- IMG 2813
Flight the first: from Austin to Dallas at about 2pm on the fifth (duration: 35min). - IMG 2814
Flight the second: Dallas to Miami, at about 3pm (duration: 3hr 20min). - IMG 2817
No, really. This is a different flight. This one left from Miami going to Santiago, Chile at about 10pm on the fifth. On the flight dinner and breakfast were served, and we each got our own personal eye covers to sleep. (duration: 7hrs). - IMG 2818
We arrived in Santiago at about 7am (time there is the same as eastern). We got a coupon for lunch, and only had to wait through the 11hr layover. Here is your humble narrator getting a little sleep in the terminal. - IMG 2820
Sunset in Santiago, many hours of waiting later. We forgot to take a picture of our last flight from Santiago to Quito that lasted about 5 hours. The total travel time was about 34 hours. Whee. - IMG 2826
The view of Quito from Adrián´s apartment, taken the morning after we arrived. - IMG 2827
This is our hostel in the middle of Quito. It´s quite well-appointed, with hot water (in a shared bathroom), telephone (shared), access to a kitchen and laundry facilities, and two comfy beds for $5/night each. - IMG 2831
There was a big footrace (about 5000 runners) on Sunday near our hostel. We went out to watch the goings-on. - IMG 2833
We made a picnic in the foothills of the Andes with Hugo, his wife Rita, their daughter Ana, and a visiting friend Frank. It was quite beautiful. - IMG 2834
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IMG_2835 - IMG 2836
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The friendly proprietor of our hostel, Don Rueben, a retired civil engineer. - PICT0001
Sarah, my brave travelling companion, on the train from Paris's hellhole of an airport. It's 7 am. She hasn't slept all night. Neither have I. - PICT0002
We got off the train at a metro stop downtown and decided to walk to the hostel we hoped would have room for us (after discovering the one we'd made reservations at was in the red light district). In retrospect, it was a mistake to tackle the miles with packs on, but in this picture I was excited. We'd emerged into the city and immediately found a sight! (What is it? Who knows! But definitely a sight.) - PICT0005
The view from the window of our hostel, which finally let us in for a merciful nap at 3:00. Pretty Paris rooftops. - PICT0006
After the blessed sleep, Sarah and I decided to be true tourists and picnic and watch the sun set at the Eiffel Tower. Which we finally found after getting lost, again. - PICT0007
It was really an exquisite picnic. A baguette, brie, the best strawberries I've ever tasted (featured here), and little bottles of chocolate mousse. Probably among the best meals I ate in Europe. - PICT0009
Me, post-picnic, in front of the Eiffel Tower. At this point, I still don't believe we're in Paris. - PICT0010
No comment. - PICT0011
Sarah, in the Paris train station, as we jog to catch the train to Brussels. - PICT0012
Leslie having lunch at a sidewalk café (overpriced, naturalmente) in Brussels. The main plaza is behind me. - PICT0014
Sarah in quaint Belgian street. - PICT0015
Leslie in front of one of many cathedrals in the fine city of Brussels. This one they light up at night, changing colors and patterns to classical music. Cheesy but endearing. - PICT0016
Looking up at said cathedral's spire. - PICT0018
Building facades in the main plaza. The unifying theme: dingy Baroque. - PICT0019
I think the best thing we did in Brussels was leave the beaten tourist path on a walking tour suggested by our faithful "Let's Go." We saw lots of beautiful older buildings side-by-side with modern ones, which I tried to get at with this photo. - PICT0020
A narrow cobblestone street! We must take a picture! - PICT0022
Sarah in a park. (This is all on our book-guided walking tour.)