Ecuador and Peru

My parents celebrated their 40th anniversary in March this year and went to South America last month for a big celebratory trip.
This is the Basilica del Voto Nacional in Quito, Ecuador.

Going up the first part of the stairs to climb the bell tower.  Definitely not up to US safety standards.

At the top

Parque Ferrico overlooking Quito.

They went to the equator and it looked really cool.  This was their driver, he could balance an egg on it's end on the equator.  The coolest thing was a video they took of a guy that had a little portable sink with water and some leaves in it.  When the sink was on one side of the equator, the water and leaves swirled clockwise going down the drain, they swirled counterclockwise when he moved the sink just a few feet to the other side of the equator.  When it was right on the line, the water and leaves just went straight down the drain.  It was totally cool!  I want to go there.

Right in the middle. 

This major road in Quito gets shut down on Sundays just so people can ride bikes.

My dad was riding his bike while filming.  Luckily, he didn't crash.

Most people take a 20 minute bus ride to see the Machu Picchu ruins but not my parents.  They hiked and camped for 4 days to get there- definitely the long route.

 They finally made it.  Sungate at Machu Picchu

Lookout over the ruins.

My dad is making a blog so he can put up several more pictures of their trip.  The address is  leeannjohn.blogspot.com but I'm not sure if he's posted anything yet.  You may have to check back later.