Cactus Club~ La Carolina Park Botanical Gardens

La Carolina Park Botanical Garden~ Quito

Robert relaxing.

I don't remember what it smelled like. I guess.... fruit punch?!?

(Thanks to Heath Hilary for this shot.)

Meeting in the Convent Gardens- Las Gardenias, Quito

A view of NW Quito from the front of the convent.

In the gardens.

Opening circle in the gazebo.

On the bus to the Botanical Gardens! First stop on our journey!

The backside of the convent, as seen from the gardens.

Convent Las Gardenias ~Quito, Ecuador

The Convent Las Gardenias in Quito was the meeting place for the beginning of our Plant Lovers Journey to Ecuador. Here we joined our group of fellow travelers, including my very beloved teachers and leaders of our trip, Rosemary Gladstar, Cascade Anderson Gellar and Rocio Alarcon, the same three women who I first traveled to Ecuador with in 1999. That trip was also my first independent international travel, and began what has unfurled as a lifetime of travel and adventure to many parts of the world, so far. They were joined on this trip by a fourth deep and wise woman, Kathleen Maeir  and by Robert Chartier, Rosemary's partner, whose steady and present energy is essential to group momentum in many ways! Fish was with me, both in '99 and now! We felt this trip was symbolic for us in many ways, most obvious being the full circle aspect, of completing a cycle of life by returning to where the adventures all started 13 years before. I was giddy with anticipation to get this party started! The convent was large, silent and.... well... immaculate. The rooms were stark and bare and the beds were... small... and VERY far apart. We could tell we were gonna have to redecorate for the evening. As a reminder that we were now in Ecuador, where plant spirits still dwell in the daily world with modern people, we kept running into San Pedro cactus everywhere we turned.

Our room at the convent. No funny business here!!

We found San Pedro hanging out in the stairwell!

The chapel.

 Our entertainment for the evening. Rocio's niece and professional dancer performed a few numbers for us in the basement of the convent. (Thank you Heath Hilary for these photos!)

Quito Streets

The view from our bedroom window in La Mariscal district of Quito. We rented a room in a lovely Ecuadorian woman's apartment and were able to come and go from it as if it were our own for the 6 weeks we were in Ecuador! We loved Pilar and we also loved the feeling of having a home while we were there! Behind the clouds to the left of the huge Banco building, lies on of the many volcanos that encircle this giant of a city.

For real! Some of the best advice I could give on visiting Quito is this.... find yourself a good cevicheria and go... like, everyday! Ceviche is somewhat of a national dish in Ecuador, and Ecuadorian ceviche is my absolute favorite version! This ceviche de camerones I'm enjoying is, perhaps, my favorite meal of all time! Fish ordered a mixed seafood casserole which was like nothing either of us had ever had before, cooked in some kind of thick and creamy peanutty flavored sauce. Ceviche in Ecuador is typically served with popcorn, fried plantain chips and roasted corn kernels, all heavily salted, and meant to be added to the ceviche at will! Wash it all down with a glass (or pitcher) of freshly pressed lime juice and there you have bliss!!

A perfect mocha. Quitena style!

In the last few hours before we were to head to the Convent to meet up with our group, we headed out for some lunch and a quick stroll around our neighborhood, La Mariscal. It's an upscale neighborhood with many restaurants and coffee shops that you won't find anywhere else in Ecuador. The guidebooks led me to believe this was a touristy area, but I hung here quite a bit and found it frequented MUCH more by wealthy Quiteno youth than foreign travelers. And the odd backpacker I saw stroll through looked quite out of place amongst the well dressed and very fashion forward throngs of Quiteno youngsters. Anyway, after our mocha stop, we hopped in a cab and headed out with great excitement to meet up with our group, and begin our 2 week journey into the heart of this culture.

Just-a waitin for a bus.~ Papallacta village, Ecuador 2/12

Got a pickup truck to drive us down the mountain and out to the highway where we could flag down the next bus headed to Quito. We were told the next bus could be here in 2-5 hours, depending on many variables! We were excited beyond belief to board a Quito bound bus with just 2 seats left in under an hours wait!! Travelers luck was on our side this day! We just as easily could have been standing in this very spot for a LONG time!

Hosteria La Pampa de Papallacta~ Ecuador 2/12C

Checking out and arranging our pickup ride to the bus station, doing a little browsing in the gift shop on the side.

A freshly cleaned pool just waiting to be filled with the volcanically heated mineral water!

Hosteria La Pampa de Papallacta ~ Ecuador 2/12Ou

Our room. With private soaking tub.

Another inside pool, directly underneath our room.

Taking time to stop and smell the Andean roses.

Coming down the trail back to our cozy fire-lit room! ~ Papallacta, Ecuador 2/12

At the top of the ridge enclosing Papallacta valley lay this world of swirling mists... and cows. ~ Ecuador 2/12

The ridge trail above the Hosteria~ Papallacta, Ecuador 2/12

Half way up the valley wall, looking up-valley toward the Termas.

Sliding through the muddy trail.

Cozy trail-side shelter from this rainy day!

Hosteria La Pampa de Papallacta~ Ecuador 2/12

The Hosteria was the third and final place to sleep in the Papallacta Valley. This view is looking up valley toward the Termas, from our room. The Termas are about 1/4 mile away.

Hosteria La Pampa de Papallacta~Ecuador 2/12

The exterior of the hosteria. Just over the walls, the inner courtyard contained a beautifully crafted outdoor hot pool, near the rooms. This hosteria is described as being "Flinstone-esque", and I could see the comparison.

This is described as their Cave Pool. Basically a large indoor hot pool. The rooms rustic rock construction and the dark steamy interior were a bit spooky, but what you don't see here is the large waterslide at the other end of the pool, which insured that this room was filled with the echos of squeeling, splashing children well into the night. Luckily the building was far from the rooms, and we were able to fill the HUGE tub in our room with hotspring water and soak in peace and silence! 

Hiking above Papallacta~ Ecuador 2/12

Taking a short hike up into the narrowing valley above the hot springs, everywhere the earth is overflowing with lush and flowering life!