Lucca, Italy

On January 26, 2018 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Italy9 Comments

When traveling around Tuscany, one stop that is definitely worth visiting is Lucca. It is a walled, medieval city with plenty of charm and wonderful little restaurants. You probably don’t need more than a half-day to visit Lucca and combining it with a trip to Pisa is probably a good idea. The Duomo di Lucca is truly a beautiful, typical gothic cathedral and is one of the highlights of the city. We definitely enjoyed walking the narrow streets, looking in the various shops, and enjoying a wonderful lunch.

The highlight of our trip to Lucca was climbing to the top of Torre Guinigi, which is a tower with oak trees growing on top of it that offers incredible views of the city. Another point of interest is the statue of Giacomo Puccini, the famous opera composer, that sits in a piazza. Every year there is a festival held in Lucca to celebrate the composer and his contributions to opera.

Artwork Behind the Altar in the Cathedral

Although we were there on a rainy and overcast day, spending time in this quaint little city was extremely enjoyable. Tuscany has so many wonderful locations to visit, but Lucca is certainly one worth considering if you are touring the area. With its historic wall that is still standing and medieval architecture, you can wander the streets for hours. Located just an hour or two outside of Florence, it is also a perfect day trip if you are staying there as we were.

San Francisco Convent in Quito, Ecuador

On October 16, 2017 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn South America4 Comments

There are several sites to visit when you walk through Quito’s old town and San Francisco Convent is definitely one of the places to see. It is Quito’s oldest church and monastery and construction began in 1534 and was completed 70 years later. We did a self-guided tour and enjoyed walking through the various sections of the complex. The plaza outside of the church also provides wonderful views of the city skyline.

The center courtyard feels like an oasis where you could sit and relax for hours. With its colorful flowers, palm trees, and even a pair of parrots to entertain you, it is quite impressive. We weren’t allowed to take photos in most parts of the church, but it is very beautiful. As you walk through the halls of the complex, you are able to see a variety of the over three thousand pieces of art that are hosed within the convent.

The plaza outside of the church can be quite busy as people congregate there to relax and enjoy the views. It only takes about an hour to fully tour the San Francisco Convent, but it is well worth the time.

Teleferico in Quito, Ecuador

On October 13, 2017 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn South America5 Comments

If you want to get tremendous views of Quito, Ecuador, the Teleferico is definitely a great way to do it. The Teleferico is a cable car that takes you up the Pichincha volcano. Once the cable car drops you off, there is the opportunity to continue hiking even farther up the side of the mountain. In addition to views of Quito, if the weather is clear enough, you can see other volcanoes in the distance like Cayambe and Cotopaxi.

Hiking at such high altitudes is definitely difficult and can easily take your breath away. It is strange for us, who live in Colorado, to see plants and trees growing at heights as high as 14,000 feet (4,270 meters). The tree line here starts at about 11,000 feet (3,350 meters) at which point the air is too thin for anything to grow. We assume that it is likely due to the high humidity in South America and the Andes mountains that allows plants to grow at such altitudes.

Quito with Cotopaxi Volcano in the Distance

Even if you don’t decide to hike up towards Bear Cave, the views from the top of the Teleferico are worth seeing if you are visiting Quito. The cable car ride itself is quite steep, so if you have a fear of heights you should try to sit so that you are looking up at the side of the mountain and not down. If you are able to, though, sitting so that you look back at Quito as you climb higher and higher provides amazing views. It is often foggy and cloudy in Ecuador, so if you are able to time your trip for a clear day, you will be rewarded with spectacular scenery.