Back to the city

After 4 days exploring the rain forest and eating four courses for lunch and dinner, we were ready for our return to Quito.

The journey back involved the same routine - canoe, motorised canoe and short flight - and we were glad we didn't have to spend too much time in Coca. It's primarily an oil town and similar to many of the bayou towns that I worked in - I'm sure Bernie will remember the joys of places like Morgan City, Houma and Venice, La!
With less than a day before we are on the road again the first priority was some essential laundry and having spotted a Lavanderia on our way in from the airport, I was dispatched with a large bag of dirty clothes as soon as we had unpacked. Bit of a test for my Spanish but I was fairly confident that I had arranged for  it to be washed dried and folded and ready for collection at 9.00am the next morning - a bargain at $5.25 for 3.5 Kg!
Had a lazy afternoon - Linda was suffering a bit from the altitude - and then met up with Rudolf and Martina for dinner at Cedron - the restaurant in a very smart new hotel called Caso Gangotena. A very good meal with only a couple of minor niggles - even had a visit from the Chef at the end of the meal. Thankfully Rudolf and Martina had an early start on Saturday morning for their flight to the Galapagos so we avoided the temptation of a nightcap in the hotel bar.
Was extremely relieved when I arrived at the lavanderia after breakfast to find that the clothes were ready on time and that they were the same ones I had dropped off, so that we could get packed again for our 10.00am departure for Mindo and the cloud forest.