DAY 129 THURSDAY 17th JANUARY 2008

Quito, Ecuador (Miles to Date: 14250)

As we were going to bed last night, exhausted after 3 days sailing, Karen was saying how much she was looking forward to a good nights sleep and a few days rest. It was then broken to her that the next day we were flying off somewhere for a few days – but she was not told where. So then we flew into panic mode – what troubled Karen was what to pack as she had no idea where we were going.

Anyway ,today we had to drive up towards Miami as we were travelling out of the airport there, but first we had to drop our motor home off at a storage yard – it was sad to leave her behind but the drive would have been too much. Then we set off to the airport – still Karen did not know where we were going to – and this was the case until we were checking our bags in at the airport. For the first time she, Jack and Emily discovered we were flying to Quito. This didn’t really help them at first as they had no idea where Quito was – until they asked a kind lady who explained to them this was the capital of Ecuador.

So we caught our 4 hour long flight – arriving late at night in Quito. Arriving in Quite there was not much to see as it was very dark but you can immediately feel the altitude (Quito is at about 9400 feet above sea level) – particularly those first set of stairs you reach. Anyway after clearing customs and immigration we are met by our tour guides and taken to our hotel, the Nu House Boutique hotel in downtown Quito. The first room we are given is totally unsuitable it has two beds but they are simply too narrow – but the staff were wonderful and helped us transfer to another room with a queen bed and a trundle bed for the children. We fall into bed exhausted!!