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Published: September 5th 2018
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Today we checked out of our lovely hotel with cherubs and roses in the night club area and into our much posher hotel in the new part of the city. I am relaxing in the hotel provided robe and slippers with coffee percolating in the background.
We spent today on - and off - the Hop on Hop off bus. The plan was to explore the old part of the city and so we did, after navigating the very busy traffic. The buses are double deckers and are a great way to see the city, with views over the traffic and into people’s backyards. We hopped off at the Basílica, a church still under construction after several centuries. Apparently a disaster will stirike when it is finished, so they keep on working on it. Then back on the bus and down to the real centre of the old city. We saw a large white building with big wooden doors and went in. Another church and was it impressive inside. Photos weren’t allowed but I have grabbed one off the inter web to include here. All gold and icons and stuff.
After that we needed a spot of lunch so
we tried our luck at a local ’restuarant’ where mama couldn’t speak any english. We ended up having soup and then rice and fish, served with freh orange juice and popcorn. We were stunned by the bill at the end of the meal - USD5 - for both of us. I must confess we were a little cautious about the salad and salsa but so far, no side effects.
After lunch we had about an hour to spend so we ambled about admiring all the ornate buildings, obviously a strong Spanish influence. There were a lot of people about, I think many were visitors but also a lot of locals too. Many were just relaxing in the parks and eating ice creams like the ladies I tried to sneakily photograph but as I walked passed they laughed and waved. We ran out of time to see everything I wanted to before hopping in the bus and up to El Panecillo where a Virgin made 7,000 pieces of aluminium (in 1976) stands. It is a stunning piece of modern religious sculpture.
Our bus ride out of the old centre was a real adventure. Streets are so narrow, mostly one
way and the bus was forever trying to make right hand turns. All the locals watched with glee but waved and laughed when I took photos, even the dentist in his second floor office as I stopped outside his window. I wish we had longer to explore this area.
We met some of the tour group tonight, there will be 16 of us altogether on the Gran Beatrix exploring the Galapagos Islands for 5 days. And that is good news for you too as we will be out of coverage for most of the time. However I am sure I can manage a bumper edition once back in town again.
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