In order of visitation:
Otavalo | Quito | Mindo | Chugchilán | Baños | Cuenca | Montañita | El Coca (El Oriente)
Otavalo:
famous saturday market
“just follow the tracks” — umm, have you never seen “stand by me”??
to Las Cascadas de Peguche
they are not in Peguche
try not to be too underwhelmed
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Quito:
every monday the president waves — it’s a thing
there’s an army marching band
the president and the queen of spain share a joke
they raise the flag
sing the national anthem
and then these old ladies lead a parade to la ronda
condor and lion on the national bank building
just like the one who watches over the city
QUITO
“because i am woman, i am moon. because i am soul, i am witch.
the equator
mas o menos — actually it’s 200 meters away
n & s
ferocious tortoises and penguins protect the basilica
don’t look down
mostly it sucks how little people respect these spaces, but this time it’s funny
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Mindo:
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Chugchilán:
Quilotoa Crater lake
the amount of wildflowers is staggering
our guide and intrepid group
farming / shepherd lady near the lake
love this photo
chugchilan-bound — smiling because i didn’t realize the scramble-hike that awaited me
“little shoe” flowers
wheats
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Baños:
view from El Cruce Bella Vista — a killer 45-minute hike
la Virgen de Agua Santa al Cruce
Cafe Cielo — an additional hour from el cruce, up; just up and up and up (and panting and sweating and wow)
view from the cafe
no vale la pena
swinging over the city (if you really use your imagination)
tomates de arbol — tree tomatoes: fist-sized roma tomatoes that are sweet (but not delicious)
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Cuenca:
Germany for the WIN!
Pedro and I hamming it up at karaoke
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Montañita:
Posh living =)
Not a lot of great art, but not terrible
Cold and dreary, but the beach nonetheless
Fishing boats …
Yummm, ceviche
giggle giggle
tee-hee
Ya, déjame en paz!
Chuckin’ the deuces
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El Coca en El Oriente (most photos by Cheryl):
bradley on the river
1st-day encebollados
cheryl tortured the tortoise
monkeys and bananas
boat selfie!
cheryl being silly
meggan being silly
first glance at Yarina Lodge
our room
our housemate!
the hammock — my favorite
big chocolate pods
my favorite part was the doggies
bradley goes first
cheryl is next
my turn at the blow dart gun
I’m the best hunter!
worms, it’s what’s for lunch
bradley is our sous-chef
grub is actual grubs is cooking
please don’t let the worms get me!
standing by a giant tree
cheryl kept calling out our names to make us turn around, so i started with my top model moves LOL
bucket o’ fish
octavo to the rescue
my boot got extra super stuck in the mud
Bradley, Cheryl, and I visit El Oriente
view from the top
jungly jungle
the monkeys stole our grapes!
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