Quito

2013/05/29 21:19

From Wikipedia

Quito, formally San Francisco de Quito, is the capital city of Ecuador, and at an elevation of 9,350 feet (2,800 meters above sea level), it is the highest capital city in the world housing the administrative, legislative and judicial functions.[1] It is located in north-central Ecuador in the Guayllabamba river basin, on the eastern slopes of Pichincha,[2] an active stratovolcano in the Andes mountains. With a population of 2,197,698 according to the last census (2001), and, as estimated by the municipality, approximately 2,504,991 in 2005,[3] Quito is the second most populous city in Ecuador, after Guayaquil. It is also the capital of the Pichincha province and the seat of Metropolitan District of Quito. The canton recorded a population of 1,842,201 residents in the 2001 national census. In 2008, the city was designated as the headquarters of the Union of South American Nations.[4]

The Historic Center of Quito has one of the largest, least-altered and best-preserved historic centers in the Americas.[5] Quito, along with Kraków, were the first World Cultural Heritage Sites declared by UNESCO in 1978.[5] The central square of Quito is located about 25 kilometres (16 mi) south of the equator; the city itself extends to within about 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) of zero latitude. A monument and museum marking the general location of the equator is known locally as la mitad del mundo (the middle of the world), to avoid confusion, as the word ecuador is Spanish for

Quito

I try to convince myself that being born high altitude in 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.

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.

Approaching Cuenca flying above cloud cover - beautiful sunset. On dropping below cloud cover it was total darkness over Cuenca.

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 ]

In the parks there is some interesting art being sold. I especially picked the pieces that seemed to have Andeans colors to them

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.

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

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

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!

9,195 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!

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