Big City Life

It is almost two weeks ago that I landed in Quito... 

Two weeks full of Spanish language classes (4hrs/day), strolling around in the city, visiting the house and museum of Guayasamin -the most famous Ecuadorian painter-, visiting the biggest indigenous market of Ecuador in Otavalo, having a look behind the facades of the presidential palace and getting very quiet in some of the impressive churches of Quito.

But also two weeks of bargaining for taxis, finding out how the chaotic -but oh so cheap- bus system works, realising that behind the corner of the empanada and sandwich bar you can have a lunch (starter, main dish and fresh juice) for only $2 and learning more about president Rafael Correa and his very controversial plan to start exploiting oil in Yasuni -a national park in the Amazonian region in the east of Ecuador.

Tomorrow I will leave the Big City Life behind me... up to the volcanoes!!

Going to or coming from the animal market in Otavalo?

Typical dresses at the market in Otavalo

Guayasamin, famous for his 'hands'...

Yasuni, exploiting oil or not? 

Looking into a random patio in the historic centre in Quito :-)

Balancing between North and South on the equator line!

Quito en la noche

One evening in Quito...

After sunset the old city and the suburbs in the valley turn into an amazing world of lights!

    El Panecillo, Virgen de Quito, looking out over the city at sunset

           El Panecillo and the historic centre by night

           The heart of the historic centre with its churches and palacios

           Basilica del Voto Nacional at night

Arrived in Quito!

After a 22-hour travel I safely arrived last night in Quito at the house of my guest family.
A first exploration tour today learned me that the city is breathtaking, not only because of its stunning location and the nice historical centre, but also because Quito sits at an altitude of 2800m!!
El Centro Historico is UNESCO worl heritage, which means lots of churches... I didn't really know which one to start with and walked on good luck until I found the 'Basilica'. A good choice apparently, since this Sunday was a fiesta and in front of this impressive church men, women and children -all dressed up- were performing traditional dances. A good start of my trip :-)

          

    View over Quito from the clock tower of the Basilica

    Fiesta at the Basilica

    Street-art in Quito!