Have camera will travel

Same morning routine. Down for breakfast with most of the group, then get organized and now something different. Onto a small bus and off for a tour of the “Old Town”.
A crazy zig zag drive up and down and around but mostly up to get up to see the Quito Virgin. A statue on top of a high hill. We were at about 9200ft above sea level. We got the history lesson about the statue and as in most tour there were some people who thought they should talk while the guide was explaining things. Going to be a long 3 weeks.
From there we went down to the centre of Old a Town and started a walking tour between churches. We were lucky when hit the main square as there was a changing of the guard in front of the presidential palace. Lots of pageantry blue instead of the red of England and many many police, even in riot gear.
From there we wandered down the street with street sellers following us all the way. I wanted to buy a small painting on goat skin, but the guy didn’t follow us after we came out of the last church. We had empanadas and a cold drink outside a convent. Afterwards we hopped on the bus for the perilous journey back to the hotel. Back at the hotel we wandered across the street to have a light lunch.
Then a trip to store to get some bigger bottles of water.
I then downloaded all the images we took today. But after an hour of trying to get any photos I gave up before I threw the laptop out the window. Between google and Microsoft I was swearing a lot. I gave up. Sorry. I will try after the Amazon.
We all went out for supper to a steak house around the corner. Good food but way to much. It was a grill with steak and chicken and fish and chorizo and very little vegetables.
Back to the hotel and organize what we are taking and what we are storing here till we get back from the jungle.
While we were packing and unpacking the member of our group who had her camera gear stolen came screaming up 3 flights of stairs to say they “found” her pack. So off to the airport she went with our tour leader. I think our tour guide from today has something to do with the bag being found. She asked us about the theft, and when she knew who and what had been taken she made s phone call. Just a coincidence?? I don’t know. Now we are awaiting their return so we can celebrate.
Tomorrow we are up early and on the bus, plane, bus, and dugout canoe to the Amazon.