The Waiting Game

Slept pretty well and up early. The hotel provides a breakfast including granola, fruit and some hot meals. Found out that today I have to change rooms because I am getting a room mate. His name is Steve and he will be my room mate on the Galapagos tour. So, I packed and reorganized some of things before moving them down the hall. Then, I decided to head out and wander the streets. This city is 8000 ft up and nestled in a valley in the Andes. From the street you can look up and see mountain tops draped in clouds. Even though I am right at the equator, the temperature is spring like, not hot. So walking around in pants and a shirt is very comfortable. Took a taxi to a shopping area and discovered an interesting thing about Quito. At busy intersections, when the traffic is stopped for a light, a juggler will come out to entertainment the stopped people. Just before the light changed they would come around looking for money.

Back to the hotel and discovered my room mate has yet to arrive so worked on the computer a bit and then took a nap! I seem to be tired.

Okay, it's now a couple of hours later. After the nap I went for another walk around the hood. Saw numerous soldiers on the streets, but things are calm. Came back to my room and met Steve who had arrived. He is from England. He is a world traveler extrordinaire. Then we went downstairs for our GAP tour meeting. She gave us all the information we need for tomorrow's early morning departure (6:30 am).

Steve and I organized our bags, and stored some of our stuff here at the hotel, as they encourage us to take as little as possible. Then we headed down to the hotel restaurant for dinner. We ate with two other english people who are also on our tour. Food and company were good.

So there you are. There is no wi-fi on the boat, so I will be out of touch until at least Wednesday, when we visit a spot on the islands where there is wi-fi. Otherwise, you won't hear from me until next Sunday when I fly back to Quito. Talk to you then.