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| At Pichincha Volcano, Quito, Ecuador |
The city of Quito, Ecuador rests at 9,350 feet above sea level, making it almost two miles high. Sorry Denver, this South American hub has you beat! We had six nights and days in the thin air, originally planning to do a two to three day trip to one of the nearby mountain towns or cloud forest. However, if you read Drew's blog post you know that he wasn't going on any long bus journeys during our first few days here, and after he was well we still had more to explore in this city.
Unexpectedly, due to Drew's ear issues, we had the exciting opportunity to experience the Ecuadorian healthcare system. I won't get into the details because you can read his story from the link above, but overall, I was impressed with the ease and cost of treatment. Plus the facilities were clean and modern, and the people were great.
Besides our healthcare tour of Quito, we explored the Pichincha Volcano, the closest of the many active volcanoes surrounding the city; the "old town", a beautiful, bustling area with narrow cobblestone streets, restored colonial architecture complete with flowered balconies, lively plazas and incredible old churches; La Mariscal, the touristy area full of restaurants, bars, shops, and more; and La Mitad del Mundo, "The Middle of the World," a touristy monument with a line painted representing the equator so you can take the famous picture with one foot in each hemisphere.
Three words/phrases to describe Quito: Bustling, Culturally rich, Breathtaking (literally) views
Around the Old Town
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| Inside La Compania Church |
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| La Plaza de Independencia |
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| Archbishop's Palace |
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| San Francisco Plaza (The Virgin Statue in the background) |
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| A cultural dance being performed in San Francisco Plaza |
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| The Virgin Statue in El Panecillo |
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| Calle La Ronda - famous, fun street in the Old Town |
La Mitad del Mundo
