Oh hi! Yeah nipping right into Ecuador and off to the capital, Quito! We travelled from Pasto across the border at Ipiales to Tulcan on the Ecudorian side, then got a bus direct to Quito at the bargain price of $5 for a five hour journey. Yay!
Some amazing views from the journey as went into the Andes proper.
Volcan Imbabura above the town of La Esperanza.
After arriving in Quito we checked into the Hotel Viena International in the old town, wanting to give the new town the Mariscal Sucre a miss as this is the more touristy and backpacker place, with a higher crime rate.
We had some lovely old hand printed wallpaper in our room, but the bed was actually a real bed, and not some lame excuse for one, so we slept soo well there. This is the internal courtyard, and a cafe was next door that did super cheap Ecuadorian meals and we ate the classic menestra, rice with lentils or beans on the side, with fried plantain and any combo of meat you like.
Checking out the old town was exciting. There was a high security presence in the day and night, and we knew the dodgy areas to avoid.
The beautifully designed Fruiteria Monserrate, in the old town. Colonial on the outside, completely re-done inside. Here the locals ate amazing fruit plates with a lot of cream. The food and service were super good. It wasn't full of tourists, but looked like it would be. We frequented it for the value factor, it was so so cheap!
Wow! Check out the interior!
For a more authentic experience we visited Nuevo Cordovez for an evening meal where Wiji ate Seco de Chivo (goat stew), and there was only rice and salad for me but hey! The restaurant was tiny, had colourful booths to sit in and a lot of old bull fighting memorabilia and photos.
Just around the corner from the hotel.
The Teatro Bolivar in full working order.
The interior may have suffered from a fire at some point, but still retained real elegance and glamour.
We did a walking tour on our first day. Lucky for us it was a sunday when the roads are closed to traffic, except the electric trolley, so no fumes. This was a relief. And like sundays in all the countries we have visited, everyone is strolling around. There were street activities for children to participate in and it was chilled and pleasant.
A glimpse in the distance of the La Virgin de Quito, in a very odd, crumpled stance, Quite strange looking.
The massive crowd on the steps outside of the cathedral in the Plaza Grande were watching a puppet performance from a small tent that sounded suspiciously like Punch and Judy!! Lol, it was quite surreal, especially as it was broadcast on a massive PA.
The next three pics are looking out across the Plaza Grande from the Palacio del Gobierno... epic blue sky.
Wiji couldnt believe it when the armed guards cheerfully let us through, holding the gate open and smiling! Behind here is the actual presidents offices. We got a quick glimpse at a spectacular mural depicting Francisco de Orellana's descent of the Amazon.
Whilst gazing at all this fantastic architecture we gave ourselves a little break by visiting the Heladeria San Agustin. Here ice cream has been made since 1858 in large copper bowls by the Alvarez Andino family. They are made with fruit juice so they are more like sorbets. It was brilliant. I really enjoyed the Mora berry and Wiji went for the Taxo and Guanabana fruits. Someone was always on hand at the door to usher us in, in a mad rush!
A mind boggling facade, with some twirly columns on the Church known as La Compania de Jesus.
The Plaza San Franscisco with the Monastery of San Fransisco behind.
The historic alley of La Ronda. These colonial houses are some of the oldest in Quito. A beautifully quaint area full of families with children organising old fashioned street games for people to play...apparently rife with pick pockets.
Who would have thought that you could get banana split's all through Central and South America? Not me. This was in the lovely colonial third floor building, with a huge internal courtyard, the Cafe del Fraile.
The Monastery of San Agustin.
Very subtle tiling and beautiful balconies. The store shutters never opened below.
Not an early bedtime for these horses...but they did look well fed for a change.
One evening we decided to visit Tianguez, a cafe beneith the San Francisco Monastery to sample an Ecudorian classic called Locra de papas (a potato soap with avacodo and cheese in it) and to try the recommended drink that was delish. It was valled Canelazo and was made of aguardiente and hot fruit cider...right up our street! The church in the background is the La Compania de Jesus, Ecuador's most ornate church.
Here is a closer view of the domes.
Wiji checking out his super high bouffant morning hair-do. Nice. Wiji spent a few days doing a Spanish class in the Mariscal Sucre area, while I visited the fantastic Museo del Banco Centro and checked out their beautifully put together display of Pre-Columbian ceramics. They also had a brilliant exhibition of gold jewellery and information on the processes that they used to make it. There was also an exhibition of modern Ecudorian art. I spent a whole day enjoying it.
The 'other' hotel with the neon sign outside our window. If you look closely you can see Wiji doing the thumbs up under the sign. Wicked, we got a great view of kentucky fried chicken from there. Not half as nice as the first hotel. It was here that some kids let off a stink bomb outside our door...retro, it really stank. The door to the massive balcony let in the carbon monoxide fumes from the busy road from 5:30 onwards. And for an unknown reason the staff insisted that we get up at 8am...by knocking on our door to clean the room. NO, GO AWAY!
Despite the usual bad press about street crime that all cities in South and Central America have, we had a great time here too with no problems.
