November 8, 2010

Up and out of the hotel on time and in a taxi which got us to the airport early to check all three bags (extra $30 for the 3rd).  Then off to pay the $40 per person exit fee (cash only)!  Through the full inspection and on to the boarding area.  Only a short wait then we were seated and flying with a full plane.  Smooth flight for 5 hours with breakfast served.  Made it through customs in a short time compared to our return through Houston in 2003 when returned from Belize.

We had a five hour layover in Houston before our flight to Seattle where we would stay with Jon and Carol, again, before traveling over the mountain pass and on to Electric City.  We hunted for a restaurant we noticed on our trip down, Pappadeaux Seafood, in the Continential wing.  We went up the elevator to a long line of people waiting to be seated.  We waited and were soon at a table reading an extensive menu and watching all the people around us for clues of what to order.  We started with drinks (margarita for Gala and a dark beer for me).  Gala ordered gumbo with shrimp and I the lemon pepper calamari - both very good!  Gala had planned on having key lime pie but changed to a sweet potato pecan pie when she was presented with the actual delicacies.  What a treat and she allowed me the last few bites.  We waddled out of there and went to rest at our departure gate.  Plane was on time and we flew to Seattle where Jon picked us up.  The weather was noticeably colder and we wished we were back in Ecuador!

One of the peaks along the Avenue of Volcanos, between Quito and Cuenca