Day 1 - Friday, March 10

West Columbia, SC to Quito, Ecuador

Departed home at 6:00 a.m. and arrived in Quito at 8:45 p.m. by way of Charlotte and Miami. Quito is the capital of Ecuador and is located in a high Andean valley, flanked all around by mountains. The city is located almost directly on the Equator, but its high elevation (9,300 feet) gives it a spring-like climate year-round. The population of Quito is just under 2 million people.

After going through customs, we were met at the airport by our Quito guide, Fernando, and driver, Fausto, and transferred to the Hilton Colon, located in Quito’s central district.

The hotel itself was pretty ordinary, but it was located across from a park which was the site of the colorful weekend market. From our window, we could see the park and mountains in the distance.

Inside the hotel, every flat surface was adorned with a huge container of fresh roses – one of the biggest export industries in Ecuador.