Hiking the Andes in Flip Flops? Yes.

This post is full of errors, but that is what happens when you only have 5 minutes to write a post! It will be fixed up later!


Day three here in Quito, extremely exhausted after an action packed couple of days! The first day included the best airport layover ever as we wisely used our 8 hours to explore Panama City and the surrounding sights by rented cab. Claire broke out her impressive Spanish skills as soon as we emerged from the airport in Panama City to help negotiate a taxi for the day. Panama City is not exactly cheap....expensive by South American standards. Still relatively inexpensive, but nothing like Ecuador.

I'm writing on the computer at the hostel in Quito so I really don't have much time at all to write. I'd prefer to write the novellas that I did in Spain, but I don't have my laptop with me so I am restricted to what I can bang out on borrowed time. So here we go...quickly!

We set off through the horrific traffic of Panama City to explore the very active fish market on the coast, a quick stop in Casco Viejo or the old town of Panama City, and a jaunt to the Panama Canal. The Canal was rather dissapointing as we only had 45 minutes and no vessels came through while we were there, but we made sure to get plenty of pictures of the empty lockes to prove we had been. We sat in traffic for nearly two hours to get back to the airport in Panama City and catch our delayed flight of just under two hours to Quito. Getting into Quito at about 10:00, hurriedly catching our breath at 10,000 feet with our hearts running a little quicker than expected and walking becoming increasingly hard, we grabbed a van to the hostel outside of the Old Town or El Centro.

Day two in Quito included a very interesting trip to the local market via bus where we saw every possible meat and animal part and clothing item and fruit for sale from aggressive vendors trying to make a dollar or two to survive. This country is amazing cheap! Cab rides across the sprawling metropolis of Quito are had for $1.50 and a full all inclusive meal is $2.00. I could stay here for a while longer....if only I could get rid of that work thing! And I would have to ship Max down here, any takers on people to bring him down for me? He would love to go out into the streets and play with all of the stray dogs that roam as they please. I befriend many of them because I can't believe how friendly and behaved they are for wild dogs that fend for their lives in the streets!

Today was packed! We were completely confused trying to find the right bus to the Equator and eventaully found our way there after about three hours. The Equator was good for taking cheesy pictures and to be able to tell your friends you were there....but we took a guided tour of the local massive crater that was honestly breath taking. It is apparently an active volcano at about 10,000 feet and we hiked up to a view point over looking the 400m wide crater where we stood on a cliff with a straight 4,000 foot drop. If you were not afraid of heights before, you would be now! We have some great pictures and I can't wait to post them. What an experience!

Well I am rushed and I really need to get back to mi cerveza, but I hope to most more details soon. A great time is being had by all and sensory overload is an understatement!

Adios.

Karl