First Week of Adventure

Its been a week and change since my arrival to Ecuador and adventure it has been! My first day was met with some beautiful views of Quito on our approach to the airport, which was unlike anything I had ever experienced. The airport is at 9,000 ft elevation, its in the middle of the city and only has one runway, which could be longer for the elevation of the city. 

After arriving to the city, I did the normal customs and immigration, caught my taxi to the hostel and checked in after climbing 4 flights of awkward steep stairs. The hostel, Secret Garden Quito, is an adventure hostel with a wonderful terrace with two amazing Ecuadorian chefs! The next few days were full of lounging, sightseeing the Basilica del Voto Nacional (really high towers with 100 year old rebar), trying local cuisine and then catching a cab/transport/bus (depending on how you look at it) to Cotopaxi.

The lodge/hostel in Cotopaxi is Secret Garden Cotopaxi (branch out already!), where I spent 4 days and 3 nights enjoying a small farm located at 11,000 ft elevation. While in Cotopaxi, I had delicious cured ham, went on a waterfall hike, met some amazing people, was out drank by a Polish woman and ended my trip horseback riding up to around 13,000ft on a horse that had no rhythm trotting and stirrups that were wooden clogs (weird!).

Now I'm back in Quito and accompanied by two classmates, whom I also refer to as friends. Tomorrow the final four roll in and we will be reunited once again. On Monday, Tina and I headed up to the world's highest Gondola, which starts at 9,000 feet and takes you up to 13,325ft! From that point Tina and I hiked further up, slowly I might add, and had some amazing views of the city of Quito. The gondola ride is something I recommend to everyone, especially if its not windy.

Ok, back to these things we call grad school papers.

(Photos will follow when the internet is better)