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 ====== Quito - Ecuador ======
+Quito
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 [[wp>Quito]]
-I try to convince myself that being born high altitude I should have it easy up here in the Andes. Wishful thinking I am sure. I arrived at the Chicago Hostal around noon and already felf that a nap would do me good.
+I try to convince myself that being born high altitude in  [[talk:ecuador:cities:quito|Asmara Eritrea]] I should have it easy up here in the Andes. Wishful thinking I am sure. I arrived at the Chicago Hostal around noon and already felt that a nap would do me good.
+----
+===== Return flight to Cuenca =====
+Flight time: 5:30PM
+Duration: less than one hour
+About 20 minutes out of Quito one can see the top of the highest mountains sticking above the cloud cover. I believe the pilot said we would be cruising at an altitude of 28000 feet above the airport altitude. We are over cloud cover - and those mountains, some with snow on them, stick above the clouds.
+{{:ecuador:cities:quito:sdc11750.webm?fileid=5838|Return flight to Cuenca}}
+Approaching Cuenca flying above cloud cover - beautiful sunset. On dropping below cloud cover it was total darkness over Cuenca.
+{{:ecuador:cities:quito:sdc11751.webm?fileid=5852|Approach to Cuenca}}
+----
+===== Quito's Public Gardens =====
+Quito has many beautiful parks and the people make very good use of them on week ends.
+[ **Click on the photos to enlarge and to get descriptions of the photos** ]
+{{:blog:sdc11661.jpg?200|Entrance to a park by McDonalds}}  {{:blog:sdc11662.jpg?200|}} {{:blog:sdc11663.jpg?200| Instruction for free internet in the park}} {{:blog:sdc11665.jpg?200| The free library in the park}} {{:blog:sdc11664.jpg?200 |}} {{:blog:sdc11666.jpg?200 |}}
+ {{:blog:sdc11667.jpg?200|}} {{:blog:sdc11668.jpg?200|}} {{:blog:sdc11669.jpg?200|}} {{:blog:sdc11670.jpg?200| Another park a block from my hostal}} {{:blog:sdc11671.jpg?200|}} {{:blog:sdc11672.jpg?200|An astronomy building for a university across the street}} {{:blog:sdc11673.jpg?200|Predator II guy posing with kids}} {{:blog:sdc11684.jpg?200|}}{{:blog:sdc11683.jpg?200|}}
+----
+In the parks there is some interesting art being sold. I especially picked the pieces that seemed to have Andeans colors to them
+{{:blog:sdc11674.jpg?200|}} {{:blog:sdc11675.jpg?200|}} {{:blog:sdc11676.jpg?200|}} {{:blog:sdc11677.jpg?200|}}  {{:blog:sdc11678.jpg?200|}} {{:blog:sdc11679.jpg?200|}} {{:blog:sdc11680.jpg?200|}} {{:blog:sdc11681.jpg?200| There is strong police presence in the parks}} {{:blog:sdc11682.jpg?200|}}
+==== List of Places to see in Quito ====
+ // 2013/05/31 21:54//
+**Colonial Quito**
+Quito’s historic district is the second oldest in Latin America, even older than Cuenca!  It is has one of the biggest colonial sections, and is one of the least altered architectures in the Americas. Quito is one of the first named World Cultural Heritage Sites declared by UNESCO in 1978.
+**President's Palace**
+Quito’s old town has a central square called Plaza de la Independencia.  This inner plaza is surrounded by colonial, regal mansions. Many festive events take place in the Plaza Independence.  Standing proudly in front of the plaza is the Carondelet Palace, which is the seat of government (the white house) of the Republic of Ecuador.
+The architecture of the palace is from the French Renaissance era. Sentinels in old world uniforms stand guard for hours, without blinking an eye, protecting the president which also lives somewhere within the walls of this beautiful palace.
+----
+{{:blog:sdc11729.jpg?200|Quito's claim to discovery of the Amazon River}}{{:blog:sdc11728.jpg?200|Presidential palace}}{{:blog:sdc11730.jpg?200|Colonial Quito}}{{:blog:sdc11731.jpg?200|Colonial Quito}}{{:blog:sdc11732.jpg?200|Sebastian Benalcazar: Moved to the New World from Spain in 1519, Benalcázar became an officer in the forces of Pedro Arias Dávila and in 1524 conquered Nicaragua. Joining Francisco Pizarro’s expedition to Peru in 1531, he was given command of the supporting base at Piura. In 1533 he set out to conquer what is now Ecuador. Defeating the Inca chief Rumiñahui, Benalcázar occupied the Indian city of Quito on Dec. 6, 1534. In 1535 he founded a settlement that was later moved to a more healthful site and developed into the modern Guayaquil. Benalcázar led an expedition in search of the mythical Eldorado, believed to be a region abounding in gold. He entered the Popayán region of Colombia, founded the city of Popayán in 1537, and became governor of the district.
+The close of Benalcázar’s life was embittered by disputes with other Spanish leaders. He died while under indictment for the killing of one of them, Jorge Robledo.}}{{:blog:sdc11733.jpg?200|Plazoleta Benalcazar - founded 16th century}}{{:blog:sdc11734.jpg?200|Colonial Quito}}{{:blog:sdc11735.jpg?200|}}{{:blog:sdc11736.jpg?200|}}{{:blog:sdc11737.jpg?200|Iglesia De La Mercerd- 18th century}}{{:blog:sdc11738.jpg?200|Colonial Quito}}{{:blog:sdc11739.jpg?200|}} {{:blog:sdc11740.jpg?200|Franciscan school of San Andres}}{{:blog:sdc11741.jpg?200|Perimeter of Franciscan school}}{{:blog:sdc11742.jpg?200|Colonial Quito}}{{:blog:sdc11744.jpg?200|Tomb of general Joseph Maldonado win Franciscan convent and museum }}{{:blog:sdc11745.jpg?200|Art in Franciscan museum}} {{:blog:sdc11746.jpg?200|Plaza of Franciscan museum}}
+If you like exploring old architecture then you’re going to love wondering around the **Basilica Catholic Cathedral.** Not only is it enormous but it looks like it was built in the Gothic era; our sons got a kick out of the gargoyle looking creatures (probably really only lions) on the upper walls. We walked all the way around a terrazzo type overhang on the second level, enjoying the vista of the mountains and the close-up views of this cathedra
+{{ :blog:sdc11646.jpg?300 |Basilica Catholic Cathedral}}
+Also in Quito Old Town you will find wonderful restaurants, cafe's, panaderias, and other great little eateries. The great thing about Quito's Old Town is some of the streets do not allow buses so there is less deisel fumes. The light rail (Trolley) takes you to the Old Town from the Northern part of Quito in just 15 minutes. It is a great ride and it lets you off right in the heart of Old Tow
+**The Quicentro district** has fabulous shopping, among many other great things to see and do. We call Quito the “shopping mecca” of Ecuador for obvious reasons. The Quicentro district of Quito has three huge shopping malls, and we mean H-U-G-E! Quicentro is located in the Northern parts of Quito and it is beautiful part of Quito, with very wide walking areas and a huge boulevard.
+Check this website
+http://www.discoverquitoecuador.com/2013/05/quicentro-of-quito-fabulous-shopping.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DiscoverQuitoEcuador+%28Discover+Quito+Ecuador%29
+----
+====== May 26th Arrival in Quito Ecuador  ======
+{{:blog:sdc11613.jpg?200|Gate 2 - Cuenca Airport}} {{:blog:sdc11614.jpg?200 |Cuenca Airport}}
+Round trip onn Aerogal for $64 - half hour flight time from Quenca. The newly opened airport so far from town the cab runs at least $25. Which adds up to the taxi expense being about the same as the air travel! Go figure!
+,195 feet altitude is not something you can ignore. I can say I have prepared for it the last six months in Vilcabamba and then Cuenca. You can't avoid noticing though,every now and then. This place is cold, very cold at night. Think a cold San Francisco before home heating became the norm. It is not a norm here. Buildings of brick and cement, tiled floors with no carpets cam make for a cold day and night. I guess you need to look at the upper range of hotel to get heat. Be prepared - get some warm night clothes and bedroom foot wear.
+Here you have the narrow valleys and on all sides the mountains. Avoid accomodations in places  that rise above the valleys, Few of the some 2 million people here have cars. The paths up from the valleys to their homes up yonder are long steep stairways to the clouds. You already have altitude  - do not opt for more stairways.
+Chicago Hostal in the San Blas Sector is where I am staying. The only connection with the original must be the cold. Luckily it is only a block up an incline from the bottom. The single bed room with own bath on the first floor is small,  but quite sufficient. Very clean - apparently newly refurbished tiled floors and bath. Plenty of hot water in the shower. Don't opt for a window to the street if noise keeps you up. The hostal occupies two buildings side by side. I was told there would be no internet access if I opted for my own bath in the next building - but it turns out I can connect to the wifi in the original building. There is good internet connection in the rooftop kitchen common to both buildings. Rate with share bathroom: $11 x day; rate with own bathroom: $14 x day!
+{{:blog:sdc11641.jpg?300  |Entrance to Chicago}}{{:blog:sdc11642.jpg?300  |On the right the 2nd bulding where I am}}{{:blog:sdc11643.jpg?300|}}
+----
+The uphill to the hostal on Los Rios is manageable - however looking up the sidestreets on the way there should convince you that you are as high as you want to  be.
+**Point to the pictures for a legend**
+----
+{{:blog:sdc11635.jpg?300|Looking up Luis Sordiro Ave before entering Los Rios}}  {{:blog:sdc11636.jpg?300| The way up Los Rios}} {{:blog:sdc11639.jpg?300|Looking to the valley from Los Rios}} {{:blog:sdc11638.jpg?300|sidestreet up from Los Rios}} {{:blog:sdc11640.jpg?300|sidestreet up from Los Rios}} {{:blog:sdc11637.jpg?300|sidestreet up from Los Rios}}
+==== Rooftop views at Chicago Hostal ====
+{{ :blog:015.jpg?800|}}
+----
+{{:blog:009.jpg?200|}} {{:blog:011.jpg?200|}} {{:blog:020.jpg?200|}}

ecuador/cities/quito.1369918961.txt.gz · Last modified: 2018/09/05 15:08 (external edit)

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