First stop: Quito, Ecuador

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We've been on the continent a day short of a week now, and tomorrow morning we'll be heading for Banos, en route to Peru. We arrived in Quito late Monday night, after a long day of flying, and found our hostel, El Centro del Mundo, without much trouble. We've been catching up on sleep quite a bit in the last week, maybe due to the altitude or the sun or the cervazas, but we've also managed to pack in a fair bit of out-and-abouting. The first couple of days we wandered around on the self-tour of the city. Quito has some beautiful architecture and even better views, as it is built through and up both walls of a valley. We spent one afternoon just laying around in a park nearby and also met up with Shaell, a local who was on an exchange to the Yukon recently. We've sampled many traditional (and less traditional) Ecuadorian foods, which have been kinder to me than to El Roberto, thus far. We toured La Mitad del Mundo (middle of the world/equator) yesterday, but the highlight has definitely been the Ecuador v. Sweden national friendly match this afternoon. The stadium was packed with amped Ecuadorians, clad in bright yellow jerseys, and at only $5 for the best soccer either of us have ever seen live, it made for quite the cultural experience.

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Photos

Relaxification
a little cervaza, a little cigarro, a little hold 'em

The less traditonal we mentioned...
but who wouldn't eat here. Good burgers.

Curious Hen
craziest wildlife yet

Rob in a tree
Rob in a tree

Rob in front of big church
Rob in front of big church

Same big church
new angle

Flaggin'
HUGE!

Flaggin'
up close

Bros
Somebody actually thought we weren't related?

Find Robbie
Hint: think blue footed boobie.

Scott's turn
Hint: the ookpik is a dummie.

Uhhh
why not

Guardian of the City
Isn't he angelic?

Ok
we're beatin it to death

The city...
it's mine.

God of Quito
repent

City Scape
illin

La Mitad del Mundo
staddlin the equator

Oy Gringo!
Hostel crew

Kick Off
Ecuador v. Sweden: 1-1

A Little Rain
it is the season

Comments

[kate]

Sweet Pics!
That place is so beautiful, eh? The G spot? I don't know if I would eat there... I thought the pig had three wangs instead of feeding her young. That definately would have been some weird wild life! Have so much fun!!! I'm so excited for you guys. Your trip is going to be amazing. Write some more about the people please when you get a chance. Lots of love, kate Ps. The funniest picture is the one with Bug kneeling down, arms stretched before the city - Bug, you look like a ballet dancer in some shakespearean play!! ha ha ha!

[Jehanne]

Crazy
Looking at your blog from Quito, we were at the exact same match as you ... crazy and some same pics go check out my blog at http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Jeh-Jeh/ Canadians gotta stick together!! CIAO!!! Jehanne

[Kerri]

The Westbergs take over the world! haha
You guys are a hoot! Love all the pics! Glad to see you've made it so far all in one piece! Oh and the body art actually isn't as bad as I thought it'd be...must've hurt like heck though!! Hope you continue to have a blast! Love, Kerri

[Jenn & Tucker]

Looks like FUN!!!
Hey guys...Looks like you are having a ball!! Remember...the beer will dehydrate...not re-hydrate :-) Take lots of pics...can't wait to see them when you get home!! Love you -

[Catherine aka Nick's mom]

Sounds like fun
Nothing like getting drenched at a soccer game with mad fans in all directions. No one's chased you down after pulling those breakin' moves at national monuments? Robbie, sorry to hear about the, um, difficulty with local foods. Ginger root tea is good for upchucking. Also a broth made from boiled rice and carrots (for the not upchucking). You should also be able to get rehydration salts from the pharmacy to mix with water. Keep having fun.

[NICK]

FAGAROONIES!! Dont worry about it, it's cool (not so much)
haha whats up bro!! Trip looks amazing so far, I was at Norcan the other day for BYTE and the atmosphere there was depressing, although I did snag a free coffee!!! It tasted like my 15 minute breaks hahahah. Just finished running the BYTE Youth Conference on SUnday, I worked 28.5 hours from 3:00pm Friday-3:00pm Sunday it was nuts!! But I dont have to work at all this week...at BYTE anyways, I'm cordinating an After School Hiphop camp for Andrea though. During the Youth COnference, on Saturday, we breakdanced ALLLL day cuz through the Youth Conference, I managed to get Christine, akak lil bear, here from Nunavut, but she is originally from Ottawa and a member of the Canadian Floor Masters Crew. So needless to say she's a b-girl and I got her here as a chaperone!! hahah so we breaked soo much! The other chaperone she brought is a Graph artist and a b-boy too!! So it was jam sesisons alll day, and till 1:00am...couldnt walk!! Also breaked with Jesse cuz he showed up for the Battle of the Bands. Going good here though, been boarding a few times, and doing alot of training! Hit me up with another ohone call or some shit! Peace bro

[Basement Dweller]

G SPOT
Home for break and showed mum the travel blog, she wants you to know her fave pic was the G SPOT hahaha, JOKES! Anyways its looking good, hope to see more fun stuff. Hope to see you online soon I have a boy story for you. bye for now...basement RULES

[Johnny Austring]

I'm not going to tell you, "so awesome guys" or "great pics"......
Instead I'm going to tell you how truly jealous I am right now! So for that, screw you! But regardless, Rock on bros! HAHAHA rob, that cactus picture was halarious. And Scott your face is funny in every picture!.... oh wait... Well anyways, I got nothin to say bout me cause whatever I'm doing is not even remotley as cool and exciting as what you guys are up to. I'm praying for you guys and I say, "God keep them safe... but not tooo safe, and send them lots of chicitas, but not tooo many chicitas, amen." I watched Motor-Cycle Diaries, so i'll presume your trip is something like that, just don't finish up with becoming communists ight? -yeah the whole commy thing is a bit passe. But nonetheless, help out whoever's in need that may fall upon your path, or atleast kick em' in the ribs and steal his change, but I'd prefer the latter. Peace Bros, JP,