Northern Equador

Imbabura Volcano,
originally uploaded by Hol Riz.

We journeyed on from Quito to the north and stayed at one of the countrys oldest Haciendas. It was beautiful and we even had an open fire in our room each night which was a real treat. We spent a couple of days there horse back riding through the mountains and then swimming in their pool. very relaxing!

However not ones to rest for too long we moved on to the town of Otavello which every Saturday has the largest indiginous market in Latin America. We spend the morning exploring the amazing colours and smells of the market which seems to engulf the whole town with its offerings of food, animals and clothes then went to a condor park in the afternoon and saw the magnificent creatures and well as many other birds of Prey. We also found time to take a boat trip on a lake formed in the imploded crater of a volcano.

Tomorrow we plan to head down south to do a bit more volcano spotting, this time Cotopaxi, one of the highest active volcanos in the world (one which Becky´s sister has also climbed). talking of Becky´s sister we would just like to say how proud we are that she has just become one of a team of four who are the first team of all Bristish females to cross the Greenland icecap, they are currently trying to break the record for the fastest crossing too, to find out more see www.arcticfoxes.co.uk.

Lots of love Holland and Becky x