Quito, Ecuador 🇪🇨 

Quito is one of my favourite cities, flanked by volcanos and it has the most beautiful skies. I wake up and feel a little sluggish with a sore throat. Post a terrible breakfast, where I had to collect my white bread ration from reception and spread with solid margarine, (coffee was good though) I walk down to Parque Caroline and the Botanical Gardens. I spend a couple of hours in the sunshine enjoying the different vegetation areas that have been created from around Ecuador. The orchid houses are really good, amazing the number of varieties particularly like those which look like small pixie hats. I visit the carnivore plant house and then wind my way back out. The Parque is lovely in the sunshine, even the clouds look fab and fluffy.

I come across a food park based in shipping containers which is cool, I manage to find stomach space for a Inka burger with fries. Taking the route back I visit Mindalae, a museum that houses textiles, ceramics and instruments from Ecuador. I am most interested in how different regions have such different traditional clothes, many are still being worn and I recognise them from areas I have passed through.

I was going to go to the national museum later but it turns out it has been closed for over a year due to a corruption scandal, so that’s out. I read and book Mindo accommodation for tomorrow as I have decided to explore the area for 2 days, taking just my small rucksack for the adventure. Tonight’s dinner is at a little restaurant where I can have the traditional pork hornedo, slow cooked with crackling.