Quitoreans are nodders…

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I smiled. I said Buenos dias. I avoided eye contract and then I noticed… Quitoreans are nodders. Solemn, respectful, have a good day, nodders. There are also marked differences between what greetings are actually passed and what we learned in Spanish class. In Ecuador we say chao, not adios, alo (ah-low), not hola and many times people will offer you a simple bien instead of bothering to piece together a buenas noches (or whatever).

Not rude, just city people… rushing to and fro with their daily lives. Quito has a population of 2.7 million people… that’s the size of Chicago. Chicago is the third largest city behind New York and LA. I’ve never been to Chicago or LA and Quito is no New York (at over 8 million people), but it’s not overwhelming. The neighborhoods are walkable (if you can stand some hills), there aren't towering skyscapers, and the traffic is only horrible during commute times (not that I’d want to drive in it). Taxis are safe and cheap and buses are everywhere. Sadly buses have always intimidated me, but if you want to get around in Quito they’re a necessity… there is no subway… yet.

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