Photos from Ecuador Christmas/New Year 2002/2003

I had two wonderful weeks in Ecuador with Francisco and his family. Most of you wont be familiar with Ecuador so as I love maps, here is one with some places marked.




Note - locations are approximate! To give you an idea of distance, the beach was 350 km (220 miles) from Quito and took us 5 hours to get there. However, Puyo was only 60 km (40 miles) from Banos and that journey took 2 hours. Road quality varies!!




This is the equator. I am on the South, Francisco on the North. This was Christmas Eve.




Present Time with the Soria Family. Dad, Sebas, Carlos, Elena, Mum, Grandma, Francisco.




Francisco - Sebas was very good - he didn't wake you till 10 so why are you tired!!!




Christmas dinner at 3pm. No we didn't listen to the Queen's speech and no we didn't have Guinea Pig!




Other side of the table




One photo of Quito. It came out dark so here are two pictures I pinched from the web.












Next day, Francisco, Elena and I went to Papayacta where there are some pools heated with water from a volcano. Very relaxing.




The air was cool though as we were up at 3,500 m. Francisco thought I looked awesome in bikini, thick coat and hiking boots!




Then we went to Puela where Francisco's Dad has a farm. Francisco is trying to look hip here with his hat on backwards.....




It was very peaceful here. I liked it a lot.




There was a horse that we all had a go on. Here is Sebas on it.




Carlos




Francisco (plus lambs in background)




And me.




From here we went to Banos. This is the Devil's cauldron waterfall.




And this is the view of a gorge near Banos on the way to the ....




Zoo. Can you spot the condors?




And here are some parrots




Francisco decided that this snake looked hungrey and tried to feed it with Sebas




The snake was still hungrey so it was my turn




And then still it wanted more so Elena and Carlos were also victims.




Much more civilaised. Francisco took his `ladies' out for the day to this nice restaurant near Ottovalo. He tried to give me cui here - three guess what cui is?




Yes guinea pig. Anyway, a much more fun tradition is New Years Eve or ano viejo as it is known there. They make these satirical figures and burn them and men dress in drag - married to the old year. We also did the 12 grapes/12 dongs thing, sang Alud Lange Syne, ran around the street with a suitcase, drank champagne, played football and other things. Many different countries customs to incorporate!




After that, us young uns went to the beach - very close to Esmeraldas on the map or Emerlda as they say there (no s's). Their apartment is very close to the beach. It was lovely here.




We went on a boat trip to these islands (I forget the name).




Here it is closer up (I burnt my feet on this trip)




But the purpose was to see these birds - blue footed boogies.




So my last full day in Ecuador was spent at the beach. Nice way to end a wonderful trip. I had a really good time in Ecuador thanks to Francisco and his family.