Old Quito, Ecuador, October 4, 2017

Quito’s chief attraction is the old town and its dazzling array of churches, monasteries, convents and colonial style houses dating from the early days of the colony.

Quito is in many ways similar to Tbilisi in Georgia where I have spent 3 years. Mixture of modern glass buildings for business, lots of restaurants, old houses mixed with new buildings, limited town planning, chaotic traffic.

The Basílica del Voto Nacional is the tallest church in Ecuador, thanks to its two imposing, 115-metre towers plainly visible throughout the city. Built in a flamboyant, neo-Gothic style, it’s a wild concoction of spires, flying buttresses, turrets, parapets, arches, gables and elaborate stained-glass windows. Despite construction beginning in 1892, the church – which is built largely in concrete – is still not entirely completed.

The gargoyles, based on Ecuadorian fauna such as anteaters, monkeys and jaguars, are a contemporary departure from the traditional representations of mythical creatures.

Some ladies from another part of Eucadors having a business selling pretty colored scarfs pretending to be local produce.

The central courtyard of the original Archbishop's palace at the Plaza de la Independencia has become a commercial center.

Plaza de la Independencia

Barber shop (one of the oldest in South America) at Palacio de Gobierno, situated at Plaza de la Independencia.

Guards at the entrance to Palacio de Gobierno, the seat of the Ecuadorian presidency.

Demonstration at the Plaza de la Independencia where demonstrators call for clarity about the many missing people in Ecuador.

Old town skyline

Inside of the Church and Convent of St. Francis at Plaza San Francisco

There was a lot of barking going inside the church when we visited it. And it turned out that a very popular mass was in progress where dog owners could have their dogs blessed.

One of the city's dogs on its way to being blessed.

Market, Quito, Ecuador, October 4, 2017

The the first day of our trip to Ecuador with the Danish Botanical Society was devoted to exploring the capital. Our first stop was to a market near our hotel.

The nice lady helped our Danish guide with showing some of the delicious fruits produced in Ecuador

Our Ecuadorian guide Gustavo showing one of Ecuador’s main crops: Cacao.

Two local ladies in the process of something

Christianity is everywhere in Ecuador, here a small chapel at the market (in the background).

There were also live music.

In the corner of the market there were some stands with medical herbs.

Flowers are one of Ecuador's major export items, and we were told that Ecuador is the world's largest producer of roses.

South tip of Langeland, Denmark, September 15, 2017

We are two dedicated, hikers working for the extension of the Archipelago trail to include beautiful South Langeland. We have therefore given ourselves the task of describing a hiking route from where it presently so abrupt ends today (Lindelse Nor), via Skovsgård Manor til Bagenkop. We hiked and taken notes and pictures along the way so we have a description ready. We hope that our proposal for a route can help to speed up the difficult process of the extension of the Archipelago trail. And we have experienced some beautiful hikes with many beautiful views of Langeland, the coast and the sea and many good experiences. The pictures here are from the last stage of our project: The walk along the coast from the east of Broløkke Manor around the southern tip / Keldsnor Lighthouse to Bagenkop.

Øbjerg, just east of the Langelandsfort (http://www.langelandsfortet.dk/), seen from the north

View from Øbjerg to the north

Two young (at least at hearth) fishermen on their way to the sea

Starting the outboard motor

The staircase down to the beach from the forest Lunden

View from the Danish Nature Agency’s hiking trail in Lunden

Primitive camp sites in Lunden (http://eng.naturstyrelsen.dk/experience-nature/sleeping-outside-in-nature/)

View from Lunden

Just after Lunden we came to Keldsnor Lighthouse

View of Keldsnor

The Dunlins in Keldsnor get a powernap in the strong wind

Grey plovers in Keldsnor

View north along the spite between Keldsnor and Langelandsbæltet

When we came to Vesterskov, the good weather had ended. View towards Bredstensbjerg

Just north of Bagenkop

9 September, 2017, South of Spodsbjerg, Langeland; DK

A quiet late afternoon south of Spodsbjerg

The ferry from Langeland to Lolland

Comorant get-together

Langelandsbæltet

European greenfinch

View towards Tranekær Lighthouse

Red admiral butterfly.

3 September, 2017, Opening ceremony in the Medical Gardens, Tranekaer. Langeland, Denmark

The opening ceremony took place in garden 5, the garden for herbs for the treatment of diseases involving nervous system and movement apparatus. In the Medicine Gardens in Tranekær there are about 500 different plants, and by them all there are signs that tell of the previous and present medical use effects of the plants. The gardens are open all year from sunrise to sunset (www.medicinhaverne.dk, www.facebook.com/medicinhaverne). The main focus Medicine Gardens is the cultural history of the use of plants in medicine.

Helle Ravn, the chairwoman of the Medical Gardens, holds the opening speech

Helle Ravn and Count Christian Ahlefeldt-Laurvig

Count Christian is struggling to cut the steel wire

The garden for herbs for the treatment of diseases involving nervous system and movement apparatus are officially opened

A little refreshment to the guests (homemade!)

Dam in the garden for nervous system and movement apparatus

One of the permanent residents of the garden, a green frog, is attentive to the opening ceremony