Back to Ecuador via Columbia

A slight detour from my round the world ticket takes me back to Ecuador. I have done a few things this trip which you would not usually do on holiday (all enjoyable) - ironing for friends and relatives; viewing flats with friends who were looking to rent; viewing office spaces with a friend who was moving offices; attending various medical appointments with friends as well as a few hours spent in casualty with a friend who had badly cut his hand with his axe when chopping wood. The best has to be, visitng the flower farms in Columbia and Ecuador with my cousin Debi. I have learnt a lot about the flower business and that bouquet of flowers will never look so simple again.

I set out with Debi on Air Canada to Bogota via Toronto from Montreal on 4th November. A six hour uneventful flight. Met by Raul and Dan (flower export) in Bogota and taken to our very nice hotel. Sunday was spent at a market with Lucy (also in flower export). After 3 hours of shopping we went to a famous restaurant, Andre Carne de Res. This restaurant is a must if you come to Columbia. It is about an hour out of Bogata. About the size of 2-3 football pitches, it is full of recyled metal objects. Actors wander about entertaining. On the day we visited they were dressed as the dead. There is a huge creche for children with loads of activities - face painting, making cookies, playing sports. All free while their parents relax, eat and drink. It was a long weekend when we were there so the restaurant was packed. You can not reserve a table and there were long lines outside. We were there from about 2pm to 6ish. In the evening it gets even livelier and there is dancing on the tables.

We flew to Medellin, the garden of Columbia to visit flower farms the next day. A very beautiful place. I found Columbia to be very clean and far more prosperous than I had expected. Will be back to see more.

On Tuesday we left for Quito for an overnight stay before catching the plane to the Galapagos. I can not put into words the wonder of those islands. It was propably the most amazing experience I have had, even beating the jungle and the Inca trail. Being so close to the wildlife took my breath away. We snorkled for three days and on the last had Galapagos penquins fishing in the water around us. The only place on earth you can find wild penquins in the northern hemisphere. Five days were not enough and I will definitely return. We stayed at the Finch Bay Eco hotel and the service was impeccable. Photos when I get back to Canada next week.

Now back in Quito and it has not stopped raining. Debi has caught a bad cold and cough and I am feeling the altitude. Luckily I can chill at the hotel but Debi is working - usually from 6 am to 8 pm. I have been on a couple of visits to the farms and taken on the role of official photographer of the flowers. I will be posting those on the site too. Tomorrow we are off to Otavalo so I will have the opportunity to buy stuff at the wonderful market there. I made sure I had space in my suitcase this time. We also visit Ambato before flying back to Montreal on Saturday. I think I will feel quite pleased not to be travelling for a time.