So I went back to Quito after Galapagos on the earlier flight arriving 2.30pm.

I was now on my lonesome and will be until home (sorry but Bruce & Angel the teddy bears don't count!). So no one to lead me  and no one to tell me when I'm getting ripped off and what to watch out for! (Hernan I miss you!)

So I leave the airport & walk to taxi rank - 'Taxi miss?'.

'Si!' I say to the guy standing at the head of the queue. He puts my bag into a nearby car.

'Tip lady?! Please!'. Geez first person with their hand out! Being naive I thought he was the driver! I gave him a dollar - damn good for 10 seconds work!

I negotiate a price for cab - not many meters here so need to do this first and actually didn't pay too much more then recommended! Then off to the hostel.

Staff on the check in desk were lax.  No maps available, no info about hostel given or a tour of the place.  Thanks buddy!  

Instead I just ask everyone in my room & lounge room instead - There's a lot of Aussie accents but don't get chatting to anyone which is fine as have spent so much time with people the last 2 months that I feel I need a break!

I headed out for a walk into old town and end up at Vista Hermosa for dinner. A couple on the boat had recommended it to me as it's on the top floor in old town with 360 degree views.

It was now night time so bloody cold at approx 13 degrees! 

The food was good and back on thougjt I'd give the booze a go because I needed a hot wine to keep warm!  

For dinner I had a delicious steak which thankfully came out on a nice hot stone as otherwise would have been cold by the time I got through it!

After dinner I went over to the Internet cafe to upload my Galapagos pics and let my food digest. 

I managed a quick chat to Leigh from my first tour on Skype - it was nice to hear a familiar voice and to speak with someone in the know about my tour trials & tribulations and post tour burn out!

The Internet cafe owner kicked me out as he was closing so headed back to Vista Hermosa for round two - desert!

Sat downstairs this time where it was warmer and only 180 degree views.  A great 3 piece band were playing, no singer just rythym & bass guitar and a violin.  They were doing all sorts from the Beatles, Sting and even Cranberries Linger and Radioheads Creep. Really enjoyed sitting down chilling out, being entertained and not having to make small talk!

The restaurant security hailed me a cab as I was leaving but I forgot to negotiate price!

When we got to the hotel he tried to charge me $5 to which I responded, 'Senor por favour! Esta muy caro? $3! No mas!' (Sir pleeease! It's very expensive? $3 no more!).

He didnt reply but accepted my $3 and let me go ... I think if I were a local it would have been a $1 trip - $2 max!

All were in bed asleep or reading, (in my 6 person dorm) when I returned - thought it was kinda odd a it was only 11.30?

Day 2 -

Up early I dropped off my laundry then headed out.

I grabbed a mandarin and banana from a nearby store, and an orange sponge cake from the Pasteleria.

I sat in the square to eat my food and relax but was immediately approached by an older local guy for a chat.  He came and sat next to me and introduced himself - he was missing all his front teeth top and bottom but seemed harmless enough.

He asked if I was single, where my friends where, where I was from.  Truth is if they ask more then that then I generally don't understand what they've said!

Over the difficult small talk I say good bye and go to head off .... He catches my arm and I look at him to see sitting there with pursed fish lips hoping for a kiss!

I laugh at him and say no! 

The Ecuadorians will definitely have to be the second most forward after Brazil and especially the frisky old fellas!

I followed my Tucan Travel map to a bus stop that said it was to get to the Equator Monument ... Couldnt find anything there so headed to tourist information.

They directed me to the blue line and then to the 'Citudad Del Mundo' bus which I took as they said taking an hour and a half total.

I arrives and wandered about the middle of the world park.

I kept crossing paths with a guy who had tried to sell me stuff earlier and referring to me as 'baby' ... He had approached me first to sell something then was chatting with me and asking me where I was from, who I was with - if my husband was with me ... I told him not now, so he assumed I had one and asked if he was home working ... I just agreed!  

I spent quite a few hours wandering around as thought this was were the experiments I'd heard about where ... Finally realised it was next door so said one final goodbye to my friend as I passed him again while leaving, 'See you later baby!'.

The 2nd museum was much better.  I took an English tour and realised 2 people in it were kiwis I'd met the day before when they asked me at the Baltra Airport to taje a photo of them before getting on the plane!  The rest of the group were mostly Aussies & all on an organised day trip.

The guide was great and really funny.  I'd been having a frustrating day so really enjoyed a laugh amd being round the nice group.  

The experiments were fun and we watched as water did not circle down the plug hole on the equator, how you could balance an egg on a nail (I coulnt!)  and how it was hard to walk in a straight line with your eyes closed.

I didn't want to leave the group when it ended but they went off on their bus and I headed back our to the road to grab a cab to  Teleforico.  

Found one straight away and off we went.

Teleforico is a cable car that takes you to the top of the volcano and you can look out all over Quito.  Unfortunately it was an overcast day so only got a quick glimpse through the clouds at the top and took photos on the way back down instead.

I got a cab back to the hostel and then had dinner across the road and bed.

Day 3 -

So as im writing this, today is my last day in Quito and in South America!  Although I'm very homesick, missing my friends and the comforts of home - I'm sad to say goodbye to this place!  

I've been here since 17 January so just over 4 months and have had some amazing experiences!  It is such a beautiful place with amazing contrasts.  I've met so many very cool people and am going to miss them!!!

Am at the airport now, too early even for check in but better then being late!

This morning I woke early and went for a wander.  Stopped into the Mercado Central to get a banana & mandarin for breakfast.

Wandered around looking for the Pateleria that I'd bought a delicious piece of orange flavoures sponge cake from the day before (so good that who cares about the allergies!), found it and got two pieces (50 cents!).

Then found the iternet cafe I'd also used previously - preferring to use the same place and computer so as not to get another virus on my memory card and as I knew it was fast!

I uploaded the rest of my favourite Galapagos pics to Facebook - sorry everyone as know I put soooo many up but that's only probably 2% of the amount I took!!!

Headed back to the hostel after to check out ... It was an ok place but not that great - still can't remember who recommended it to me and why?!

I am glad to have stayed in Old Town though as although I didn't look inside the buildings (so over churches & museums!), I did enjoy the feel of the place.

Ok hoping check in is opening soon as cafe I'm sitting at has just put tunes on and it's Savage Garden, that mountain top song ... Aah! Can't get away from bad music!!!

Back again!  I just realised this is my first international flight in 4 months (arriving in Santiago) and there's duty free!  Only used it to by mascara by still exciting to see the shops!

Also getting very sad to say goodbye to south america ... Looking through the shops has reminded me there will be no more Andean people in their local dress, no more alpaca clothing, no more Incan temples or religious artifacts!  I will miss it all but will always have my memories and about 24GB of photos!!!