Cruising doldrums and ...

Quito!

Hello all. We will have to go back and change the subtitle from ...a feminine view of cruising. (I am having problems here in this internet cafe because it has a non-US keyboard with some of the Sapnish keys activated when I type, but some of the other weird types actually on the keyboard activated as well.

Hope and I were talking about being in Bahia for so long. No water sports, same people (some of whom we want to avoid in general). We have gotten most of the projects done and we have read quite a bit. I have finished the 20 book series by Patrick O´Brian on the British Intelligence service during the Napoleonic Wars. Most people think it is about the Royal Navy, but the Navy takes a minor role compared to the spy characters. Interesting, but I would only give it a qualified recommendation.

So to combat the crusing doldrums we are currently sitting in an internet cafe in Quito. We have taken care of our passport renewals at the consulate. We toured the Banco de Central Museo de Cultura which covers all of Ecuadorian history from the first migracions during the ice ages to the present. Most is on the pre-columbian cultures and the Spanish era. The Incas had conquered the Ecuadorian area just shortly before the Spanish arrived and they had not the time to consolidate the language, culture, and so on. Tomorrow is old town with the cathedrals dating from the 1500s. Later will be overnight trips outside of town.

We have a nice room with a double bed (and bunk beds) with a private bath in the tourist section of town for US$22 per night. Two pizzas and 3 beers (large Japanese size) for US$10 last night. Did I ever mention that Ecuador is one of a few countries that use the American dollar as the official currency? Panama is another we have been in.

The bus ride here is spectacular. We are currently at about 3000 meters (just under 10 000 feet) but Quito is in a valley between two sets of Andean peaks. And we had to go over one of those passes. Almost over the clouds. Rain forest jungle. Bamboo up to 80 feet growing wild. (Bamboo is a big construction material here, both for scaffolding and interior decoration).

OK enough again. Hope is taking pictures. love to all.


yang

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