Nomad just lost in place

Tuesday I left for Bellavista Reserve. It was already nice as far as the weather in Quito. It took maybe an hour and a half to arrive at the lodge. At about 4500ft. the weather changed to mist with clouds surrounding the entire area. The lodge is built in what looks like jungle to me ,but is actually a cloud forest. I had a comfortable room with hummingbird feeders on my balcony that were already getting activity. Outside of that I could see nothing but forest. My first day was spent hiking out to view the avian activity ,which included going to a hummingbird sactuary where not only were there maybe hundreds of hummingbirds, but also some parrots as well. The next morning we were up at 4am. for the trip to an area where it was necessary to hike down in the forest to get sight of the national bird of Ecuador, which is called The Cock of the Rock. This majestic creature is mostly crimson with a beautiful crest and is somewhat difficult to spot. I managed to see 3 of them. I am glad it was worthwhile since the trail was very slippery and dark and any mistake along the way meant a nasty slide down into the forest below. The dining area of the lodge had a 360 degree view and the food was excellent. The last day was spent on an early morning hike during which I saw a Tucan among the vast number of hummingbirds again. I got to see the smallest one I have ever laid eyes on. We had an excellent guide by the name of Gabriel who was not only extremely knowledgeble but very patient and willing to answer any questions we had. Everyone seemed commited to the preservation of the forest and wildlife that lived there. I could not help coming away with more of a concern for the damage being done by the destruction of the habitat not only here but all over the world. I can only say that this trip has become somewhat of an eye-opener for me. Now I get to spend my last days here in Quito and hope to relax and digest all of the sights and information I have been exposed to the last 2 months. The people I have met along the way have been a bonus and always seem to be a hugh plus in my experience. Now it is time to sign-off and blend into the city life. Here it is, Saturday, and I decided to go to Otavalo, which is a town about 2 hrs. north of Quito to visit the largest outdoor market in Ecuador with some people I met at the hostel. This is something I wanted to do for quite a while and what better time than right before I leave.As usual, the bus ride was an adventure in itself. The market spans about 10 square blocks with everything one could hope to find. I managed to get a couple of things,but just enjoyed walking around and also having a nice lunch. I find myself making the most of my remaining time here. Two months seem to have flown by, but the image in the rear view mirror always seems smaller than what is ahead. I know I must have mentioned it before, but the view of Quito from my hostel reminds me of San Francisco and the weather is very similar as well. I guess it is like a little bit of home while far away. Anyway, Time to get out of this chair and sample more of Ecuador.

I left Cuenca with a slightly heavy heart. I found the place quite addictive. There was Louis , the owner of Clasico, the cafe where I not only enjoyed delicious food , but also got a number of free Spanish lessons. Cafe Austria, with atmosphere plus, as well as all of the sights of downtown that are too numerous to mention. I had planned on stopping in Latacunga for a few days before coming here to view Mt Cotopaxi, but since it was night, I missed my stop. Had this not happened I would have avoided getting stuck for 4 hrs. in a massive traffic jam due to a multi-car accident about 200 ft. ahead. It was raining which probably played a large role. We were out in the open country, yet in no time there were people out selling food and cold drinks. Anyway, by this time I decided to just head the rest of the way to Quito. I arrived in Quito, took a taxi to The Secret Garden hostel and hoped that they had a bed for the night, since this place is usually packed. My luck held out. I had a good nights rest and a great breakfast and I am enjoying today exploring Quito again. I managed to visit the Museo de Ciudad which I found really interesting, then had lunch,which consisted of salad, rice, beans, potatoes, fish and a drink for $2.60. I can tell I am back in Ecuador. The hostel I am staying in is one of the best. It has an amazing view of Quito, delicious food ( vegetarians no problem ), a very friendly staff, and best of all , it is set-up where there is an upper level terrace for the dining and socializing portion of the stay. It is no wonder it is usually full. Tomorrow I plan to tour the newer city. January 21st. I had an interesting weekend just wandering around the city. I managed to find the Ecuadorean flea market by just walking until something appeared. I found the central park where the Jardin Botanica is located. There is something special about viewing the exotic plants that are native to another country, and since Ecuador is located on the Equator, there seems to be quite a variety of things that are unlike what I usually see. When I returned I found out that the evening meal was going to be including some musical entertainment by a local group of people playing Ecuadorean tunes. They have already released several CDs, so the performance went really well. This hostel is unlike any I have stayed at in all of my travels. New people arrive everyday , yet after several hours they sort of blend-in with the rest of the guests , and it feels like one hugh family. I seem to meet new people on a regular basis and learn so much by just engaging them in conversation. I have found that traveling just seems to agree with me. Anyway, this is my last day in Quito since I leave for the Cloud Forest tomorrow but I will return for about a 5 day stay before heading home. Hopefully, I will see plenty of Aves on my side trip. Adios , till next time.