Can we talk about the fact that it’s July? How did that happen? Shane and I are just back from a glorious 10 days in the Galápagos Islands (!!), but before I get to that, I need to round out my family trip back in *gasp* April, when my mom visited for about 3 weeks.
After our adventures to Puerto López, Isla de la Plata, and Otavalo, my cousin Clancy joined us for the final 10 days of the trip. Our itinerary included Quito, Tena, and Cuyabeno Nature Reserve (more on that later!) and, other than Cuyabeno, was a hodgepodge of activities.
So, please enjoy my ramblings. 😜
First, I want to mention our amazing Airbnb in Quito. I mean, these views. On a clear day you could see three volcanoes from the balcony: Illinizas (north and south) and Pichincha. 😍
We wasted no time, and literally two hours after Clancy landed, we were off to the middle of the world! This was my third trip to the Midad del Mundo, and I’m sure it won’t be my last. How can you deny someone the joy of standing in two hemispheres at once?! Plus, I really enjoy the Intiñan Site Museum; it’s so interactive!
And, in case you’re keeping track, this was Mom’s 2nd of 3 trips to the equator during her three-week visit. Lucky lady!
We also happened to be in Quito during Easter weekend, which is a special weekend for Quiteños owing to the Jesus del Gran Poder procession on Good Friday. It’s probably best known to outsiders for its striking purple outfits.
Jesus del Gran Poder refers to a 17th-century wooden sculpture used to unite followers. The first procession occurred in Quito in 1961, with participants uniting around the image of Jesus del Gran Poder, and the procession has continued since to remember the death of Jesus. You’ll also notice in the photos that the participants carry heavy crosses, wear chains or cactuses strapped to their backs, or whip themselves as they walk. All this is to not only symbolize but recreate the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus. I’m not religious, but this was still an interesting event to witness!
While in Quito, we also went to Cafe Mosaico for canelazo at sunset. Mom and I also visited the Guayasamín art museum (one of the most well-known Ecuadorian artists) and ventured to over 4,000 meters on the teleferico (cable car)!
After our time in Quito, we were off to Tena!
It’s always exciting to show off your city to visitors, so naturally, it rained nearly the entire time, we couldn’t do any roof sittin’, and nary a volcano revealed itself! I guess at least they got a true rainforest experience? 🤷♀️
Nonetheless, we managed to get a few rain-free hours to visit Ikiam and Shane’s insectaries and Parque Amazónico La Isla in the center of Tena. This visit was particularly exciting because the squirrel monkeys were out (so so cute), as was the elusive tapir! Apparently, this park used to be a zoo, but somewhere along the line, it became too expensive to maintain. So, most of the animals were sent to other locations. The squirrel monkeys and tapir couldn’t be moved for whatever reason and now live freely in the park.
Also, unfortunately, “park” is a bit of a loose term. For example, the walkways were never finished, and the completed aspects, like the viewing tower, were abandoned and left to deteriorate. Consequently, crime in the park has increased since we’ve lived here. So, where you used to be able to wander freely, now you must go with a guide ($1 per person), which, in a way, was nice since they pointed out things I hadn’t noticed before. However, this is only one example of a common problem; Tena and many other places throughout the country simply don’t have the money to maintain various things, especially in an environment like the rainforest, where the sun and rain accelerate wear and tear.
And, of course there was time for helado con queso. In my opinion, a trip to Ecuador would be incomplete without it. 😬
Tena was the jumping-off point for the final part of the trip–Cuyabeno Nature Reserve!
So, nos vemos pronto!
The Shwits 
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