Last days of Ecuador and onto Peru:

After returning to Quito (for our 4th visit) from the Amazon, we finally got to spent time in the city itself and see a few of the sights. We discovered an amazingly busy and old market street full of restaurants, local alcohol cooking on the streets, craft shops and character. We also ventured up a cable car which took us from the 2800m level of the city to a dizzy 4100m view point above the city. We coped with the breathing until we went for a walk and attempted climbing up a rise! It was noticeably colder. Robin and Claire went for an hours horse ride up there dressed in traditional ponchos (for the cold).

 We also went out to the equator line, 22 kms north of Quito. There are 2 lines out here. The slightly ‘incorrect’ one that was determined by the French in the 19th Century and then 17 years ago with the assistance of G.P.S. technology, the actual line 250m away. Amazingly enough the correct one lines up with the equator line that the Inca's used many many 100's of years ago!!!! Here we got to straddle the line, feel the forces of the northern and southern hemispheres on our body while doing tandem walking with our eyes closed on the line!!!! Balancing an egg on a nail (only Claire and I could do that), watch water spin clockwise or anticlockwise down the plug hole while north or south of the line and then see if go 'straight down' when 'on the line'. It was all very entertaining.

The most challenging thing we did in the city was to post some parcels home. We both had a 'box' of things and we also had a long tube of art. The packages had to be inspected so we couldn't seal then until after that. The two spanish speaking officers were interested in our Ecuadorian purchases and made suitable approving comments. The process took almost 2 hours, 6 copies of my passport, 8 document copies of forms for each package and dollars and dollars of stamps. But what a relief to off load the weight - 13kg for us and 5kg for Claire and Robin!

We are now in Peru, after flying from Quito to Lima on the night of 30th May. After a day in Lima(visited a very old and interesting monastry in the city dating back to the 16^th Century which contained over 25,000 skeletons of the local residents – all for viewing) we are heading south on a luxury bus - 2 stories, reclining seats, T.V. and an attendant handing out food (the quality questionable). The bus station was like an airport - 4 counters for baggage check in, 4 gates for boarding, loud speaker announcements, a large waiting room etc. This afternoon we are doing the sand dune buggy ride at dusk, staying around and oasis and have a flight over the Nasca Lines booked for tomorrow. Another bus will then take us overnight to Arequipa, further south.

Now Wednesday night and this afternoon we went out on the dunes for over an hour in a sand buggy. LOADS of fun, shrills of laughter and breath taking scenery (when you didn’t have your eyes closed!) We also slid down the high dunes lying on snow boards.