February 12,2009

The Millburn Girl Scouts have made it safely to Ecuador. One half of our group arrived on Tuesday and spent the nigh in Quito, others arrived on Wednesday and drove directly to the northern Highlands region of Purto Largo.
Quito is the capital of Ecuador. It is located in the valley of a high Andean valley. Quito has an altitude of about 9,000 feet. It is divided into the new town and the old town. Most of the hotels and businesses are located her. Last night we stayed at the Hotel Sebastian. In the morning we took the
teleferiQo tram up to the volcano Pichincha. We hiked up the mountain further. By the time we had reached the summit our GPS indicated that we we at an altitude of 13,000 feet! It was amazing to hike among the cloud forest where the vegetation there gets its moisture from the clouds and mist.
After lunch we boarded our bus for the 2 hour ride up to Puerto Lago. It is a beautiful spot in the northern highlands. We have posted some photos. The hotel is just south of the Otavalo market, which is where we are headed on Thursday. The hotel looks out onto a lake and sports a range of wildlife and animals including lamas and ducks and other waterfowl. Across from the lake is one of the many volcanoes- both active an in active that dot the Ecuadorian landscape.
Tonight we had dinner at the hotel. A photo of the girls along with friends and family is also posted. The kids have been charged with trying 10 new foods. Some have tried new types of fish, soups and juices. Some ate unidentifiable meat- it may have been the national delicacy- guiinea pig, but we are not sure.
One difference between home and Ecuador is the regularity of the sunrise and sunset- the sun rises every day at 6:15 and sets at 6:15- and by 7pm it is dark.
Unfortunately, Internet access is not that great up here in the mountains, so we will try to post as often as we can.