Mindo, Ecuador

Awakening shortly after sunrise, this was our view from bed.

For breakfast outside on the patio, we were surrounded by these beautiful flowers.

......and this one.

Downtown Mindo, about two hours west of Quito via a winding, death-defying road,  is small, rural, and friendly - the location is a world-renowned birding location and offers other eco-friendly pursuits, too.

Here's one of the four legged natives wondering the streets untethered - his "girlfriend" is off-screen left chomping on some grass.

El Quetzal, is our combination hostal and chocolate factory.

Here's the source of the constant rushing we heard from our room at  El Quetzal, one of the mountain rivers that rush through the Mindo area.