Getting to Quito

I stayed up most of the night on the 17th, packing and organizing all my things that I was leaving at my parents’ house, and then couldn’t really sleep when I tried.  It was going to be a long day of flights and waiting in airports.  Getting through security was easy in Minneapolis, since it was 6:30am.  I dosed on the flight to Houston and woke up from the plane wheels hitting the tarmac.  During my three hour layover in Houston, I had some nice long chats with my brother and grandma…and then also got a call that my flight out of Miami was delayed an hour, making landing time in Quito now 12:15am.  I didn’t mind a little extra time to do some reading and people-watch in the Miami airport.  Once on the plane, though, they had to do some engine checks and we were delayed another half hour. 

It was a smooth flight; the best part was landing in Quito.  The city is so high in the mountains (9,350 feet) that it is often in the clouds, literally.  From above, the city lights looked like smoldering embers of campfire with a puffy blanket of clouds hovering over them.  It was magical-looking.  The lighted switchbacks at the edge of the city, connecting to the maze of roads in the city, looked like connect the dots puzzle.  It’s still fun to stare out the plane windows.

Landing was fine, but there was no applause like the last couple times…people must have been tired.  Customs went pretty quickly and I found my cab driver sent by the hostel to pick me up.  The only other passenger was from England and staying in Ecuador for a two-month vacation.  I safely arrived at my hostel and went to bed at 1:39am.  What A Long Day.

Today I’m getting a few groceries for my week here in Quito and then attempting to go find a cell phone.  I’ll keep you posted…