Quito    Click on the images below to see an enlargement

During the trip we came to, and went from Quito 3 times by air, getting good views on a couple of occasions. Altogether we stayed 4 nights at the very quaint and pleasant Hotel Café Cultura. The French Embassy in an earlier period, it is now a friendly, if somewhat quirky, hotel in which every wall and ceiling is decorated.

On our only full free day in Quito, between jungle and island visits, we took a day excursion to the Otavalo markets. Being very restricted with baggage, and perhaps a little weary as well, we restricted ourselves to buying only small gifts for family at home. Shame, because there were a lot of attractive local crafts.

Flying into Quito, 2850 metres high in the Andean mountains.	Flying into Quito, 2850 metres high in the Andean mountains.	Flying into Quito, 2850 metres high in the Andean mountains.	Hotel Café Cultura, Quito
		Cayambo artisan, working with bread dough.
Cayambo fruit vendor			Left foot North, right foot South... the Equator!
				Otavalo markets