Friday we spent playing tourist. We drove about 2 hours north of Quito to a town called Otavalo. This town is known for its handcrafts, specifically its weavings. We had a great time there, and the drive was INCREADIBLE! The sights were just breathtaking. We drove through a few towns where roses are grown commercially. There were so many roses growing, just driving through the town smelled like you were in a florist. It was awesome! Another part that we liked is how similar it seemed to our homestate of Colorado. It was very similar with all the little farms and small towns. We could definetly fit in, in the mountains north of Quito.
(This is Cayambe Volcano. Like all the others I have photographed and written about, it also rises above 19,000ft. This was on the PanAmerican highway towards Otavalo northeast of Quito.)
Saturday we continued the tourist journey. After some morning shopping, we went to what is called the Teleferiqo. The Teleferiqo is basically an overlook of the valley and city of Quito as well as a mini amusement park. This also proved to be worth our time and we loved it. You actually ride a European ski lift to the top of one of the "hills" that overlooks Quito. From this point you are about 12,500 feet high, and you can follow the trail from the top of the ski lift to some nearby peaks towering over 15,000 ft. It was breathtaking as well. Needless to say, we are not acclimated to high altitude anymore like we were when we were living in Colorado. That said, we were all (except Brooklyn) a little short of breath at the top. Afterwards we spent some time at the amusement park. Brooklyn was able to ride a horse carousel, mini rollercoster, and a bit rocking ship. Luckily our $5 ride pass ran out, because Becca and I were about to get sick if we went on any more rides with Brooklyn. Saturday night we went and had a nice Italian dinner in Quito and celebrated 6 years of marriage.
Here Brooklyn and I are at the top of the Teleferiqo looking towards the east. Behind us is about 1/3 of the city of Quito. It's 3 million inhabitants live in a long narrow valley that extends for many miles from north to south. Volcano Cayambe can just be made out off of my right shoulder across the valley up in the cloudtops.
Here is what the other direction looks like from the Teliferiqo looking towards the west. Behind Brooklyn the peaks rise to and above 15,000 ft. It was defintely a wierd change to go from jungle one day, to the high alpine desert of the Andes the next. The topogragraphy and climates of Ecuador are very stunning.
Today we drove home to get ready for another busy week. After a few detours for some more shopping and fixing a flat tire, we made it home. Today is also Brooklyn's 3rd birthday. Tommorow we are having a little party with some of her friends and thier parents. We were able to find a BBQ grill this weekend as well, so tommorow night we will be grilling at our house for Brooklyn's party as well as beating up a piñata.
Also tommorow I have my checkride with "the general." Chad (the instructor pilot) and I will leave Shell at 8am tommorow and fly to Quito. We will pick up the general there and then fly south about 50 miles south to less congested airspace and do my checkride. It should all go well, but I am starting to get a little nervous. Pray for us for all that we have to do tommorow. It should prove to be interesting for sure.
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