Ecuador

 My bag made it to Ecuador, filled with tents, crampons, ice axe and other necessities of life.  Spencer made it, and our taxi person waited for us, even though he was about to leave, so we made it to the hotel in the middle of the night. Nothing better than someone standing with a sign with your name on it in the middle of the night. 

First day in Ecuador, probably Tuesday, before we left the hotel we met with Javier who has made the arrangements with our climbing guide, Marco who we worked with last July.  Javier seemed to think it was an ideal time to be here to climb  volcanos.  Cotapaxi is still steaming a bit, and Chimbarazo has lots of snow. 

 We are staying as Casa Helbling, a quite place in the Mariscal area of Quito, an interesting neighborhood.  

 We went over to the old city and walked from the basilica church to the top of a large hill across the way to the El Panecillo, where the map said don’t walk!!! It was a lot of stairs, but great views. Yes, it was labor day in Ecuador, a big holiday, and yes those are flags with Lenin on them. 

 View from the top of the hill looking over the city of Quito

 Later I found the chocolate place, had a few samples, then walked all the way back to the Cathedral basilica and sat down to draw for awhile.  A nice Ecuadorian lady offered to bring us hot milk and a tamale, which was the best lunch ever.  Noticed the relief sculptures on the doors to the cathedral, 

 small Buddhas and high heel shoes. 

A small church, where I made some drawings and watched people light candles and made their devotions.