use alot of organic food and 'erbs'.

Yesterday the challenge to reach the top of Volcan Pinchincha was almost too much. We headed off to the new 'Telerifiquo', a cable car to the base of the trek, half way up the volcano. This was at 4100m above sea level. Quito city is at 2800 approx. The trek began quite civilised and the altitude not a problem. We had met a girl at the hostel who had completed the trek in 4hr and she was said to be a keen athlete. She also mentioned that it was cold at the top and worth taking gloves and that somehow she onmly wore one she for part of it due to a sore foot! With that we assumed an average walk through although at times a little cooler and uneven perhaps

The experience we found on the other hand was quite something else. Now were quite keen in walking but we were certainly NOT prepared for the most physical challenge to date in my and marks shalli say life.

A week anniversary we shall never forget!!! THe weather set in and soon the mist at the top blinded our visibility. the vertical rock climbing was another world. Hard  was not the word i would have used...extreme fear factor style more like.

Any way we lived and bloody hell do we ache today Mark was sick after due to altitude and today i feel a bit rubbish!!

WE got to go now but we been to the equator this mornong and it rained!!! great though see pics soon lots of love to you all H andM