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Each room is individually decorated and one of the features of this room is the bathroom. As you can see, the fresco in the shower is designed to put any bather at ease. |
Quito
Our room back at the hotel Cafe Cultura was not as good as our first visit. On that occasion we had a big room with two double beds and the space to go with it. This time we were over the reception area so heard every till ring in the restaurant and every request for keys at reception. The restaurant smell (99% garlic) also filled the room, which had two single beds and not quite the space to go with it.
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Each room is individually decorated and one of the features of this room is the bathroom. As you can see, the fresco in the shower is designed to put any bather at ease. |
The following morning we were up early hoping for an early start. By 9.00 we still hadn't heard from any guide/driver and being Sunday the office would be closed and we had no emergency number. It was a bit of a scary moment waiting.
At last a phone call - the guide had gone to meet us at the airport. The message that we were already here and were to meet at the hotel, as it said on our itinerary, was obviously lost in the translation.
At 9.45 we were on the road and the first stop was the "real" equator. This bit of the excursion was reported earlier with Mitad del Mundo - read it again if you wish.
From here we travelled west zig-zagging the equator line until, at km42 (or 62), we turn left off the main road and onto a dirt track and drive for about 20km - ouch.
Bellavista Reserve
We arrived at about 11.30 and greeted with a cup of coffee. After dumping luggage in our room we had time to take in a trail before lunch at 1.00pm.
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The dense forest meant that there were not many views. Birds were difficult to see, but fortunately our driver who came with us is a bit of a birder and was able to see birds where we could only see branches and leaves. He was pretty good at spotting toucans, too - good addition to the expedition.
Val with elephant ears
Bellavista Lodge is an interesting building - essentially a sturdy construction underneath the facing is bamboo, wood and other natural products. It is perched on a hill overlooking a bit of a valley. There are loads of humming birds around, not surprising as there are loads of sugar water outlets.
The Lodge among the trees
In the afternoon we set off on another trail through the forest up hill and up more hills and at an altitude of 7000ft it was hard work at times. We set of at 2.30 for a walk estimated as about 2 hours - we got back just after 5.15. Again observation-wise it was a few toucans and lots of foliage, and also some plants such as bromeliads and ferns.
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In the evening we passed the time chatting and teaching the locals how to play dominoes. We then had an early-ish night (10.30).
We had one permanent resident on arrival in the room. During the night, though, there was another visitor flapping about.
Only about 1.5inch across
Putting the light on stopped it somewhere, but we couldn't find whatever it was. I didn't sleep much after that, even though we left the bathroom light on.
The next day we set of later than expected and headed back to Quito to take the road south, known as the Pan-American Highway, but this bit is nicknamed the Avenue of Volcanoes.
Avenue of Volcanoes : Back : Contents
