The bags are outside my room and I head to breakfast in the main pavilion and snap a few final photos to remember this beautiful oasis in the jungle.
The walk from the lodge to the bus is so different in the daylight. You can hear the river bubbling along its banks. Birds are singing announcing that we will have another wonderful day. But first, we have to tackle this pot-holed road and Joanne is not feeling well. Sadly, she missed our dinner last night. I hope she feels better soon but the road will not help with any nausea. Joanne and her husband James sit at the back of the bus.
Carlos is happily chatting to the passengers at the front of the bus and I just sit back and relax. We will be stopping along the way at a hot spring by the Paso Papallecta (4063 metres) in the Andes for lunch and hopefully a swim. For now, we will retrace our steps back through the mountains with our final destination being Quito. The weather seems to be cooperating today.
Roberto (our driver) stops the bus in front of a street market in a little town so we can stretch our legs and have a comfort break. I wander through the market looking at the beautiful fruits and crafts before heading back to the bus. Roberto offers me a piece of guaba which looked so interesting. That isn’t a spelling mistake. The guaba fruit is green and long. When twisted and opened, it contains seeds covered in a soft, marshmallowy (such a word? lol) pulp. You suck the pulp and discard the black seed. The seed is large and not small like a watermelon seed and we are instructed to spit it out on the road (biodegradable). What an interesting flavour. The guaba fruit is also called the “ice cream bean” and I can understand why. It is delicious and sweet.
The one thing I do enjoy about being on the bus is that we make frequent stops. Sometimes it is a for a photo opportunity, a comfort break or for a meal.
Another memorable stop is a chocolate and coffee shop overlooking an immense mountain canyon. This nondescript building along the highway clings to the side of a ravine. The proprietors are warm and friendly. I enjoy the view so much that I only have a short time to sample their chocolate products. I could picture tourists and locals alike coming in and ordering a hot chocolate or a coffee, pulling up a seat and enjoying the view while the rich beverages warm their bodies. It is cool in the mountains.
I convince the mother/owner to give me a tour of her garden and a highlight is her mushroom farm. She looks pleased that someone is interested in her mushroom business. Inside plastic walls are rows of bags of dirt and manure with different kinds of mushrooms sprouting from them. The plastic creates a humid environment and there is little light so the spores can germinate. Mushrooms are cool! Racks of these bags stand 8 rows high. A mushroom grow-op! She explains some are sold for food and some for medicine. I find it fascinating and express my gratitude for sharing it with me.
Termas de Papallecta
We are approximately an hour from Quito when we turn down a road to Termas de Papallecta. This is where we will be stopping for lunch and if we want, a thermal spa. Heck yes! After paying the entrance fee of around 20 $US to enter which includes a towel, I head to the change room, grab a basket for my clothes and change into my bathing suit. I put the basket in the locker and take the key with me. The place is spotless.
Before heading into the thermal pool, I see a hummingbird enjoying the nectar of a hibiscus flower. It hums and flitters away quickly, but returns a minute later. It doesn’t seem bothered by humans. His green head glitters in the sunshine and I silently note it it is larger than the hummingbirds I have seen in Canada.
The air is cool, so entering the warm thermal water is now a priority. Mandy, Robert, Lynn and Dan are already enjoying it. I bury myself up to my neck and sigh as the warmth of the water soothes my bones. I can’t stay long though. I begin to feel a little light-headed but nothing major but think it best to get out. I wander through the gardens and then head back to the change room for a shower and change for lunch. My body feels relaxed and a little heavy. I’m sure its the altitude, the thermal pool and the cool, fresh air. I might have to have a nap on the bus.
Dining in the Andes Mountains
A short walk down the path is the Sucus Restaurant. It is beautiful and elegant. I hadn’t planned for this and thought I was a tad underdressed but looking around, everyone is casual. The waiters provide top notch service and excellent recommendations. The food is delicious and presented beautifully. I have the risotto but the steak looks amazing. Lately, I have been craving red meat. My diet has been primarily fish. That’s a good thing though. The main course plus a drink was 20 US$. Not bad considering the atmosphere. I am eating lunch in the Andes Mountains!
Paying the bill, it is time to head to the bus. I take my full belly along the path chatting when we hear Carlos beckoning us. We thought we were headed in the right direction but we were going away from the bus. Hurrying to the bus, I realize that the altitude is affecting me. I feel a little out of breath but tell myself that in a few minutes we will be descending and all will be better, and I was right. Less than an hour later, we are in Quito and headed to the hotel where we will once again stay at the Airport Holiday Inn Express for the final evening.
Back at the hotel, Plan A is to get a massage, but it is closed. Plan B is to go for a dip in the pool, but the skies have opened up. Plan C, get bags organized for the flight home tomorrow, do a flight check-in and then meet the gang in the lounge for a group dinner. Plan C it is.
Crisis Averted
The next morning, we board the hotel shuttle to the airport. The airline ends up checking my carry-on for free which is appreciated. I don’t mind checking bags on the way home but not on my incoming flight. I like to know I have my belongings. Also, I have my electronics with me so nothing of real value can get lost. Additionally, I have a tracker in my suitcase so I can always locate the bag. See below for my recommendation for a bag tracker.
After bag check, I noticed the rest of our party gathered around the kiosk machines grabbing their luggage tags. There is commotion when JoAnn discovers she doesn’t have her purse. Oh no! She left it on the hotel shuttle. Everyone jumps to her aid and the worst is her passport is in her purse. That must have been a horrible feeling. You are in a country, misplace your passport and you don’t speak the language. Marty jumps in to assist by making a call to try and get the Holiday Inn Quito but we end up at the International Customer Service number. The Spanish person is speaking to an English person who translates, and then the conversation goes back to Spanish. At least I could use my Spanish to keep Esther informed of what is happening. After some deep breaths, and some calming words, we are finally told the shuttle is still in the terminal but on the lower level. JoAnn and I grab an elevator and head downstairs where we flag down the shuttle where she is reunited with her purse. Phew! Crisis averted! That must have been quite the scare for her and we were grateful it all worked out. That would not have been a good way to end her trip.
Goodbye Ecuador
I loved this trip. It met most of my expectations. Far exceeding my expectations was the beauty of the Galapagos Islands and the lushness of the Amazon rain forest. The sea life, and plant life is unique and mostly unspoiled. The scenery is spectacular. It would have been nice to have more time for snorkelling, so if I return one day, I would likely hire a guide vs. doing an organized tour. There are many of them. The Amazon is interesting. I was slightly disappointed that I didn’t see more animals, spiders and snakes but the plant life and flowers are incredible. You can’t control nature. I love the rain. It is wonderful falling asleep to the pounding sound of the rain on the tree canopy. One minute it is thunderous, and the next you are lulled to sleep by the cicadas singing their song. Overall, I found the food to be a little bland but there were some highlights and most of the time it could be remedied by asking for some salsa piquante. If you are a fish lover, it is fresh and yummy. Exottica reps for the most part did a fine job. I shared my feedback both positive and negative with Exottica and my agent. Hopefully, this feedback will be reflected in future packages.
Travel Product Recommendations
The following are recommendations for travel items I used on this trip. Note with the exception of the eSim, I do not receive any affiliate commission for these recommendations.
Ekster® FindMy® Card – this credit card size tracker is easy to use and I always know where my bag was. It works well with my iPhone. I have used the Apple AirTag in the past and found installing the battery a pain, especially with my arthritic fingers. This product comes with a magnetic USB charge cord and I like the slim profile. You can use it in your luggage and due to its size, even in your wallet. The second item is the Ekster® TravelPack™ Vacuum Kit. I have two but only needed one for my carry-on. It has an USB air compressor that removes the air from the bag, leaving room for all my other items. Airlines are charging for checking luggage and in some cases carry-on baggage. Remember: Check the airline site you are travelling with to ensure your bag isn’t over the weight and size requirements. Air Canada Panache Carry-on – this bag worked well for me. Latin American airlines have strict size requirements and this met the standard. I will use this one for future trips. I also liked the quality of the 4-wheels, the Air Canada branding and the exterior pockets. Airalo eSim – I have used this eSim for my last 3 trips and have not experienced any difficulties. I purchase regional packages and top up if needed. I didn’t have to top up this time around.
It is lovely connecting with people who share the love of travel. Because of that love, there is always something to talk about and thankfully the priority is not about what we do or did for a living. Status doesn’t matter when you travel. We are on equal footing. What does matter is the shared experience, learning and laughing together. We can protect our anonymity or reveal more of ourselves at our own pace. If you are fortunate, your connection is far greater and you end up developing friendships.
Solo Travelling
Being a solo traveller for many years has given me the opportunity for personal development, stretched me outside of my social and physical comfort zones and provided quality time for self-reflection. This blog also gives me time to reflect on what I have learned about myself and others. I hope you have enjoyed following this adventure and it would be appreciated if you would follow me by providing your email address. Updates will come directly to your inbox. If not, thanks for dropping by.
A Huge Thank You!
Thank you to my travel buddies for making this trip fun and for being terrific companions. I wish you safe travels wherever you go in the future I would also like to extend my thanks to Carrie @ Travel Best Bets (check out their trending deals) who provide excellent service, and to Exottica for their support while out of country.
My biggest thanks goes to my followers who provide amazing support and inspire me to keep writing. I am always open to suggestions. Stay tuned for my next adventure!
Just In!
Remember this beautiful tree with the pink petals falling? Elena. our biologist was able to find the name for me. Thanks Elena!
The Latin name is Syzgium malaccense. It also goes by the common names (Malay apple, rose apple or pomerosa) which was introduced from Malaysia. Thanks again Elena!
By the way, if you haven’t seen his work, our talented travelling buddy James McKeag is a visual artist/teacher. Please check out his incredible work at the above link. He has inspired me to pull out my paint supplies again.
