Day 1 of our trip began at the Detroit Metro Airport, the major airport for Wayne County and surrounding Southeast Michigan.  We arrived at 6:00 A.M. to allow time to get through the extensive security checks (thank you underwear bomber).  We arranged our own transportation because it is considerably cheaper due to the fact that we can book the flights far in advance, and also use our frequent flyer miles.

Speaking of frequent flyer miles, Delta Airlines, like most others, gives you less desirable flights including interesting seats and less than non-stop service.  To add to the excitement, we actually booked our flights on Northwest Airlines, which was subsequently acquired by Delta.  They changed our flights eight (8!) times from the time we booked until we actually got on the plane!

Once traveling, however, the flights were uneventful, from Detroit to Atlanta to Miami.  At this point we switched to a South American airline, LAN.  We had a several hour layover before we boarded the LAN Airbus.  I was able to watch them load huge amounts of cargo, then passenger luggage, and finally passengers--we had a full flight.  Miami has long runways, and we used up most of it before the plane lifted its nose and became airborne.  

At this point, I was thinking of the landing in Quito, a city 9,300 feet high.  Hmmm, I bet the air is a little thin up there.  Oh well, we will have burned off several tons of fuel by that time, and the pilots make this run every day...besides, it would be kind of difficult to change my mind at 35,000 feet!  The service on LAN airlines is excellent, with sufficient staff, good food, and screen at every seat so each passenger can choose their own entertainment.  The passengers were largely Ecuadorians who were going home from shopping trips or visiting relatives in the U.S.  It is about a four hour and twenty minute flight from Miami to Quito.

We arrived at Quito at about 8:20 P.M.  It was dark, but Quito was visible, sitting in a valley tucked into surrounding mountains.  The bordering mountains had to peak at 13,000 feet.  Looking out the plane window, it was clear that we were going to slide ourselves into that valley and land at the Quito airport, the end of which seemed to extend well into the city.  (We found out later that they are constructing a new airport further outside of the city, so that we don't run the risk of checking into our hotel the hard way!)

We swooped in over some buildings and the pilot expertly put the plane down about 100 feet past the end of runway markers.  Spoilers up, reverse thrust flaps down, engines roaring, wheel brakes on hard, we barreled down the runway.  Did I mention the huge amount of cargo, lots of baggage, a full plane, and 9,300 foot altitude?  Hmmm, I thought to myself, I wonder if we are going to visit the city of Quito a bit sooner than planned!  After seemingly an eternity, the plane slowed just in time to make the last turn to the taxiway back to the airport. As I was wondering if this is how they routinely land at Quito, my fellow experienced Ecuadorian passengers broke into applause.  I noted this gesture with mixed emotions!

After umpteen passport checks, we found our luggage, cleared customs, and found a nice man from the Sheraton Hotel holding a sign with our names on it.  He spoke only Spanish, so it was a rapid language transition. It usually takes me about a day of listening before I can reach my level of fluency in Spanish (that of an intelligent five year old child!).  We were able to chat however, and all of the services at the hotel were excellent.  It was close to 10:30 P.M. and we were ready for bed, in preparation for our 7:00 A.M. breakfast and a day of exploring Quito--from the ground, thank you very much!