Return to Quito

Today was a travel day. We paddle across the lake from the lodge where we hike for 30 minutes before reaching the Napo river. We are treated to red Howler monkeys playing above the trail as we pass. Its then a 2 hour power boat ride (the last hour was in heavy rain) before we reach Coca to catch our plane back to Quito. The bad weather leads to a series of delays so we wait it out in the tiny, hole-in-the-wall airport. We finally arrive Quito by late afternoon and after more travel delays (excessive traffic) get us to our hotel much later than anticipated. Our clothes are all damp, dirty and stinky from the Amazon and we desperately need some help before heading out at 5 am tomorrow morning! Fortunately, the people at our small hotel take pity on us (perhaps we smelt as bad as our clothing) and did a rush load of laundry so that we'd have the clean essentials. The kids were good but understandably fed up after a long day. Luckily, the hotel's resident rabbit Brownie which hops freely about the property - in and out - provides some relief for this travel weary family !