I arrived in Quito approximately one month ago on August 6th, and had prearranged an apartment on line for one month convenienty situated in the area adjacent to the Mariscal. The airport taxi took me right to the door of the apartment management company for 6 dollars. 6 dollars is the standard from the airport for anywhere in Quito. Gasoline only costs 1.48 for regular and 1.03 for diesel so transportation, especially by bus remains relatively reasonable. The apartment was reserved on line for 100 on paypal and my balance upon arrival for the full month was 300 for a total [View Full Entry]

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. . . more than half of whom live in poverty. And in the big city Quito, landed or dispossessed, life is tough. Quito like many other societies stands laced with classism and racism. The migrant indigenous compete with the blacks in the lowest stations of Quiteno life. Many of the city’s indigenous are relegated to roles of busy intersection produce sellers, sunglass hawkers, and at very best-street level artisans. Just as with the Mexican “Marias,” (Mayan descendents who have been forced to migrate to the cities to survive). Many Ecuatoriana indigenous women are relegat [View Full Entry]

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Quito is a fine city in my estimation. Bustling city of 2 million, 9,000 foot elevation, US dollar economy. It is to the visitor what one makes it. And of course, attitude is everything. Personally, I had to check in my Ameri-centristic attitudes at LAX with the intentions of leaving them there at least until I reluctantly return to smogsville in the early fall. Oh and it is so easy to espouse pop culture magnanimities so early in my forty-seven day vacation. Like, after a recent 60 days in SE Asia I was sure quick to kiss the tarmac upon touchdown [View Full Entry]

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Don’t cry Americanos, Ecuador is trying. So I’m in Quito for a while on a budget, without influential allies, and bearing limited language skills so I have to put forth a little personal effort to transcend the my cultural differences that I brought to Ecuador. Better to ideate similarities than differences. Then I was enjoying the privilege of a fine meal at a superb moderately priced restaurant, Adam’s Rib at Calama near Reina Victoria and I’m listening to the expats that hang out there whine because their custom deluxe extended cable package threatens to not carr [View Full Entry]

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