Ecuador Day 16: Teleferico

Today we opted to go to Teleferico for an outing away from the house. It looked like a clear day but by the time we got there, some clouds were rolling in. Oh, well. Teleferico is a tram that takes you to the top of one of the mountains here in the city. Quito is situated in valley between numerous mountain peaks (we are right in the Andes mountain range). The city itself is long and skinny....it stretches on for what seems like forever. From the top of Teleferico, you can see pretty much the whole thing. It is beautiful. 

Teleferico is clearly past its prime. Everything is pretty much shut down except the tram itself. In its day, I am sure it was a wonder. Even from my time here 10 years ago, it seems a lot more run down. There are numerous (like 12) parking lots, but we only counted 5 cars total in the lots as we came up. The tram itself wasn't busy, but there were people in most cars going up and down, so they are still doing ok business there. But there used to be restaurants and all sorts of other things up there, but now there are just a bunch of empty buildings. It's kind of sad. There is an amusement park at the bottom of the hill (where we went last time we were here because Jace was too young to ride the tram) that looks like it is on its last leg. It is still open, but we walked through it, and literally there were maybe 5 people there going on the rides. I have no idea how they stay open. Anyway, it's sad, because it was probably a really fun place in its prime. The tram ride is still really awesome and worth it, though.

Be prepared for a lot of pictures!

Going up:

At the top, there are trails for miles. One trail in particular leads to a cave and other cool things to see, but it is a 5 hour hike total. Yeah, no. There are a bunch of biking trails as well, horses for rent (though we didn't actually see this-- there was a sign for it though) and even a chapel in case you want to get married up there.  There are a few small cafes, but everything else is shut up and graffitied out. Again, sad. 

We took some of the smaller trails and got to see some amazing views of the city and surrounding areas:

That's the chapel down there. Locked up tight as a drum...though looked like it still might be functional.

Just some facts as to the altitude and such

 Of course we had to have a few good photo ops while up there:

A nice couple from Indiana visiting their kids who live here took this for us. Not bad for a family picture..everyone is actually looking!

On our way to check out the chapel

We found this cute little hut with a picnic table in it, so we had our picnic lunch there.

A sandwich in hand and a little bridge and he's a happy man! :)

And these two together..oh boy. They are troublemakers.

Picture courtesy of Hallie. Big zit on my forehead courtesy of oily skin. Just ignore it.

Again.

This is purely for my friends Beth and Ashley. I posted it on Instagram for Beth (Ashley's not on there). Just a little re-enactment of our Sound of Music days when we were here last time together. I think of my OSSO friends often while I am here. They are true friends who shared an experience with me that was truly pivotal in my life and those are connections that can't be replaced. 

If only Flor was looking...

I took about 100 of this shot...and this is the best we could get. My cute 4 kids.

Devin liked the idea of posing us all on this rock and so we did. Whenever he gets out his camera to take a picture, we oblige, since this is about a once in every 47 years occasion. :)

Don't worry, I made him do it too! 

You can learn a lot from your children by the things they write in the dirt with sticks. And apparently we learned something important about Mishell today...(and no, she doesn't mean Grandpa Dave here...)

Just a little shot of the ghost town amusement park below. Looks like it was fun once upon a time (even last time we were here it was busier than this!)

It was a great day! We haven't heard anything further from MJB today, but she should follow up with the judge tomorrow, so we will check with her then. Thank you for all the continued prayers-- we feel them!