Hochmuth Adventures 2023

Trip to Ecuador

Day 1 - Tuesday, November 7, 2023 - JFK to Quito

Eric was sweet and drove us to JFK but we had to wait quite a while to check in and were a bit late in taking off. It was an uneventful flight and we landed at 7:00 a.m. only about 50 minutes behind schedule. Edgar picked us up and said that it was a 40 minute drive to our hotel Mercure. It turned out to be more like an hour with terrible traffic. Edgar told us that to try to alleviate the problem there were certain days that people couldn't drive which was determined by the last number of your license ie 1 & 2 couldn't drive on Mon. Edgar also warned us that it wasn't safe to walk around Quito after 6:00. He advised taking a cab or Uber if we needed to be out and about. We got to the hotel but of course it was too early to check in so we walked around and got breakfast near the hotel. We had a roll, 2 eggs, rice, chicken, lettuce, tomato, avocado and fresh squeezed juice all for $3.50. Food was generally inexpensive in Ecudor. We walked around some more but the woman at the front desk gave us the wrong directions so we just enjoyed seeing some of the city. We came back and to the hotel and rested for a bit, showered and went out to dinner. We had Sangria, wings and flan. On our way back to the hotel (which by the way was very nice) before 6:00 I was told by a man in the store to put my phone away before I left the store (which I would have done) because it wasn't safe. We, of course, had read up on Ecudor before we left and realized they were having social issues. I guess we'll make sure to be very careful while we're here - but we usually are anyway. It was an early night since we have to have breakfast and be checked out before we meet our tour guide tomorrow at 8:00 a.m.

Views of Quito

Hotel Mercure

view from our balcony

Trip to Ecuador

Day 2 - Wednesday, November 8, 2023 - Quito/Tena/Amazon

This morning we had our Exoticca briefing. Evidently our guide got stuck somewhere but his replacement, Alex, will be taking care of us. Our first stop was Old Town, this was part of Quito that I remembered well and had not changed much in 50 years since I was there as a summer exchange student. We stopped at the National Basilica which was beautiful but not the church that I remembered most - that will come. Then it was on to a chocolate tasting. After taking a Rhine River Cruise just a few months prior and trying so much chocolate during the cruise, we found out that much of it probably was grown in Ecuador. We saw a row of churches and went to the main square where the Presidential "Palace" is located. Then we went to San Francisco Church which I remembered vividly. From there it was on to the Amazon rainforest. Unfortunately, even though we were going to a lodge that was closer to Quito than they usually frequented we broke down twice and were delayed in getting to our destination. We did stop for lunch but it wasn't at the planned restaurant. We had a nice lunch though and it was more than reasonable. Our lunch was 1/2 trout, plantains, beans, salad, rice, soup with beef, veggies and guayusa - Incan energy drink - all for $3.75. By the time we got to Huasquila Lodge it was 6:30 - just about time for dinner. Everyone had the same meal which was fine for me but not all people were thrilled with that. After dinner we put on our boots and took a night walk through the jungle but we didn't see much but bugs, grasshoppers, tiny frogs and a huge spider. It was very muddy and slippery. Time for bed.

Views of Old Town Quito

The National Basilica

Had to take a picture for Alma

Great place for a chocolate tasting

Along with tasting we learned all about chocolate

More Views of Old Town

Virgen of the Panecillo

Independence Monument

Metropolitan Cathedral of Quito

Carondelet Palace- Seat of Government

San Francisco Church - this is the church I went to and
I remember being in awe when I first saw it

All the gold was stunning

On the way to Tena and the Amazon Jungle

Roast lamb and smoked meat

Lunch

As you can see the food was inexpensive in Ecuador

Rainbow on the way to the Amazon

Simple Accommodations at the Lodge

Big spider sighted on our night walk

Trip to Ecuador

Day 3 - Thursday, November 9, 2023 - Amazon

Breakfast was at 8:00 and then it was on to our day hike to the waterfall. The walk was slippery again this morning and I was glad to have my walking stick for balance. It was pretty humid out and Ron was first of the few people who went under the falls to cool off. After our walk we came back to the lodge and read until lunch at 1:30. At 3:00 we walked a mile to the local Kichwa Community. There we learned about their culture and history. We tasted some of their teas, watched and then joined in one of their dances. At their artisan store we bought a fish and some Guayusa Tea. When we returned to the lodge the power was off which they said was a usual occurrence daily between 2:00 and 5:00. It came back on at 5:30 in time for a shower followed by a drink before dinner.

Views of our Lodge