Blogs from Historical Center, Quito, North, Ecuador, South America - page 4

Advertisement

South America » Ecuador » North » Quito » Historical Center July 11th 2014

eine morgendliche hausberg-begehung steht auf dem programm! mit der gondel erklimmen wir gut 4.000 meter über meeresspiegel. mit einer französischen gondel, keiner österreichischen! die ist dann aber natürlich auch nicht ganz so schön. und ziemlich langsam ;-) entlang braun-gelb-grün-violett-roter grasbüschel und trockener wanderwege marschieren wir weiter richtung summit. touristen auf pferden kommen uns, genauso wie unerwartet viele locals, entgegen. der hausberg scheint beliebt. das weitläufige grün erstreckt sich aber auch sehr idyllisch über die sanft gefältelten hügel. bald zieht die spätmorgendliche wolkendecke über quito ihre bahnen. den summit erfasst sie überhaupt völlig und garstig grau. und weil wir seit kindestagen die “bösen” alpen-wolken eingetrichtert bekamen, drehen wir ganz österreichisch um und lassen die anderen weiter in den dichten nebel um die schroffen felsenspit... read more
das sind sie, meine "gefältelten" berge
österreichische waldfee

South America » Ecuador » North » Quito » Historical Center July 10th 2014

morgens schafft es sogar ein klitzekleiner lichtstrahl durch unser streichholzschachtel-fenster. nach rooftop frühstück buchen wir erst mal ein schiff auf den galapagos-inseln. das erweist sich nicht nur als geduldsprobe sondern auch als schwierige entscheidung. schlussendlich lassen wir viel geld (aber das haben wir angenommen) für nur eine handvoll tage auf einem schönen schiff. eine city tour führt uns anschließend durch ecuadors hauptstadt. die zieht sich von norden nach süden und wenn man auf den hohen glockentürmen der basilica steht, sieht man bis zum horizont nur bebaute stadt. rechts und links erheben sich ruhige, grüne hügel. wie eine längliche wanne liegt quito unter zuziehender, grauer wolkenschicht. das wetter in quito ist, laut unserer weiblichen stadtführerin, wie die frauen: wunderschön und unberechenbar! morgens strahlender sonnenschein, mittags wolkig und windig, nach... read more
plaza grande
basilica inside
quito to the horizon

South America » Ecuador » North » Quito » Historical Center July 9th 2014

lima ist auch über nacht nicht schöner geworden und so verlassen wir die stadt, und mit ihr peru, nicht ganz so ungern. peru ist ein zauberland für reisende! mit stränden, regenwald, gigantischen bergen, unfassbar viel kultur und schließlich auch zumindest interessanter küche. ein bisschen wehmütig sind wir also schon, das inka-land verlassen zu müssen. ecuador soll aber warm sein (obwohl sich das nicht ganz mit der wettervorhersage für quito deckt) und dort warten auch neue abenteuer. so werden also die letzten soles verschleudert und brandneue us-dollars für ecuador eingekauft. jetzt sitzen wir, wieder einmal, geduldig wartend, weil wir doch mit der billigsten airline fliegen. und die natürlich ein paar stunden verspätung hat ;-) nach vier stunden erkundung des airports von lima besteigen wir dann doch endlich unser flugzeug und düsen dem abendlichen quito entgegen. erst beim ... read more
quito welcome

South America » Ecuador » North » Quito » Historical Center May 31st 2014

We had not left much time for Ecuador and as we were not planning to go the Galapagos we were really just passing through the country. We took two buses from Tumbes in Peru to Quito with a quick overnight stop in Guayanquil to break it up. We arrived in Quito on a Saturday and the city seemed strangely quiet. This was due to our hostel being located next to the Palacio Legislativo which is the Ecuadorian Houses of Parliament. The president was giving a speech to the country which was being watched by everyone on any TV screens they could find, in shops, restaurants etc. The roads were closed off with police and security everywhere, they even had a military marching band. We spent the weekend exploring the city which is huge. The centre is ... read more
Basillica
View of Quito from the top of the Teleferiqo.
Shrunken head in the Museo del Mitad del Mundo

South America » Ecuador » North » Quito » Historical Center May 27th 2014

Monday 26th First thing we walk into town and find a shoe repairer. Christine's new sandals lasted one outing before a heel fell off ! We find a repairer who succeeds in replacing the heel. Next we search for a luggage shop and buy a extra wheelie bag for all the souvenirs. Christine's now got room for even more ! Back at the hostel we hire a taxi for 4 hours to take us out of town. First stop is Pululahua Reserve which has the Pululahua volcanic crater. The volcano collapsed many years ago leaving the crater some 400m below. It's now very fertile and we see it planted with crops. It's ok but not staggering. Our next stop is the Museo Solar Inti Nan. It's a fun place which is supposed to be on exactly ... read more
Walking the line
Centre of the earth
Mindo Cascades

South America » Ecuador » North » Quito » Historical Center May 24th 2014

The flight from Cusco to Lima was uneventful and it was lovely to see Mario's warm smile as I arrived over an hour later than expected. I had tried to email in time to save him the boring wait but unfortunately it didn't arrive in time. The late hour meant that we copped all the peak hour traffic, but I had a lovely welcome from Maritza and Fiorella once I walked through the door. Fran was there with a new volunteer from New Zealand (who's name escapes me at the moment) and after dinner we all went to out for a beer. Fran had told me it was an English pub? but it was actually and English Country Club and very posh indeed. The bar was so small that we were told to wait in the ... read more
English Country Club foyer/lobby
Contemporary Art Museum
Spooky art

South America » Ecuador » North » Quito » Historical Center February 19th 2014

Hello everyone! So I arrived safely after my rather long 24 hour journey to Quito, the capital of Ecuador. I arrived to my hotel around 1:30 in the morning. This morning, I woke up around 8 and had breakfast overlooking the historical centre of Quito. I then felt rather lazy so went back to my room for a little while. When I eventually got round to leaving, I had a look around the city centre and saw some of the beautiful churches. I then took a four hour trip South to the Black Sheep Inn, an Eco lodge in Chugchillàn. Good tip from Fi and Dunc- thanks guys! It's amazing here. Once I was settled in, I met the guys who were sharing my bunkhouse and we went for a walk to see some of the ... read more
Quito
Quito
Quito

South America » Ecuador » North » Quito » Historical Center December 31st 2013

It will be a life threatening event to ever go and participate in Dutch traffic again. My fright reaction has fallen behind in comparison to my brothers and sisters in evolution anyway (or actually, it has over-evolved: it can only be evoked by acute life danger that´s directly visible), but after two weeks in Quito, I´ve also become honk-immune. One has to be, or else you´d need tranquilizers every time you go out on the street. So by now I´ve learned the basics of the Ecuadorian honk language and I´d like to share my new knowledge with people in countries where you pay 130 euros if you honk when there´s no direct danger. I have to admit though: there´s always direct danger here, so maybe it´s not as mad as it seems :). Here are the ... read more

South America » Ecuador » North » Quito » Historical Center December 31st 2013

To the tune Row, row, row your boat; ¨Tell me what you do, early in the morning. Everyday I brush my teeth, early in the morning.¨ Easy one, the songs and chants for kids module of the teaching english course last May in Seville. It took us about five minutes to make the song and then we could have sung for half an hour about morning routines: ¨Everyday I wake up, I take a shower, I´m getting dressed, I have some bread, I brush my teeth, I pack my bag, I hug my mom, I go to school… early in the morning.¨ While singing we could mimic the activities that we were mentioning. Yeah, we were sure: this was going to be a hit for the kids. My new three to five year old friends from ... read more

South America » Ecuador » North » Quito » Historical Center December 31st 2013

Twice I had almost turned around. The first time it was because of the taxi driver: obviously a special case of ADHD. Everytime he couldn´t accelerate, steer or change gears (oh yeah, or honk of course!), he turned the volume of the radio randomly up and down. Loud, quietly. Loud. Aaaand quietly again. Loud. Sigh, quietly. Besides, there was a local program on and Friday afternoon was ¨bad jokes continuously¨-time. Our driver found everything said hilarious, but his good mood didn´t reach any further than the front window. Honking, swaying, pushing in, and pointing at his forehead he made his way through the Friday traffic in Quito. And when occasionally he didn´t touch the radio for more than a minute, the volume was always left at an annoying level of 12+, where 8 indicated the limit ... read more




Tot: 0.16s; Tpl: 0.007s; cc: 11; qc: 78; dbt: 0.0797s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1; ; mem: 1.3mb