Quito,Ecuador: Frist Couple of Days
March 7th, 2009
View the trip so farWell my third day is now complete. I know that I have only been in Quito for two full days, but it feels like its been longer. I am not sure how much longer I am going to be here. Leave for the Galapagos on Thursday the 12th for eight days. I currently have my room booked for one more night, so that leaves Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday night. I need to decide if I want to stay here in Quito or go someplace else first. I say I am going to the Galapagos on Thursday but it hasn’t been fully booked. I need to do that on Monday. When I return from the Galapagos I will be in Quito for a few more days hanging out with my friend Jens, who is currently in Columbia.
Getting here was no problem. It was smooth sailing. I was picked up at the airport and taken to the hostel. I was checked in by 10:45pm, and I was hungry, so I ventured out to get something to eat. This isn’t the safest neighborhood at night, (don’t worry Mom, I am being safe), so I stopped in this little place and had a cheeseburger, fries, and a coke for $1.85. I know I know, my first meal here and its a burger. But these places are everywhere, and I didn’t know the lay of the land yet.
The following morning I missed breakfast because I slept in, but they made me a small little breakfast, of fruit, bread and chocolate milk. Yum. They are really nice here. Left the hostel and just walked around the neighborhood to familiarize myself with the area. Found a nice park and just chilled, wrote in my journal, and people watched. That was a lot of fun. But I realized that I hadn’t put on sun block and was a little red. Oops. Back to the hostel I went, put on some sun block and headed out. I am going to get a great tan while I am here.
I met up with a couchsurfer who lives here in Quito for some beers. It was great to hangout with a local. He gave me some pointers on what to see, and also helped out with the Galapagos tour.
In the early evening I decided to venture out to El Centro, or Old Town, to walk around and find something to eat. Getting there was somewhat of an adventure. The buses here are jammed packed. You basically have to shove your way in and shove your way out. You really don’t have to hold on to anything, just lean on someone. Okay its not that bad, but it was pretty crazy. El Centro is the colonial part of the city and it is very beautiful. Lots of little shops, places to eat, and churches. I walked around until I got hungry, and found a place to eat. I had a very healthy meal of fried meat, two fried eggs, french fries, a string bean, cauliflower, carrot salad, a cucumber, pepper salad, some really spicy sauce, and a beer. I then walked around some more, and caught a taxi back to the hostel.
This morning, on Allison’s recommendation, I went to the Museo Gauyasmin. I took the bus, which was a lot of fun, and hiked up this crazy hill. I was a little short of breathe due to the altitude here, when I arrived and the closed gate with an updated sign that it was only open during the weekdays. Damn it. Luckily enough just a little further up the hill, and through a poor looking neighborhood, I made it to the Capilla Del Hombre, which houses art work from Gauyasmin. It was very beautiful, and the view from up there was amazing.
I then took a taxi to the Jardin Botanico, walked around, and took some pictures. I then walked around the park, where the gardens are, and bought myself a giant cup full of fruit for lunch. That park was is very beautiful. You can rent a paddle boat and paddle around the man made lake. There is also a pretty big skate park there. I then took the bus back to the hostel and took a nap.
I met up with another couchsurfer for beers and food. Another couchsurfer that she knew joined us a little bit later, after his salsa lesson. It was a lot of fun. Its great to meet fellow travelers.
Well that’s the first couple of days.
I didn’t take pictures really the first day, just the one for 365, but I did take some today. I tried uploading them, but either they are taking way to long, or for some reason uploading is blocked. Its almost midnight here I am tired. I will try uploading the pics at another time when I am less tired, and maybe from an internet cafe. Sorry if there are typeos, but I am too tired to proof read it right now. Good night.
