Try as I might, I can't get my camera to connect to the Internet in the hotel so I canupload my photos. Hopefully I will get that sorted tomorrow in the lounge and I will upload the pics then. Sorry. Come back later.

In preparation for today's early start I was in bed and lights out by around 9 .00 pm last night so that I had had a decent sleep when my alarm went off at 4.20 am (which was in itself fortunate as the 4.30 wake up call I asked Fawlty Towers for came at 4.42 am !!!).

Yesterday afternoon in Quito was quite cool and as my room did not have an obvious heater or air conditioning (not sure what happens in winter when it is very cold in Quito - maybe the hotel has central heating) by the time I went to bed in my minimal summer night wear I was feeling cold and was happy to snuggle in under 3 layers. As I warmed up and dozed off I had an internal smile about the contrast with going to bed the previous night at Yachana which has no windows, just screens, where it was so warm that I only pulled up a sheet to keep the insects out!

But to today - at 5.00 am the trip to the Quito airport with a young driver was pretty speedy and by 6.00 am I was checked in and doing my pre-flight walk up and down to get my circulation moving . In doing so I browsed the duty free shops and decided that it was wise for me to fill my carry-on with Equatorial chocolate to share at home. Besides, the more you spend, the more you save ;)

The only other notable thing to report is the many signs promoting Ecuador as a tourist destination, with the campaign based on the slogan "all you need is love - all you need is Ecuador". A reliable source told me that the Ecuadorian government paid $US 20 for the rights to the Beatles song of the same name and use it extensively to promote the country (I mist che lookout YouTube as I believe the adverts are very good). They also developed a very colourful logo for the campaign - see my pic of one of the generic posters, a huge one cleverly using a turtle underwater and the mountains above, as well as a headless pic of me wearing one of the campaign's t-shirts. LOL

Research done - there are some nice YouTube clips - this is a link to a sort one 3:24, but there are some much longer ones if you are interested . If you have read all my blog entries many of the images will already be familiar.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCwLjXH0f-Y

My flight Quito to Lima was uneventful and thankfully I was in a peaceful spot near the front of the economy class cabin and so easy on and easy off. This was the complete opposite of my much longer, very full Lima - Santigo flight In which I was in 24J (see pic of the boarding lanes and you will know that I was in the very back row) on the aisle, where I was able to keep a tally on who went to the toilet the most! 

However, and I say this 'however' with an big smile on my dial, while in Lima I quickly checked my Qantas FF total to check whether the big Q had perhaps reduced my points total and granted my request for the 14 hour flight Santiago - Sydney tomorrow as they often do a day or so before the flight,,,,, and yes, yes, yes, they have (see my happy pic of my flight details). Even have me in 1J which is the front row hopefully with heaps of room . YAY.

 So the inconvenience of cramped flight was nothing when I thought about tomorrow's relative luxury. Also less worry with all that chocolate going into my bags. I hope that the customs man / woman doesn't want a sample when they see my stash as I will have to declare some paintings on sheep skins and a few other wooden bits and pieces. Fingers crossed.

While wandering around the Lima airport and relieving the Peruvians of some of their chocolate too (for a comparative taste test - let me know if you want to join in) I noticed some of their signs that I include for your pleasure, one which I noted to reduce my risk in case of an earthquake during my brief stay, and others to file in the 'future travel ideas' file.

Arrived Santiago and headed across the road to the relative luxury of the airport Holiday Inn where the sunshine filled day made the swimming pool call my name and I very much enjoyed my first post-snorkelling swim and time with my kindle by the pool in the shade. A couple of beers and some shrimp before settling down to watch a movie in this lovely bed. No hurry to go anywhere tomorrow. My flight leaves at 1.30 and I have checkout at 12, though I will want to maximise my time int the Qantas lounge after another swim.

I am looking forward to tomorrow and home, but this holiday has definitely had an impression on me and my plans.

See you soon Australia.
j

Xx