- 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
IMG_2834 - IMG 2835
IMG_2835 - IMG 2836
IMG_2836 - IMG 2839
IMG_2839 - IMG 2844
The friendly proprietor of our hostel, Don Rueben, a retired civil engineer. - PICT0064
As the only first-timer in Amsterdam, I occasionally set off to sight-see by myself. The next few shots are in the Van Gogh museum. - PICT0065
Beautiful architecture, I thought. - PICT0066
This was an exhibit of photographs of places where Van Gogh lived and worked. - PICT0068
A little courtyard action. - PICT0069
Okay, I just thought it was a cool building. - PICT0070
I reunited with Sarah and Kacee, who found some nice frat boys from Georgia to hang out in the big park with us. - PICT0071
Bikes, trees, sunlight (informative caption) - PICT0072
Deciding she'd rather have fresh armpits than her dignity, Sarah applies some deodorant in the park while Gary watches, bemused. - PICT0073
The people watching in Amsterdam was world-class. We liked our neighbor picnickers--the gay skinheads. - PICT0074
The group. We didn't move for 6 hours. Except for very exciting trips to the bathroom. - PICT0076
Kacee, and a statue of Mr. Vondel (of Vondel Park, where we sat all day) - PICT0077
Sarah stocks up on snacks. Mmmm, stroop wafels... - PICT0079
In the Rijksmuseum, the huge national museum. Much of it was closed to get rid of asbestos, eek, but the highlights were open. - PICT0081
Rembradt's Nightwatch, probably the most famous in the museum. - PICT0082
Main gallery. - PICT0084
Deciding I need to lighten my load, I drop four shirts and a legal pad out the window. Kacee assures me that someone will pick it up for use within 15 minutes. She's right.