Today was a good start to our time in Ecuador.

We had an amazing breakfast of pancakes, fruit, and eggs before our subsequent trek around the downtown sections of Riobamba; it was here that we learned more about the oppression of the indigenous people at the hands of the Spanish.

Just as we finished doing so, we then made our way onto a bus, where we attended a guided tour of Palacio Real and its rich history. Prior to that, we were treated to a lunch of llama braised in a tomato stew, plantains, rice, and a mild hot sauce.

To follow was an opportunity to express ourselves with paint by decorating spoons and rocks as we see fit in Rumi Cruz, which we were able to take back to our hotel rooms. What came after was a dinner of scrumptious roasted chicken with a light salad and soup.

Ecuador has already been quite an eye-opener, and to think that this is just the beginning.