And, with regret, our last day in Ecuador, for now...

I'm not sure who first said it, but all good things must come to an end is certainly apropos here.  We arrived back into Quito last night around 9 p.m. and were greeted at the airport by Diego Garcia, one of the proprietors of the Hotel Casa de Hacienda La Jimenita.  The grounds where the hotel is located have been in his family for generations.  He and his parents, along with his brother, Emillio and pleasant staff run the hotel.  Unfortunately for us, our stay is one of only one night and all day while we await our flight back to the States this evening.  

On our next trip to Ecuador, and I can assure you, there will be another, Hotel Casa de La Jimenita will definitely be our home base for a few days.  Located 45 minutes outside the city of Quito (read: away from the hustle and bustle of the city) and only 15 minutes from the international airport, Casa La Jimenita is another jewel in what we have discovered are many in the beautiful country of Ecuador.

Diego, family and staff have treated us to a completely relaxing day and invited us into their beautiful home as family, not guest.  It's just another example of how warm and friendly we have found the people of Ecuador to be.  But our home is in Alabama, and Alabama is where we head tonight.  So for one last hurrah, let's close this journey out with a collage of photos from the beautiful grounds of Hotel Casa de Hacienda La Jimenita.

In the last picture you get a glimpse of one of the ten volcanoes visible from the property.   Below are pictures of some of the others.  Unfortunately, I didn't get up in time today to catch the snow capped peak of Cotapaxi, which you can vaguely make out behind the clouds in this photo.  What follows are other volcanoes in the distant views.

Jana and I took a little walk around the grounds.  In the process, we met several folks that are also enjoying their stay here.  In the "it's a small world after all" category, we met a lady by the name of Nahla from Charleston, WV who, after chatting for a bit we learned is very close friends with my first cousin Paula who lives in Charleston as well.  She and I did a little video hello that she sent to Paula via Facebook.   Here she is in the courtyard and what follows are more pictures of the beautiful grounds here at La Jimenita.

We had a wonderful fresh breakfast and lunch, relaxed a bit more and then it was time to say goodbye.  With that we bid you adieu from Ecuador and thank you for following our blog of one of the most incredible journeys either of us have ever experienced!