Ecuador - Return to Quito

Today was mostly a travel day to return from the Galápagos Islands to Quito. We drove to the north part of the Santa Cruz Island to take a short ferry ride over to Baltra Island where we could catch our flight.

They piled all our luggage on top of the ferry which made some of us a little nervous.

The airport is on Baltra because in the 1940's the Ecuador government let the US build a navy base on the island to help protect the Panama Canal during the war. After the war, the US tore down the base and left the airstrip for Ecuador to use to bring people to the islands.

Once we were settled into our hotel in Quito, we visited the Mindalae Museum of Ethno-Historic Handicrafts of Ecuador. We learned about the ancient cultures of Ecuador and their various crafts such as pottery, weaving, music, and costumes. It was a great way to explore the cultures of the indigenous highland Indians, the Afro-Ecuadorians, the Amazonian Indians and the ‘Montubian’ coastal people.

After our tour of the museum, we had our farewell banquet there. It was a wonderful time to share some of our most memorable parts of the trip. Our group has been fantastic at being together and forging friendships. 

Starting from the left front going clockwise: Jeff, Lulu (our fearless tour leader), Mary Beth, Betty, Karen ( my Snickers bar buddy), Martha, me, Laurie, Suzanne, Lucy, Phil, and Gale. CHEERS!