This trip is due in part to AFS-USA (formerly the American Field Service), and our hosting of exchange students form several different countries including 3 from Ecuador. We have been to Ecuador in the past to visit with the exchange students and their families but this trip is special.
During January and February 2017 Susan, my wife, our son John, and I will be traveling around the southwestern side of Argentina in what is known as Patagonia. However to get there we will follow a zig-zag pattern as we fly from Kansas City to Atlanta Georgia to Quito Ecuador to Lima Peru to Santiago Chile to Buenos Aires Argentine where we will meet up with our son John who is flying in from Chicago.
Once back in Ecuador we will drive east into the Ecuador Amazon staying a couple of nights in Tena. Back in Quito we will probably drive to Guaranda to visit with Maritza and Omar and their families.

During the trip and as time allows I will post pictures and comments. Here are some pictures from the area around Bariloche.
View the ISS from Esquel Argentina (42.9095°S, 71.3143°W)
Here is a great web site with information about the cities and places in Patagonia.
Here is a great web site with information about the cities and places in Ecuador.