While Jon was visiting we went to the beach to go whale watching. We went back to Puerto Lopez - the same place we went on spring break. It was actually cloudy the whole time but we did get to see some whales up close. It was hard to get a good picture because they would only come up briefly - but here's a tail.


After the Magic Roundabout (see below) we stopped at Termas Papallacta - these incredible thermal baths in the middle of the mountains. We had private baths right outside our room.

So what is the magic roundabout, you ask.... good question.

It is a roundabout in England that is really quite insane and then I think they named a children's show after it and then a hostal in the cloud forest of Ecuador... go figure.

Hello Kitty decided to come along for the ride.

We were there for about 15 minutes and suddenly Chris was translating for a group of biology students from England about mosses.


But there was a great porch (with hammocks), a great view and we got there was a wedding reception of two local residents in the main area that we got to attend!

When we got back to town we spent a day in the Old City (UNESCO World Heritage Site). It's full of colonial buildings and cobblestone.

I think this first building is the president's house.



On the hill you can see the panecillo, she looks over Quito and there's a great view of the city from up there.


Lots of places to stop and eat.