Evidently this airport is brand new, as a colleague later told me when he was there it was simply a landing strip. It’s a small terminal with your basic amenities, and the indoor/outdoor design makes sense. It’s the setting, though, that really drives home that you’ve arrived in an otherworldly place. Cactii and sparse vegetation are everywhere, and in the distance one can see many volcanic islands and blue water. Such a nice welcome!
The group of 5 people joining on this trip will henceforth be known as “the Canadians.” We landed in Quito around 11pm and got through customs in an hour, nearly crushing people to death on the escalator notwithstanding. I kid. Sadly, the Canadians lost 4/5ths of their check bags. Super unclear where and when they will see them again. Our flight was nice! AO partied with flight attendants, LB took a nap, and I upgraded.
Lady Boy Time 