This is one of those photos that doesn't have a lot of "pop" to it, but it's a rare moment of beauty as a cactus is getting ready to bloom all over and I thought it was such a pretty site. There are a lot of these around right now since we have been in the rainy season for awhile. For more detail, don't forget to click the photo to enlarge.

A handsome family

Don't they look like a tightknit family? Afterall, when's the last time you laid in a mud hole with your relatives? I think I'm the only person who sees these guys as cute. I have featured them before, though on my other blog. ;) What can I say? A trip to the zoo just isn't complete without a shot of them!

And, one more view of some Angel Trumpet trees. I realize now that have only posted pink ones, but I guess you can all imagine the others, right? ;) Or perhaps I will have to get one more day out of these tomorrow...

More trumpets!

I have never seen the Angel Trumpet in such full bloom...everywhere I looked there were trees just laden with these fresh, beautiful (very poisonous) flowers - white, light orange, pink and perhaps yellow too, but I can't remember. Tomorrow I will show one more and then shall move on. ;)

Some more of my favorite flower here in Ecuador - the Angel Trumpet

This may not look like much, but I hope you will click it to enlarge as it is really quite a pretty view! :) This was taken at the Quito zoo in Guayllabamba.

This is the inside of the church from about two weeks ago, and the view looking out is the walkway in yesterdays photo.

A friendly mccaw in Guayaquil (and yet another gigantic Ecuadorian statue!)

Moo

A brief pause from our trip to Guayaquil to share some scenic views from our trip to a place called "Pasochoa" today, about an hour outside of Quito.

Just a couple of friends hanging out together. (To see their friendship a little more closely, click photo to enlarge)

It's an iguana party and everyone is invited! Come as you are. :)

Leapin' Lizards!

Here is one of my favorite shots from the Iguana Park in Guayaquil. These guys were incredibly people friendly, camera ready and came charging right over to say hello...especially to our little group since one of our friends had brought a lettuce picnic to share with the masses! If you want to get a little closer (he is smiling afterall...), remember to click the photo to enlarge it! More iguanas tomorrow. :)

This is the municipal building in Guayaquil. I'm sorry that I do not have more information about many of these pictures, but if I took the time to research them all before posting, it is highly possible that my family would end up going around hungry and unclothed. ;)

Tune in tomorrow for the first of my iguana photos!

One of the beautiful old buildings in downtown Guayaquil.

Something for every child like heart!

The City of Guayaquil

We just returned from two full, beautiful days in Guayaquil; Ecuadors largest city (3.5 million) and the commerical capital of the country. While it is a seven hour trip by car, it was a mere 30 minutes by plane...the highlight of the flight being our return this morning when we flew over the Andes Mountains. We packed so much in, I took many, many pictures, etc., and since I was days and days behind on my blog, I have back posted from October 27 - today. The pictures below are part of the Guayaquil Historical Park and are just the beginning of so many shots to share with you as it was a park divided into three sections, PLUS we went to other attractions as well. I hope you enjoy...I honestly think this trip was the highlight of my time in Ecuador so far...perhaps that's because there's a lot of nature yet to come in my recap. Tune in for many days to come, including the Iguana Park that will be featured starting on Thursday!

I was in awe of so many of the rooms in this home. WOW! I was move in ready. ;)

A peek around the inside detail work of this old plantation home.