International Lifestyle Magazine Issue 49 | Page 61

Either side of our adventure we decided to stay in Quito. We chose the Casona de La Ronda in the old town before our cruise and the Swissotel in the new town after. Both had their advantages. The old town is very colonial and a guided tour gave us a great introduction. By contrast the new town is much more modern, offering larger hotels which have the addition of swimming pools and spa facilities. Quito is a great base to explore from. We spent time at the Bellavista Cloud Forest, trekking in the jungle and watching the beautiful hummingbirds. At the very end of our stay we checked in for a night at the Papallacta Springs and Spa for some relaxation before we went home. I could go on forever, but if you are like me, part of the magic of travel is finding your own way and choosing something that suits you. Leaving was bitter sweet, like saying goodbye at the airport to a relative who lives the other side of the world. I don’t know if I will ever see the Galapagos Islands again, but I know whatever happens they will be in my heart forever. Maybe, just maybe I’ll get a chance to search for the rich stuff again…….. http://www.llamatravel.com/ http://www.lacasonadelaronda. com/ http://www.swissotel.com/hotels/ quito/ http://www.bellavistacloudforest. com/ http://www.papallacta.com.ec/ www.internationallifestylemagazine.com