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Sonam Tshering's descent into Quito. - 26231691 2046917352254899 1250265312614073046 n
Sonam Tshering's descent into Quito. - 26805095 2046917462254888 1196232226456779257 n
Sonam Tshering's descent into Quito. - 26815271 1459374194184364 4829545125555126282 n
Next Hector drove us up to El Panecillo, a hill overlooking the city. There is an enormous aluminum statue (the largest in the world) of the Virgin of Quito. We had seen the statue from a distance before (she looks over Old Town), but it was amazing to see it up close! We had a panoramic view of the city, and could see the basilica towering over the surrounding buildings. - 26855847 2046327048980596 127430882 n
Sonam Tshering in his room at the Yotel at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, where he spent an 8 hour layover. - 26857162 2046316975648270 514222072 n
Sonam Tshering enjoys a signature hot chocolate at the Yotel at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, where he spent an 8 hour layover. - 26907883 2052493171697317 5915286639169663792 n
Sonam and Javier at Lago Cuicocha - 26909234 2048636648749636 1505762916 o
Antonio points out the Ecuadorian flag on a bus at Lago Cuicocha - 26941700 2048636465416321 1706785097 o
Sonam and a Colombian friend - 26942134 2048639785415989 2113246606 o
Luckily the rain held off for them. Though it was foggy at first, the fog lent an ethereal feel to the atmosphere. It cleared up a bit before they left, affording them a view of the 2 small islands, one of which resembles a guinea pig, and is said to be how the lake got its name. There is another theory that the name is a corruption of the Kichwa word Kuychikucha, or "rainbow lake." Cuicocha is a crater lake which was formed by a volcanic eruption over 3000 years ago. - 26942298 2048640188749282 1791150803 o
Of course Sonam immediately made friends with the group, even though they they spoke limited English. - 26972145 2048640772082557 358593325 o
This morning Antonio guided a group of Colombian scientists on a small hike at Lago Cuicocha (Guinea Pig Lake), and Sonam was able to join them. They caught the 7:15 bus a.m. (which stops right in front of the house) to Quiroga, where they met up with the Colombian group. They then took a collectivo pick-up truck to the lake. - 26972448 2048640172082617 865450931 o
Sonam hikes with the Colombian group - 26972606 2048636778749623 2135292177 o
The site overlooking Lago Cuicocha where offerings were made - 26981465 2048636562082978 843099742 o
Always the animal lover