Bob and Ann in Peru and Equador in 2008

Fuzzy monkey grabbing bananas

Before breakfast we had gathered on the dining porch with coffee and tea and someone (Kandy?) pointed out some monkeys jumping through the trees across the channel. As we all rushed to the railings see them, suddenly they began jumping across the water to the tops of the trees next to the lodge and all eyes followed them as they leapt through the jungle to a banana laden platform, where each grabbed some fruit and then disappeared. Such an incredible sight to remember our rain forest stay could not have been better planned!

Our air-conditioned bus

We took the motorized canoe back to Coca and toured the town market while we waited for our "air conditioned bus" to arrive and take us to the airport. Lunch at a Denny's! near the VIP office was memorable only because of its slowness to arrive at our tables, but we were glad to get something to eat before boarding the plane. Another 30 minute hop back to Quito got us back to the Reina Isobel Hotel in time to pick up our clean laundry, check back into our rooms and head out for the next city tour.

Large statues of bulls, each brightly decorated by a different local artist, were installed at intersections along Amazon Blvd. These were celebrating bull fights.

Keith and Jane, Bill and Kelly and the Lynns had signed up for the optional afternoon tour. Pato led the six of us on a tour of the Central Bank Museum's handsome displays of ancient, Inca and post Spaniard times of Ecuador. Then we were dropped off in old town at the Quito Museo de la Ciudad for more colorful student oriented displays of colonial times.

Calle La Ronda

We walked down the newly restored Calle La Ronda, a street lined with art galleries and trendy cafes. We were really hungry and weary by then so were grateful to hop back on the bus and be driven to our unusual restaurant in an old home loaded with a mix of dada-like art and antiques. The eccentric owner hovered, eager to please. We arrived early well before other customers so we did not complain that our only choice was a baked chicken dinner.

We were back to the Reina Isobel by 8:30. Before bed, we packed our clean clothes in duffels to take to the Galapagos.