QUITO

This weekend we took a 2hr bus journey to a place called Latacunga. There was a carnival on so the station was completely packed. And it was completely crazy... i mean kittens in handbags and chickens on leads. When people pushed in everyone shouted "cola" at them (which i think means queue) and whistled. lucky we are so sly and innocent looking....

In Latacunga we climbed a volcanic crater called Quilatoa. It was filled with a bright emerald lake. it was LITERALLY breathtaking. the altitude made it so hard to breath when we were trekking back up. it´s quite scary not being able to breath.

Its about 21 degrees here. Everyone wears jeans which makes it hard to get a tan, but on the coast it should be hotter!! It  rained the other day in Quito, and in Latacunga. Its like the rain in ´The day after tomorrow´- it comes from nowhere and suddenly it is belting it down. You get soaked within seconds.

In response to Ellie´s comment: the food. Its basically lots of rice, chicken stew, hot soups, banana semolina stuff, fried bananas and herbal teas. Quite boring and bland but alright... And for such a coffee growing rich continent..... the only coffee we´ve been offered so far is imported and instant!!

We start Spanish lessons tomorrow!!

Sorry for the lack of photos- we´ll try and upload some soon...

xx