Quito in perspective

Ecuador

07.01.2011 - 21.01.2011 22 °C

So it’s been 3 weeks in Quito and already I’m feeling the taste of living in a foreign country that I’ve been craving. There’s something deeply refreshing about not just a change of scenery, or a week or 2 of relaxation, but a change of culture.

I’m fully in to the routine of classes each day and breakfast and dinner with my ‘Quito family’. Also made some friends at the school, including a very cool American lady – Sandra - who has distracted me from my studies with a great connection, stimulating conversation and Ecuadorian experiences. Sandra’s been in Quito a little longer and is pretty much fluent in Spanish.. so way beyond me and we’ve spoken English – not good! Sandra had a one way ticket to South America with no timeframe for travel – and I thought I was lucky having 6 months. She left the school on Wednesday - hurray!
<sorry Sandra – need to study! ;-) >

The most beautiful part of Quito is the old town – built in the days of the Spanish Empire with a surprising history of protection and maintenance despite having had its fair share of the usual turmoil in a country’s history - political unrest, conquest, civil war..

Iglesia y Monesterio de San Francisco – a vast church and monastery complex dominating one of the largest squares in the old town

The old town’s main square

The streets of the old town are classic Golden Age European architecture - a far cry from the sprawling ‘new town’ of La Mariscal.

Streets of the old town – towers of the Basilica in the distance

Inside the various religious buildings the usual extravagance of the Catholic Church. None more so than La Compania of the Jesuit order – lined with an estimated 7 tonnes of gold. No photos of this one though unfortunately as they want to make money from postcards.

Inside Iglesia San Francisco and the Basilica

Around 10 years ago a cable lift was built up to the top of one of the mountains immediately surrounding the city – El Teleferico. At over 4000m above sea level the view point provides an unrivalled view of the city with the backdrop of the mountains of the Andes. From here it’s easy to see how parts of the city piece together, and the context of the stunning natural environment on which it’s built. Combined with my Ecuadorian Sierra city living experience I feel strangely at home in Quito, and quite looking forward to getting back here again after my trip to the Galapagos.
Did I mention I'm all booked up for 2 weeks on the Galapagos? A week's volunteering on a conservation project and an 8 day tourist cruise. Excited is not the word!!

Quito in perspective