Quito Pit Stop

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So I made a very quick stop in Quito from Mindo but I feel I saw enough.



How I got there:

Caught the 11am bus from Mindo $3.10 & got into La Ofelia terminal 2hrs later. From there I caught the Metrobus to Conjeso Provincial 25c (catch the one heading to Marin & watch for the station signs on either side to see which station you are at). From there I walked to the Hostal.



Where I stayed:
Chicago hostel $11.20/night bed in 4-bed mixed dormitory. Room is small but clean with a separate bathroom - water gets warm but not hot although I was the 3rd person in a row to shower which may not have helped. There is a common area with pool/darts & a roof terrace which gave a good view at night.



I had 2 roommates for the night 2 lads 1 from Venezuela & 1 from Cuba. The language barrier made for some interesting mimicking especially when it came to "pole vault"! It did also highlight my inability to understand most of Spanish but I have another 10 weeks to work on that one.



What I did:

I had very little time in Quito so I took a walk around the old town, saw the presidential palace which was surrounded by police as the Venezuelan president was coming to visit & climbed the basilica $2.

If you go up don't forget to do the belfry which is accessed from the 2nd souvenier shop on your left as you come back across the bridge from the main tower as you get another nice view across to the Virgin de panecillo.



Ate: just a couple of cheesy rolls from a bakers for 15c/ea.



There is quite a lot to do in Quito in terms of museums, riding the telerifico or partying but travelling alone I didn't really fancy doing those to much & I'm not a massive fan of cities so I ducked out of Quito (which is huge!) pretty quick to Head to Banos (de agua).

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Photos

2015-09-21 21.04.29
From the tower of basilica

2015-09-21 21.18.02
view from basilica to virgin el panecillo

2015-09-22 04.06.22
Quito at night