[Above: A panoramic shot of the Drive Around the World team and their Christmas dinner guests in Quito, Ecuador.]

As Nancy's journal above attests, the Drive Around the World team managed to have a great Christmas, despite being so far from home. Below is a collection of images from the experience. Each link clicks to a "pop-up" image of the picture described.

1. Justin Mounts, Rolf Potts, Todd Borgie look on as Adam Burgess opens his Christmas gift in the living room of the El Taxo Hostel.

2. Chanda Baggarly digs into her Christmas stocking.

3. Colin McAuliffe (a.k.a. "Corndog", a.k.a. "Santa") distributes gifts during the "Secret Santa" gift exchange.

4. Justin Mounts tears into his Secret Santa gift in the El Taxo living room.

5. Nancy Olson enjoys her Christmas afternoon Ecuadorian style -- in a hammock!

6. Neil "Pancho Sanchez" Dana models the dapper linen shirt from his Secret Santa.

7. In the hostel kitchen, Rolf Potts helps whip up Christmas dinner.

8. Nick Baggarly and Todd Borgie hard at work on the Christmas gravy.

9. Rolf Potts looks on as Todd Borgie ponders his Secret Santa gift (an Isabelle Allende novel).

10. Christmas dinner is on the table!

Help support our cause: The LONGITUDE Expedition is the longest journey ever attempted with a focus on Parkinson's Disease. The Drive Around the World team aims to raise money for Parkinson’s Disease research by driving four certified pre-owned Land Rover Discoverys around the globe following lines of longitude. Readers are encouraged to pledge small amounts of money per expedition-kilometer via a pledge form that can be found on our Parkinson’s page by clicking here. 100% of donations received go directly to Parkinson's research and all who donate $10 or more will be entered into a raffle to win an expedition-equipped Land Rover Discovery.