Quito - Day 1 (and trip down)

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Not much to say about the trip down - four flights, sleep deprivation, actually slept through a take-off (second time ever).

I arrived around 8:30 PM and got to the Secret Garden hostal (www.secretgardenquito.com) around 10:00 PM. The cab ride was normal... but I kept wondering if he was taking me to the right place.

The hostal is quite the experience. Five floors with the top floor being a terrace overlooking the Old Town (more colonial architecture). I stayed up a few hours, got a coke/rum/lime drink (it does have a name, but I forget) and hung out with the other travelers on the terrace... a crazy bunch... I met people from the UK, USA, Australia, and Holland. I think some have been or will be touring about for over a year.

So, I'm staying in a dorm room with three girls.

During breakfast this morning I met two girls - Jessica and Jennifer - and they invited me to hang out with them for the day since I didn´t have any plans. So, we hung out together and they showed me around a bit... we took a lot of buses, went to the Indian market, ate at an Ecuadorian restaurant, went to Quicentro (a big and modern mall), ate snacks at Cinnabon and TGI Fridays, walked around a lot, went bowling (yeah, really, and you wouldn´t be able to tell the difference between this alley and one in the U.S.), and talked a lot. They had just finished a two week mission trip where about 40 of them were building, providing medical care, and other things in a village.

Somewhere in all of that, we also got stuck in a downpour -- had to flag down a taxi. The city is beautiful with the clouds pouring over the green mountains lining the east and west sides of the city. However, Quito is kind of dirty and smelly (pollution). The buses just pour out exhaust fumes. Though, once the wind kicked up and the rain poured down... it kind of cleaned out things a bit (Quito is in a valley).

After that they left to head back to Washington, I read for awhile, and then got a glass of wine and watched the mini-bonfire they they have in a mini-wheelbarrow on the terrace. Tomorrow, I´m not sure what I will be up to... I want

They have plants all over the place and a pretty open air system.
to tour Old Town a bit -- churches, parks, etc. I also want to sign up for Spanish lessons next week.

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Photos

Terrace View - 1
Secret Garden Hostal

Out and About - 1
This was taken from the Rio Coca bus station. Shortly after this we were caught in a LOT of rain. :)

Inside the Secret Garden
They have plants all over the place and a pretty open air system.

Wheelbarrow Fire
¿How unique can you get? This place is unique.

Terrace View - 2
Secret Garden Hostal

Terrace View - 3
Secret Garden Hostal

Stairs
Written on the steps - "I never think of the future. It comes soon enough." -Einstein

Out and About - 2
Crossing a random street.

Four of these in a day
I think four legs (flights) in one-day is a new personal record.

Comments

[Adele]

Jealous!
Looks really interesting! Makes me want to visit there. Is there Internet access at the hostal or did you go to an Internet cafe?

[Augusta]

Hola!
Hola, mi hermano! Glad to see that you're doing well and enjoying an entirely new continent. Looking forward to seeing more pictures!

[Celeste J.]

Sweet!
It looks and sounds sweet! That's really insane to have four legs in one day, but I'm glad that it went well.

[EchelonFive]

Internet
Yeah, they have three computers onsite with Internet access.