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Published: February 24th 2007
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Quito
Basilica and old town Quito( pronounced Keeto - for the unworldly)
What did we expect? I´m not really sure, certainly a little more oxygen at just 2500m. While Quito is not as spectacularly located as La Paz, sitting in the valley of some imposing Andean Peaks with the town crawling up the sides, a competent artist could really create some interesting perspectives. A few aspects did immediately surprise. The dearth of indiginous South Americans for one. The overt prosperity of the people compared to those of La Paz, another. What about the currency. For a nation (join the queue) who vocally denounce everything American, they seem to have no qualms accepting the greenback as its currency. (Could someone let me know if they print it here.) The city itself is neatly divided into old and new. The new city with wider boulevards, steel and glass, with a really chic touristy enclave full of bars, restaurants, hostels / hotels, travel agencies etc. The old city is a magnificant testament to Spanish colonialism. Pastel coloured low level edifices lining narrow cobbled streets - sensaysh. The basilica which sits high on a hill at roughly the border of the two parts offers some sweeping panoramas of the entire
Quito
Silhouette from Basilica coffee shop city, although sufferers of vertigo need not apply. Being a heroic firefighter I had no problems peering out of the peaks of the steeples, I just chose to shuffle around in 3 cm steps, clinging to the hand rail. That´s the first time for a while I have spent 2 hours in a house of reverence.
We also managed a brief sojourn to an outer village / town called Sangolqui using the local bus system (that´s a minefield in itself) for its lively Thursday market. Sticking to the script, the meat section was the crowd pleaser. ´I´ll have 3 hooves, a pair of horns, 2 kg of large intestine and a bag of eyes´. We also stumbled onto the pig abattoir. We didn´t wander in as the noise resonating from outdoors was enough to prick the imagination ´´make him squeel like a pig Pablo´´.
On the surface, Quito seems like a particularly safe city, but there is also a mega security presence and everyone has a crime story, petty by day, more aggresive after dark- even the locals take cabs for anything over 1 block after sunset. So far we have avoided being robbed/ mugged, however...
Gary
Being the
Quito
Ecuadorian San Francisco hawk eye security person I am, I soon notice my personal space is being invaded and my bag getting twitchy. Well, not some bunch of snotty nosed kids, nor gang of youths, but well dressed middle aged women ready to do a number on me. Not this time ladies!, However we were more alert from then on. Quito is a cosmopolitan city with lots to offer, so its easy to let your guard down. The food in particular is great, with lots of variety and I have got Gary in the swing each day stopping for our coffee / cake. break. The coffee shop on top of the basilica was particularly good value with great views, good coffee and the cookies weren´t too bad. Quito - we love it, despite the crime element.
Penny
More images at:
www.colvinyeates.zenfolio.com
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Ovidio
non-member comment
About US dollars
The answer is : no. we cant not print us dollarsbills. we do have special coins that can be used just in ecuador. they are different from the american ones just in their design weight and volumen characteristics are the same for both... that's what i have heard