Getting to Ecuador is Easier The Second Time Around

Getting to EC isn't as intimidating this time around. We know where we're going and how to negotiate the language barrier. Breakfast at Hartsfield and an uneventful flight to Miami is a great way to start our trip.  As usual we noticed that Miami International Airport was our first experience dealing with Spanish as the predominant language!

Arrived in Quito after dark and spent the night at the Quito Airport Suites.  Poor Jeff.  As we were checking in I noticed a couple of dogs running around and then one of them peed on Jeffs' suitcase.  I tried to be quiet about it but if anyone knows me then you know things escalated pretty quickly.  I'm pretty sure that those dogs won't be back anytime soon to the hostal.  Anyway we got checked in and had a good nights sleep.  On to Cuenca this morning!

We landed on an airstrip that I wouldn't want to drive my Tundra down at 60 miles an hour much less land a plane.  There were houses about 50 feet on both sides of the runway and our pilot set her down perfectly.  Beverly, our landlord, met us at the airport and took us to our apartment.  We went thru 4 doors that all had to be unlocked and relocked behind us.  I feel pretty secure.  We're in the back of an office building in downtown El Centro which is pretty quiet today, Sunday, but I'll be interested to see how quiet it is during the week.  Here's a few pics of where we'll be staying for 2 weeks.

Our foyer

 Our living room with Jeff on his computer.  Great Wifi! There's a TV on the wall to the right with DirecTV.

There are 4 steps DOWN from the foyer to the living room.

 Our kitchen which is on the other side of the counter where Jeff's working.

  There's 4 steps UP into the kitchen.

 Here's the hall down to our bedroom.  Jeff and I can't both fit in this hall at the same time.

The bathroom is to the right.

There's 1 BIG step UP into the bathroom.  

Shower is behind the door.

Our bedroom.  There's a closet at the foot of the bed.

The patio looking area is not real.  It's a mural with a skylight.

We ate lunch at Windhorse Cafe which was a place we visited several times last year.  I got a turkey sub and Jeff got a Coney Dog with chili.  After a couple of hours of napping we went grocery shopping next door at The Tia.  It's a small store kinda like Dollar General size and carries a little bit of everything but not at Dollar General prices.  We bought a loaf of bread, peanut butter in a bag, jelly in a bag, 8 eggs unrefrigerated, yogurt in a bag, granola, milk in a bag, margarine, and Quaker oats. Cost $16.28.  We had PB&J with milk and Oreos tonight.  Shopping at the Mercado tomorrow!

Overall a quiet day and night.  Lots of walking and sightseeing tomorrow!