Galivanting thru the Galapagos & the Amazon

Day 2 - Quito, Ecuador - Wednesday, December 15, 2021

Up at 6:20am. Ready & down for breakfast about 7:15am. Good spread of food to start our day, then ready to meet Lorena & Delfin for our morning outing. Heading north to Mercado la Carolina Market first. Spent about 45 minutes wandering around the market. Saw a lady peeling small potatos. You could pay $.10 per pound extra to have them peeled!! Met the queen of the market – she had been coming to the market every day for 40 years! Also met the owner of the Juice shop. She made us a juice of coconut, banana & the fruit that I can’t remember. It was luscious. The young assistant had the same color hair as Lorena's nails! Too funny. Then on to the seafood stalls to meet Lorena's favorite young worked who was also a salsa instructor! Didn't have time for lessons unfortunately! There were also lots of places set up for "fast food" meals. Frequented by local workers & families who live nearby.

Then on to the Intinan Equator Museum, but ran into a snag – the highway was closed due to a bicycle race. Wandered all over everywhere trying to get there. Didn't mind because we enjoyed the scenery along the way & saw lots of local farms because we weren't on the highway!

Didn’t make the normal stop to see the mismarked French Equator monument, but definitely enjoyed the Equator Museum. Saw the same tricks with the shade & water circling the drain & standing the egg & walking the straight line. George did good with standing his egg up on end & walking the Equatorial line with his eyes shut (not so me!!). More fun for me was seeing quite a lot of birds!!!

Saw at least 3 types of hummers – even got good pictures of 2 of them!!! A Black tailed Trainbearer & a Sparkling Violetear. Also a vermillion Flycatcher, Great Thrush, & Saffron Finch! Wow!!! We stayed there a little longer than normal & head about the head shrinking & cocoa beans & the native hut with Guinea pigs.

Then an added visit to the Sumaco-Napo Volcanic NP overlook for coffee & yummy snacks (popcorn, corn nuts & chips). Delfin said this was a first for him & strictly because of the traffic issues - we weren't allowed on the highway back to Quito yet. It had turned really sunny, at the Equator Museum, but then clouded over & started drizzling. Very cloudy when we first went in the Restaurant overlooking the Volcanic Valley crater, but cleared up while we were there & got some beautiful views. Lorena had an aunt that had a weekend home in the valley & she had memories of walking down into the valley & riding horses. Lots of farming in the valley – very green & lush. Hilarious WC door markers – breasts for women & a penis for the men’s. Too funny! Saw Llamas there too.

On for a stop for a light lunch at Agave Café. The lunch was vegetarianish patty of quinoa & cheese and a bean mix in a plantain shell. Then yummy agave dessert with agave honey & ice cream. On to tour the garden where we learned about the 3 types & uses for agave. I got to participate in planting a young agave plant, naming it Jorge & placing it with the other tiny plants. Next stop was the museum & distillery. Got a tasting too!!

And the grand finalee was George helping to mix cocktails. They really wanted to keep him because he was sooooo good, but I fought that idea! The entire day was awesome!!!