Quito Quito Quito

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Bonjour everyone.

Ok so ive been in Quito for about 2 and a half months now. And I LOVE it!! Sooo much... I think the people make the city a better place. Great friends from here and from all around the world. Its a very touristic spot so we get to meet alot of interesting people. I absolutly love my students. They are awesome, so respectful and polite. And most importantly, the majority of them love to talk about Canada. I get excited easily ok.

It is the Capital of the Country. Were about 2 millionish people here, its the second biggest city in Ecuador, after Guayaquil, which has like 3 million people. Lets not forget to mention im going to visit Guayaquil and Montanita for this long weekend, im pumped, Ive only been to the Coast once (Babahoyo) and thats not the beach, so it doesnt count! So im super excited about going to Montanita, especially.

So why a long weekend? Dia de los Difuntos. Day of the dead, kinda like Halloween, but they just celebrate the lives of loved ones that past away. They dont really celebrate Halloween here, but the discos have costume parties and we also had a Halloween party at work, free food and most importantly, free booze. I have developed a greater appreciation for free stuff, since Ive moved here. And Dia de la Independencia de Cuenca, thats the third most important city in Ecuador. My roomate, Miriam, is from there. Its supposed to be an amazing city I cant wait to go visit, soon hopefully.

So Quito is a very historical city. We have the biggest Old Town in South America. (Historical Center, theres alot of old churches, art museums, that kinda stuff.) Lets not forget the night life. Mariscal. Marrriiisscaalll. Its totally touristic, but i kinda love it. A lot of discos, bars, pubs, restaurants, all that good stuff.

Ok, so Ecuador has 4 main regions, Amazonas (the jungle), The Highlands or Andes (Mountains, where I am), The Coast, (beaches, hot weather) and the Galapagos Islands (Super amazing place that I so cant afford to go, damn).

Anyway, so Quito is in the Mountains, the city is located in a valley at the foot of Pinchincha, which is an active volcano, but it hasnt erupted in ages dont worry.) Last time it erupted was in like 1999, it spit up a huge ass pouff of ashes and water vapor. Please God dont let it happen when im here, i would flip out! Ok enough of that. So this city is at an altitude of 2850 metres. When people first come here, they sometimes feel sick. I didnt feel sick, but i was dehydrated a lot, a lot. I drank like 8 liters of water a day.

So Quito has a crazy climate, like four seasons in a day. In the morning its super hot out, very clear sky, then afternoon, it will rain, then at night it stops raining.. but like its super cold. Ok not Canada cold, but cold. But its just like that in the winter. And i guess this is our winter? I dont know. Some people say we dont have seasons.. its like all fucked up. But i kinda love it.

So that is a little about Quito, hope you werent too bored, cool.

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Comments

[mike]

very informative jehanne. nice job