Quito

Today has been a long day from setting off from home to arriving in Quito. Although I arrived safely my backpack didn’t arrive. It decided to take a 24hr holiday of it’s own in Miami so after all the pleasantries of filling in all kinds of from I make it to the hostel and I recon I deserve a beer (just to get to know people obviously!!) In the short space of an hour I’ve sorted out my Spanish course and booked a trip to a local Volcano for Sunday.

Having begged and borrowed clothing from other travelers staying at the hostel I make another attempt to find where my bags are. Good news they have turned up during the night so I won’t freeze to death when I reach the 4807m summit of GuaGua Pichincha.
After being dropped off it´s an nice and easy 600m vertical climb to the top (well I was hopeing it would be nice and easy)!!! WOW this climbs tough especially at altitude we make a 1 1/2 hour climb to the refuge for tea and biscuits before carrying on to the summit all the while it’s getting colder and colder and we can’t see a thing up here as we are in the clouds, the only way I know were on a volcano is that every so often I can smell sulphur. On the way back we make a stop off at the Virgin De Quito which sits over looking all Quito

I wake up early (again) ready for the start of my Spanish course today, 4hrs per day for the next 5 days. To me Minica my Spanish tutor doesn´t seem to be starting off with the easy stuff so after a coinfusing 3 hours I take a trip to celebrate All Souls Day - The Day Of The Dead by purchasing the typical bread and drink associated with the celebrations. After buyng the bread from a local bakery to purchase GuaGua bread baked in the shape of a baby and then to a local food market to buy the drink Colada Morada made from various friuts and herbs. To bring good luck you have to dunk the GuaGua in head first, so here´s to good luck. Cheers

Hiya Matyn

Pleasure to meet you. Before i go any further i must say that your planned route is one of the best i have ever seen. You are dead lucky to be visiting exotic locations such as Tonga and Tahiti. Don’t think all that many tourists get over there!

So you are a Gringo now then!Must have been pretty daunting landing and realising that your luggage had decided to dissappear!

Anyway sounds like you have a great combo of things lined up so all the best and have a blast. Not literally on the Volcano though we hope!!

Look forward to hearing some more quality posts in the near future.

Dan :D

Hello Martyn

Glad to hear you’re stuff turned up, must have been a bit stressful! 

Did you speak any Spanish before your week at Spanish school in Quito?  I am booked on an overland tour next Sept starting in Quito and am hoping to go back to school for 2 weeks before hand!  I don’t speak any Spanish (other than asking where the toilets are and ordering a drink, which I don’t think really counts…) and I was wondering how you’re finding it.  Are you staying with a family?

Anyway, I am sure you are very busy - have a wonderful time, take care.

Rachel

Hi Martyn,

Which Spanish school are you studying at in Quito?

Hey There Gem,

I studied at the hostel I stayed at the secret garden in the old town quito