R. Doug Wicker's Blog, page 133

Ecuador — Quito, Changing of the Guard

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President Rafael Correa (center, looking toward the camera)

We were fortunate this day to witness the Changing of the Guard at the Carondelet Palace. Carondelet Palace is at the north end of the Plaza de la Independencia, and our group had a good view of the pomp and circumstance from the elevated walkway along the east side of the Cathedral of Quito.

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Carondelet Palace

So, without further commentary, here is the changing of the guard with the then president of Ecuador in attendance:

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Ecuador — Arriving Quito

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Compañía de Jesús

Our first full day in Quito, and our last day with the tour group, began on February 22, 2016. After this day we would be on our own until our flight a couple of days later. But on this day we had much to see and do. The following images are of the old Central Bank of Ecuador building.

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Banco Central de Ecuador

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Banco Central de Ecuador

Right next to this beautiful building is La Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús, or the Church of the Society of Jesus.

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Compañía de Jesús

In the d...

Ecuador — AmaZOOnico Rescue Center Part 2

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AmaZOOnico Choo-Choo Train

Continuing our tour of the AmaZOOnico Rescue Center, here’s a cut little tapir:

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AmaZOOnico Rescue Center

And a beautiful ocelot:

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AmaZOOnico Rescue Center

Remember Trumpy, the friendly grey-winged trumpeter from Monday? I promised a neat story involving this helpful little guy who thinks he’s part of the AmaZOOnico staff, and who enjoys accompanying the visitors on their tours. Trumpy is so at home with the human staff that he even watches out for them. He trumpets w...

Ecuador — San Isidro Hummingbird Lodge and Cresting the Andes

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San Isidro Hummingbird Lodge

On Sunday, February 21, 2016, we left the Amazon Basin behind us and headed toward Quito. Along the way we were do for a lunch stop at the San Isidro Hummingbird Lodge. It was drizzly on our arrival, and we didn’t see many hummingbirds, but the views along the eastern slopes of the Andes were rather breathtaking, but not as breathtaking (literally) as our later climb above 13,000 feet/3,900 meters on our journey to Quito.

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San Isidro Hummingbird Lodge

As you can se...

Ecuador — AmaZOOnico Rescue Center Part 1

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AmaZOOnico Rescue Center

The next day, February 20, 2016, we took a relatively brief boat ride from Casa del Suizo along the Rio Napo to the nearby Rio Arajuno. Our destination this morning was the AmaZOOnico Animal Rescue Center. This wonderful rescue center was created to “receive, treat, rehabilitate, and reintroduce wild animals that had been confiscated from the illegal trade.” Those that cannot be returned to the wild have found a permanent home.

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AmaZOOnico Rescue Center

And some just d...

Fun Photo Friday — Ahuano and Casa del Suiza favorites

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Rainbow Chairs

Here is today’s Fun Photo Friday gallery of Ahuano and Casa del Suiza favorites (click on any image to enlarge and bring up today’s slide show):

Filed under: Fun Photo Friday, Photography, R. Doug Wicker, travel, vacation Tagged: Ahuano, Casa del Suizo, Ecuador, Fun Photo Friday, photography, Quechua, R. Doug Wicker, travel, travel photography, vacation

Ecuador — Out and about Ahuano

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Ahuano

The trek into Ahuano isn’t a long one, and not all the streets are unpaved (see next photo), but the climate is hot and humid, and walking around may be a bit of challenge if you’re not used to it. Drink lots a fluids, and stop occasionally to peer into some of the shops.

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Ahuano shopping district

Here is a gallery of some of the sights around Ahuano, including the local church:

Filed under: Photography, R. Doug Wicker, travel, vacation Tagged: Ahuano, Ecuador, Fun Photo Friday, ph...

Ecuador — More on Casa del Suizo; into Ahuano

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Casa del Suizo

You’d be hard pressed looking at the photos below of la Casa del Suizo to place this resort anywhere beyond a major resort area in the Caribbean, but this is in the depths of a rainforest in the Amazon Basin. The amenities here are first-rate.

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Casa del Suizo pool

The grounds are spectacular:

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Casa del Suizo lodgings

The gardens are beautiful.

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Flowers at Casa del Suizo

The rooms are roomy, comfortable, and ours at least had quite the view.

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Casa del Suizo suite

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Rio Napo view

The p...

Fun Photo Friday — Cuy, Waterfalls, and the Amazon Basin

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Mountains, Mist and Water

Some favorite images of this week’s subject blog articles:

Filed under: Fun Photo Friday, Photography, R. Doug Wicker, travel, vacation Tagged: Casa del Suizo, Ecuador, Fun Photo Friday, photography, R. Doug Wicker, travel, travel photography, vacation

Ecuador — The Amazon River Basin and la Casa del Suizo

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Rio Napo overlook at Casa del Suizo

Passing down into the Amazon Basin we left Highway 30 and headed north on Highway 45 (Troncal Amazónica—Amazon Trunk). Turning onto 436 just south of Tena we headed west along the Rio Napo until the road ran out. But our trip this day was not yet over. We still had a ways to go to our lodgings for the night. So, into the river boats we went for the final leg on this Amazon tributary.

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Riding the Rio Napo to our lodgings

It took several boats to accommodate o...