Ecuador

We spent a wonderful 10 days with Mom and Dad in Ecuador.

We attended church in Otavalo - the people are so friendly!

The meetings are held in Quichoa and Spanish so that was interesting!

 Later that day we hiked to a near by waterfall.

 We stayed in Porto Lago - a beautiful quaint little resort on the lake. 

 On Monday, we visited the Mitad del Mundo - the Center of the Earth.

There were lots of fun little experiments and interesting facts about the equator.

 

Later that day we walked through Quito - it is a beautiful city with lots of hills.

 

Before we left we drove to El Pancillo which overlooks the whole city of Quito.  It was here that Elder Kimball dedicated Ecuador to the preaching of the gospel.

  We flew to Guayaquil that evening and then to the Galapagos Islands the next day.  If you get sea-sick, think twice before you go to the Galapagos - you take boats all the time: Water taxis, ferries, small boats, big boats, any kind of boat!

 We visited the highlands first and saw lots of birds and many 500+ pound Galapagos Tortoises.

 The next day we took a tour to Bartolome - it was a beautiful day and we had so much fun!

 We saw sharks (they told us that they are friendly in the Galapagos!)...

 Penguins,

 Lots of marine iguanas,

 Sea Turtles and other fun fish and birds.

 The next day we hiked to Tortuga Bay - beautiful!  We wished we could have stayed the whole day!

 We then went snorkeling with little sea lions near the Loberia, cliff jumping at Los Grietos, and then out to see more sharks and iguanas.

 

We returned to Guayaquil the next morning after a yummy breakfast with a few little Darwinian finches!

 That evening ET and I went to the temple with Mom and Dad

 The children all did baptisms the next day.

 

We also hiked, played tennis, and visited the sights of Guayaquil.  

 Park of the Iguanas - and there are LOTS of them!

 Climbing the steps of Santa Ana

 Over-looking Guayaquil.

 

It was a great trip and so FUN to be with MOM and DAD!