A private tour which took us firstly to the Virgin del Panecillo ( aka. The Virgin of Quito) on a hill overlooking Quito which is bigger than the Christ the Redeemer in Rio. It was originally built as a 12 inch statue and replaced with the current one of some 135 ft in 1975.
We then went on to the memorial of where they thought the Equator crosses northern Ecuador called the Mitad del Mundo (see below) but unfortunately they were 250 metres out. The dynamic duo can be seen on the actual Equator and Lesley holds the certificate for balancing an egg on a nail head on the equator where there are no lateral forces. ( the writer failed miserably and was more use as a chef making scrambled eggs as they kept falling off)
We then returned to town and went to a chocolate factory making dark chocolate from Cacao grown in Ecuador. We went to the Independence Square where there is a statue to celebrate those who had fought for an independent Ecuador in 1809.
Also in the square was the Presidents Palace known as Carondelet Palace and has been their home since 1801. It also is the seat of government.
Tomorrow we fly early to the Galápagos Islands and spend 4 nights on a yacht sailing around the islands. Watch this space ………
You will love Galapagos though four days is too short. We loved Quito though a bit heady at 10000 feet. Did you cope?
Hi my little petals- ”tis truly wonderful following your journey – just in case, when you are sailing round the islands, have a look on any Admiralty chart and just east of San Cristobal Island you will see the ‘Macquarie Shoal’ – when on a voyage in the 60’s from Panama to NZ I discovered it! They wanted to name it after me but, you know me, I am that shy so I named it after the ship I was on!! Have a wonderful 14th honeymoon and keep blogging.
Love R + C