First stop on my South American adventure...Quito. With mountain peaks and volcanos to climb to the west, old town and cobbled plazas lined with churches and monasteris to be descovered to the south. And the hussle and bustle of the new town to be emmersed in for the next four/five days i'm here.

Mt first day was spent descovering/getting lost in the narrow streets of the old town, which were not built for the crazy amount of traffic that flows through them. Highlights of the day included Parque la Alameda - graet siesta spots under the trees. Virgin de Quito 30m winged virgin with a serpant curled around her feet and chained to her arm, who sits high on the hill overlooking old town - not a patch on newcastle's angel of the north! I also saw Iglesia Santo Domingo, standard issue sixteenth century church built by dominican friars.

Due to my inadmission of poor sense of direction i wandered aimlessly. When talking to other people i now realise i missed all the best bits...oh well i'l never learn!

Next day it was time to takle the new town, the excellent Museo del Banco Central, Parque La Carolina, Jardin Botanico in the morning, Coffee on Mariscal Sucre in the afternoon watching the world go by.

Rucu pichincha here i come........