Quito for a day or two

Organised a taxi for 5am to catch my TACA flight to Lima and then onto Quito.

I am missing the Peru tour group folks and the many laughs we had together so I was happy to fly out of La Paz and move on as well.  In a strange way, it kind of relieved the feeling of being abandoned!  Flying into Quito was amazing as the plane flies in between hills to line up the runway.

I have to admit that by now, my focus is the Galapagos islands so I am not in too much of a mood to explore and find out about Quito.  Its probably to my detriment but its just the way I feel.  The hotel I've been booked into is the San Francisco and it is in Old Town which is the tourist part of town.  It is VERY ordinary... actually, a less than ordinary hotel but again, I am thinking, only two nights and I'm in the Galapagos.

Typical street in old town with of course, Christ/Angel on the Hill

I settle in by 5pm which means its been another long day traveling and I just have enough energy to go to the supermarket next door, get some snacks and sleep.  Tomorrow, I meet the rest of the group before we head off to Santa Cruz island and the boat.


The next day, I walk around old town, feel somewhat uncomfortable with regards to personal safety yet find a square where there are some live bands playing as part of a festival.  I find a wall to lean onto... less options for pick pockets to approach... and stay of listen to some great music.  I'm there for a couple of hours until a vendor decides to push me aside and set up exactly where I was standing.  Okay.  Excuse me for being in your way!


I decide to leave when she starts slapping her little toddler. It was either that or be the centre of an international diplomatic incident when I'd made up my mind to slap the mother back on her child's behalf. During my walk around old town, I find this absolutely massive Basilica built on top of the hill and wonder into an open door at street level.  No one told me it was the entrance to the underground cemetery.  People are stack in tombs anywhere up to five rows high in the walls.  I really didn't hang around too long to make sure.  I pitied the poor soul buried/entombed right at the front door.  He must not get any rest whatsoever with tourists like me just stumbling in on open days.

Tonight I met my roomie Jessica who tells me about having her camera snatched from her hands as she was framing a picture to take.  Did I mention that I REALLY need to get to the Galapagos?

We leave tomorrow early in the morning.  Can't wait.

Cheers!