Acclimatising in Quito

The starting point for our 'Family Holiday' was Quito.  We planned a few days here to allow for getting over jet lag and acclimatising to the altitude.  At 2,800 metres it can take your breath away ... literally!

We chose to stay at Casa Aliso just outside the New town in Quito.  I thought we were staying in a B&B, but this place is much more a boutique hotel with it's decor, service and beautiful rooms ... they even do afternoon tea!  Or have I really just spent too much time in hostels?!

Once settled in, the exploring begun ...

First up was Quito's colonial old town.

Then a trip to Otovalo market and Cotacachi, the leather market, for lots of souvenirs and haggling!  This was meant to be a day for breaking my parents into Ecuadorian bus travel until someone uttered the immortal words ... private car with driver!  They quickly convinced themselves that this would be the best way to go and would allow them to see so much more than on a public bus... they love backpacking!

With our guide for the day, Enrique.

And to round off the tourist attractions we went to the Equator to marvel at being in the nothern and southern hemisphere at the same time.  Just as we prepared to take part in all the experiments which demonstrate the wonder of the earth's gravitational pull on the actual equatorial line, like watching water go straight down a plug hole and balancing eggs on nails the earths forces had a remarkable effect on my dad and he spent the next hour in the bathroom.  It turns out that all my careful planning to acclimatise my parents to the altitude before going to the mountains was to no avail and my dad succombed to it regardless.  After a lot of sugared water and cups of coca tea we got him back to Quito where he slept for the rest of the day!

Standing on the equator ... it's a powerful place!