Hilton Adventures: Ecuador--Our Favorite Place of All

This day we had to wait out a Road Strike
our driver called us the morning we were to leave the Sacred Valley
to tell us their was a Road Strike and it would not be safe to travel
until the strikers got tired which was usually about 5:00pm
Can You Believe It !!
Plane Strike, a Train Strike and a Road Strike

Luckly we had planned to stay a day in Cusco, so we
were still able to catch our flight back to Ecuador on time
It was nice relaxing for a day in The Sacred Valley
doing NOTHING

It's Good to Back to Ecuador-the Country of Rose

Ecuador is a tiny country about the size of Oregon, yet it encompasses a huge variety of elevations and environments, from the Pacific coast to glacier-clad Andean highlands, to the Amazonian low-lands, to the Galapagos Islands, 620 miles off the coast. We experienced it all, in a months time, taking hundreds of pictures of which we will be able to show you only a few of the highlights. We must share two separate posts however, for The Arasha Rainforest and The Galapagos Islands

Down town Quito, Ecuador

Otavalo
The largest indigenous market in South America

I just love the indigenous people

and Robert does too

Waterfalls are everywhere

The church members are so loving

Panecillo Hill
Ecuador was dedicated for missionary work in October 1965
by Elder Spencer W. Kimball.
The first converts were the taxi drivers
who took Elder Kimball to the Hill for the dedication.
He simply invited them to listen to the dedicatory prayer.

You can stop on the side of the road and pick and
eat a banana

Bickmore's being humanitarian missionaries had built a
relationship with the Colorado Indians and we were able
to enter their village

Rob tried to join the tribe, but they only accept redheads

Colorado Indian playing his homemade marimba

One day we were able to help in the church storehouse

The craft villages of Ecuador provide a unique glimpse
into the lives of the indigenous people who inhabit the area.
Each little village is "famous" for something.

Cotacachi for leather goods;

Wood carvings in San Antonio de Ibarra;
La Esperanza is known for its delicate embroidery.

Musical instruments in Peguche; Textiles in Agato .

Calderon is famous for its marzipan figures (Bread Dough )

We visited all of these places plus levi town, ice cream town,

taffy town, balsa town. I can't even remember all of them!!

We purchased gifts for each of our kids in Puyo (Balsa Town)

I was most interested in how
the harvested the wood

This small village of Cotacachi made
every possible creation from leather.
We bought purses here.

Peguche is one of the wealthiest towns in the Otavalo Valley.
The town’s artisans are renowned weavers.
They create detailed tapestries, rugs, blankets, bags and clothing,
which are shipped throughout the world