Arrived in Quito after an excellent flight with Galapagos airlines! Had to laugh at the sign as you walked off the plane: "High altitude, walk slow!" as the altitude is around 9895m!

Again I was meeted by a driver to take me to the hotel, who was very friendly and gave me lots of tops about Ecuador including also asking me about the royal wedding prep!!! On first impressions in Quito, the roads appeared to have much more order than Lima, with less horns but still lacking traffic lights! The police directing the traffic had their own police poncho´s as it obviously rains so much during wet season! THe scenery was so green and combined with the rain felt just like home, (minus the mountains and volcanos in the backdrop all around!)

That evening I wandered into the central part of the city, on my way I passed the National theatrewhere there were tons of ecuadorian people queing trying to get inside. From what I could see inside the place was filled with men wearing green robes staring back out at all the people (the theatre was circular), I think it was something to do with their holy week coming up to easter.

I ended up in a good old irish bar where I got bangers and mash and peacehs and ice cream and watched live music!! I figured once the tour started the next day I would then embrace the culture!

The next day I left the hotel at 8.30am with a 27year old Ecuadorian tour guide (through Gap) and headed approx 2hrs north of Quito to a topwn called Otavalo. His name was Daniel, (pronounced Danielle in Spanish) and he spoke amazing English. Apparently you have to go to university for 4yrs to study tourism in order to be a tour leader in Ecuador and also Peru! In his car we drove out of the city along the Panamerican highway (in the Andes), stopping at several points along the way to Otavalo, such as stunning viewpoints for rivers coming down the Andes, waterfalls, lagoons and volcanos. In the car Daniel taught me a lot about all the surroundings and its history. I learnt about the indigenous people and their farming (corn mostly, plus roses and leather and fruits), their dress, their religious traditions (e.g drinking a 12 corn soup on easter sunday). I also learnt about the non-indigenous people of Ecuador, that most are ·mixed· (ecuadorian and spanish descent,) about their education (law for all to attend school until 17yrs and both state and private schools plus several universities).

We stopped at Otavalo market for a couple of hours which was deceivingly large from first appearances! I attempted a few bits and bobs, local jewellery, a braid bracelet and a Llama made with Llama wool, soo soft! Bargaining was difficult, despite the tips Daniel´s tips! the market generally sold lots of Llama wool products, jewellery including stones and shell pieces and indigenous clothes and bags. Otavalo town itself was very colourful, the pavements were red, yellow and blue and hummingbird figures hung over the streetlights!!

For lunch Daniel took me to a typical Ecuadorian village where I had a traditional pork dish which came with boiled white corn, avocado (lots grown locally) and salad, it was delicious! For starter they give you a mixture of popcorn and dried boiled corn pieces, representing how much corn is grown locally!

On the way to visit one of the waterfalls on the drive back to Quito we had to drive over an old railway line, where I learnt my first Ecuadorian tradition!-You have to lift up your legs and make a wish as you go over a railway line! (driving or walking)

We stopped in another village on the way back to sample and buy some local biscuits which you could see being made in a large oven. The biscuits were made of eggs, flour and milk, so to me were flaky and a bit dry, probably why they sell jame and yogurt with them! we also stopped to grab a Chirimoya off a street sellar, which is like Guava, a larfe bobbly fruit!

Headed back to the hotel after a long day at 5.45 to meet my tour group for the next 16 days!

For first tous group dinenr we headed to an American restaurant in a very westernised main plaza in Quito (Plaza Forge), then back to the irish bar for get to know you drinks!

The next day (16/4/11) the group headed out to the middle of the earth (latitude 0,0,0)! We got a talk from a local tour guide on Amazonian people and animals and then went on to talk about physics-the differences of some forces being north, south and on the equator, with several demonstrations thrown in! such as water down the plug hole to demonstrate why hurricanes happen in the north and cylones in the south hemispheres, plus trying to balance an egg on the head of a nail! I failed!-apparently its supposed to be easier when standing on the equator!

That afternoon a few of us walked from New Town in Quito to Old Town (all uphill!). We had a cheap (and basic!) lunch in a cafe down a sidestreet-all the cafes have a bid selection of juices and smoothies on the menu as a common theme here! In old town we saw the Basilicar church, the main plaza in old town wth lots of government buildings, bery impressive and beautiful.

For dinner the group headed to an Ecuadorian restaurant. I had the chickem stew wit hmore corn, a typical ecuadorian meal (very nice). We also tried the local liqueor called Canelazo which is served hot and comes in different flavours.

The next morming we left Quito at the crack of dawn to head for the jungle!!!