I passed on the snorkeling, since my only experience prior hadn't gone well. I figured, I shouldn't be incapacitated on a business trip. I overheard, with horror, a private pilot trying to hit on this woman in my group. It was revolting. So entitled.
I fell in love with Quito. I'm no foodie... I cook blandly, though I am an adventurous eater when I travel (cow brain, guinea pig, grasshoppers, check)... but the food in Quito was so good. Fun fact, Ecuador uses the US dollar as its currency, making it a pretty easy destination for US travelers.
I was in Quito four days... two prior to the Galapagos, and two post. The first day back was a little rough, jumping back and forth from sea level to 9,350' above.
Just a month prior, I was in Colorado Springs, elevation 6,035' and a few days earlier, I was at Machu Picchu, elevation 7,972'. Then I arrived at Cuzco, former capital of the Incan Empire, hiiiiigh in the Peruvian Andes.
I had a lovely day here, touring some colonial churches and sites. I followed some crowds, and hiked up the hillside away from them, passing through a hipster neighborhood with some offbeat galleries.
We met a charming family, and with them, I ate the local delicacy, guinea pig. Though I had a guinea pig as a pet as a kid, and was generally sadenned by the idea, "when in Rome..." It was enjoyable, though I wouldn't bolt back down to Peru just to eat it again.
I have a few quick sketches from Machu Picchu, but nothing will really capture it. Instead, here's a sad moment. As I hired the Inca trail around Machu Picchu, I crossed paths with many hikers, who had been hiking for days, and through the rainy zone. One woman was absolutely miserable.
Part of me wanted to follow her to back to Machu Picchu, in hopes that she would be awestruck at the site and the sights. And that she'd dry off quickly.
The only downside of the time here was one of our party wasn't prepared for the hike and had a few issues themselves. Another group member took it upon herself to care for and entertain said co-traveler. She was very angry at our guide.
Definitely created a sour vibe for a bit.
Just to underscore the sketch, it wasn't me who wanted to go home, it was the hiker.
I captured three terrifically attractive men in my sketchbook. The first was a real stunner. More salt than pepper American with his lady friend. The second, a Latin hiker who I forced my assistance on as he struggled to get the selfie he was aiming for. The third, much later, at our hotel in Quito. Like many very tall men, someone felt at liberty to ask in astonishment how tall he was, which I overheard. That's how I know.
Two really special days in the Sacred Valley. Beautiful scenery, customs. I could easily see myself touring and exploring by Vespa for months and months. The first spread is a nice summary of my time there. The second drawing my imagining of the Shaman's tale of the condor, the puma, and the snake. The last is the view from the courtyard of where I was staying. The blue line is on a train en route to Machu Picchu.
