Itinerary

Here it is - the latest incarnation of our itinerary! Things may change, but basically, these are the highlights in the order in which we hope to do them:

Feb. 15, Friday: Meet in parking lot at LMMHS at 5:00. Check of carry-on bags by chaperones. Board Dufour bus for New York – La Guardia. Travel to Quito; arrival at 9:45 PM. Van transportation from airport to Hotel San Francisco de Quito; check-in, late supper in chicken restaurant downstairs from hotel, and to bed.

Feb. 16, Saturday:

Morning: Breakfast at hotel with the newspaper; post-breakfast review of the top stories for the country and the city. Orientation; map distribution; review of tips for street safety. Walking tour of immediate environs: Plaza de la Independencia, ATMs, drug stores, grocery store, trolley stops., Terminal Terrestre. Purchase bus fare to Mindo for travel the next day.

Noon: Lunch at restaurants around the Plaza San Francisco.

Afternoon: Tour of San Francisco – oldest religious complex in the New world.

Supper: Local restaurants around Plaza de la Independencia, or near theater venue.

Evening: Dramatic performance – one of these three: La Vida Vale V; El método Gronholm; Tírenle tierra.

Before bed: Pack for 2 days in Mindo.

Feb. 17, Sunday: Morning: Breakfast at the hotel with newspapers and news review. Taxis to Terminal Terrestre in the north for trip to Mindo. Arrive around noon.

Lunch: Restaurant in Mindo.

Afternoon: Bird watching tour / bicycle rental / tubing, depending on weather and availability.

Evening: Swimming, hiking; local food and entertainment.

Feb. 18, Monday: Breakfast at the hotel; newspaper breakdown and de-briefing. Morning: Guided bicycle or kayak tour, followed by lunch in town. Afternoon: bicycle or kayak tour. Supper and evening hiking; return to hotel rooms.

Feb. 19, Tuesday: Breakfast at the hotel, followed by earliest possible return to Quito, arriving Quito probably mid-afternoon.

Late afternoon: Rest from the trip.

Supper: Local restaurants.

Evening: Ecuadorian movie production – “Cuando me toque a mi”.

Feb. 20, Wednesday:

Morning: Breakfast, newspapers at hotel; news review in large group. Trolley trip to Mercado Santa María. “Strange Fruits and Foods Scavenger Hunt”. Meet at entrance at 11:30 for walk to nearby park, where we will sample all the new foods.

Noon: Lunch of discovered foods, supplemented with restaurants near the Mercado.

Afternoon: Trolley to Parque Carolina in the wealthy north of Quito. Students break into groups of three or four to stroll in the park and interview Quiteños on current events. Extra points assigned to anyone who participates in a game of soccer or Ecuavoli. Meet back at point of departure; take public transportation to mall in the north of Quito.

Supper: Food court in mall in the north of Quito.

Evening: Jacchiga, 90-person Ecuadorian traditional dance performance. ($25)


Feb. 21. Thursday:

Morning: Early breakfast, newspapers at hotel; news review in large group. Trolley to the north of the city; taxis from there to the departure point for cable car ride to the top of Pichincha. Ride to the top, take in the view and the change in climate. As always: BRING JACKETS!

Noon: Lunch at restaurant atop Pichincha, followed by return to the bottom. Ride back to hotel in transportation provided to tourists at the entrance to the cable cars.

Afternoon (late): Parque El Ejido in the central part of the city. Repeat interview process with park-goers there; compare them to interview results from Carolina.

Supper: Cebiche (shrimp-tomatoes-onions, served cold; Ecuadorian / Caribbean specialty) and other seafood at local restaurant.

Evening: Theatrical / musical performance, depending on mood and ticket availability.


Feb. 22. Friday:

Morning: Breakfast, newspapers at hotel; news review in large group. Mass at local cathedral; debriefing afterward re. the message of the sermon. Walking architectural comparison of several local churches.

Noon: Lunch at local restaurants.

Afternoon: Tour of Pontificia Universidad Católica de Ecuador.

Supper: Local restaurants.

Evening: Dance lessons at Quito dance studio. Return to hotel by trolley or taxi, and to bed.


Feb. 23, Saturday:

Morning: Breakfast, newspapers at hotel; news review in large group. Last-minute shopping and photography in colonial Quito.

Noon: Local restaurants.

Afternoon: Last-minute packing and souvenir shopping, followed by vans to airport.

Supper: Airport cafeteria.

Evening: Check-in and flight to USA; arrival in NYC, 9:00 AM, Sunday, Feb 24th, and in Lenox at 1:30 PM.