Today was one of the many travel days involved in this trip. We left the hotel in Lima for the airport at 9:00 am sharp. Our flight wasn't until one but because it was international you have to be so early. Check in with LAN was much easier this time and we were at the gate by 10:30. Luckily I don't mind reading and just watching people go by. People are funny things if they think no one is paying attention.
The flight was unmemorable, mostly soft, curly, white and grayish clouds with a texture that reminded me more of the Alpaca wool we saw than of the cotton candy clouds we have at home. Breaching the last mountain top I could see Quito laid out below like a long, narrow, sparkling, neck scarf for the Andes that surround it.
Our guide Isabella met us and promptly emphasized the importance of drinking water by handing us a tall, cool one. Quitio is at about 9,000 feet above sea level and about the same altitude as the Sacred Valley in Peru where we spent our first days. The city is clean and quite modern. The American dollar is not only accepted here but is there currency. They use our bills but the coins are labeled on the back sides with the values. Otherwise when they converted to the dollar it was too confusing for the people because it makes no sense that the nickle and the penny which are worth less are bigger than the dime. So the coin faces are the same as ours and the sizes and the colors are the same but the backs are labeled. The Sacajewea dollar which was not popular in the states all got shipped here and is in common use.
The Hilton Colon Quito is a beautiful business hotel in the heart of the city, across from a broad park where an afternoon art festival was just finishing, and near the colonial center. We were greeted with fresh juice and soft fluffly, beds. I went across the street to the Farmacia to get a 6 litre bottle of water for $1.25 before the place closed at 5:00. Each hotel gives each guest a complimentary bottle of water but charges after that. At the Hiltonthe individual bottle is $3 so this was a great deal and we refilled bottles we had saved from just yesterday. The water is safe to drink in these countries but just like street food it can bring on Montezuma's Revenge if you are not used to it. SO bottled water is the best bet.
Madeline did not want to go across to the park but took a shower and put on her night gown. So I actually unpacked since we have to pack differently for the Galapagos. When she wanted to go for dinner she wanted to eat in the hotel. On our way to the very nice and not very expesive restaurant we ran into Ming and Sharon in the. They were waiting to go to dinner with Craig and Lucy but had about given up so invited us to go along. Only four can go in a cab. Madeline did not want to go out so I was going to go with them.
But Ming who takes even more pictures than me had lost his battery charger on the plane. So instead we went to the nearby mall to try to replace it. All of us are counting on seeing Ming's pictures when we get home. Madeline didn't want to go along because she said it would be just like any mall in America. And it was. And it was great. A beautiful several stories tall decorated Christmas tree met us as we got out of the taxi. Inside bright, tasteful, sparkling deorations hung above the open center of the shopping area. Families with small children were having McDonald's or Chinese food, or Empanadas in the food court. It was great!
There were three places in the mall that had chargers. The first was Radio Shack but at $66 dollars Ming hesitated. We tried the other two places which were spaced just far enough apart that we saw the whole place. They didi not have what he neeed. Back at Radio Shack I asked about a discount while the young man opened the package. While the man fit together the puzzle of a charger which accomodates several types of batteries and has two different plug systems I suggested a Black Friday sale price. They do not have Black Friday here. No senior discount or specials he could offer until I asked if there was a discount for cash. He seemed surprised that we would pay cash and reduced the price to $54 and here there is no tax. Ming was quite happy about the discount and was excited about the options the charger offered. Turned out to be better than the one he had lost since it was so flexible and was a one hour charger as well. Mission accomplished.
Leaving the mall after a delicious Chinese dinner they were going to take an unmarked taxi but I talked them out of that since when I fist asked the driver said he was not a taxi and then changed his mind. Besides, I wanted to walk back to the still lighted tree to take pictures but just then a real taxi came so we hopped in and were returned to the hotel safely for the exhorbitant cost of $3!
The pool was already closed so I settled in the lobby with my tablet for awhile. WiFi is free in the lobby but costs in your room. Weird. Madeline was watching TV in bed. Eventually I succumbed to the long travel day, took a hot bath, and went to bed enjoying the view of the city lights winding up the mountain like a string of yellow crystals lovely black velvet gown. sparkling on a
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