Monday, February 17
Once again, I woke up in my comfortable
bottom-bunk in my six-bed dorm room with no plans. Heaven, after the
madness of Brazil! I know I’ll get antsy soon, though.
After a breakfast of fresh fruit and bread at the hostel bar, I noticed a hand-written advertisement on a blackboard for a free walking tour of
Quito’s gorgeous Old Town, el Centro Historico. Even though I’ve been down here
a couple times before, I thought it would be a good idea to get oriented by
foot and learn some new historical details.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIEEHYakJLQxt81HH1MBlT9a_jm7-DUFauicAiW9ciOBzAnMzeubNBbgsUW4lzXwftpVQSnq3sDY-DY8RTi5zLt0nGUaCugwpmedX3nQ-09Tntc88xWhyphenhypheniN8_w1zXk7e1cvnSU6LzLztU/s1600/IMG_6100.JPG) |
The Basilica, which is visible from my hostel's rooftop terrace -- along with a panoramic view of the city and mountains. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicC4grYnp-auBoPnIVuT9UVeGCe5l6KVcDuu1D4iHhtuObM45KA0J3Qrg5nJg1ksgYjBAxWSqVYS0AYKPzlJjE2-TOUDFAji9kHN1HPQMSLXHcnREgsJWpASUX4qa5SolAjCVEShy5zNk/s1600/IMG_6102.JPG) |
The Basilica's only deviation from typical Gothic style is its replacement of gargoyles with native Ecuadorian fauna. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ODd0YHCc_MJ74Ud_JElLJ8eTz6jUxWG7wAszfHJj_Zvtqdwt75ABimYJDhUUDFRzdl_NhQuZOh_8Cdi6pNTNjIxGsU4wZMk-FONbe4X9aYnO9hg7OcRuAOEyD7dXzuVx_jrnGC9YdNw/s1600/IMG_6104.JPG) |
There were even Galapagos giant tortoises! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd7meUQbVcr392PLVb3a4BcKSLV_E1xswNFb2ctNzDdgIkmU10uKpqLQ8BrpwQrJdg73CRFczQx4b1kmD6XKM9xEqo1Hn4fI8YX-8fASBx4iFMsOXu2HjOMXHiUWdRvGHveEx_idO1x-s/s1600/IMG_6107.JPG) |
We arrived to the main square just in time to see President Rafael Correa waving from his balcony. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbrVZZxZeieCXVW141cqFIWf6mEM4dSOULcqk0B73RBd3oYqVtmYstEJqQP9pNVoXtg7yBbyqW9LbPrJREe5SQ8yiySub4RqBeCVnuU4fzXLgfpYjzNN7CuIVz3fZJ_tCjbZTvqo56Bo/s1600/IMG_6109.JPG) |
This statue presides over the four historic buildings in Old Town's main square. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3zZuSrHkbfAF0SqrC2Wd46ZTieu1TgjSl7y2dN2_Qpxs5achyphenhyphen5uiszfCllzNwrqL-6FCe-Jx_7okncJ-_3NJ4ziRPrfrm1dFWcFs-dAAefLSQV0vu_BSz5v7NCN1jkB8hZc_QOtHpLGY/s1600/IMG_6110.JPG) |
The Andean condor represents freedom for Gran Colombia, the original country which encompassed Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela. I hope I get to see one of these endangered birds in the wild. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1_O9bSUdjreMWlALVFz6_1L17bTi1jf__w-YMTlNU1BXOtoUmJg-AhV-u9HJvLQBWg7Mxl3yivQCyp9S1YTpgFicvNjq_GeVezpD7uH5Ub3-q6bj4Hjm57vV5k06swMwr4dWn1az_U9U/s1600/IMG_6111.JPG) |
The angry lion represents the Spanish empire, and the broken ship and cross behind him represent colonization and the Catholic church. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqhSXzQLFkYp6U7QQmkoo0hDu60-pdN0DoxnR3dMP6s5k4n-0Lh-7E6-AmVixEzopKoDWRSbIu9Ax79PXCBPZ5VjCOZq4BgHMWxSEYT9b5XKsFu2brsSW6VuljDE3LtskKUHteRzz0zwQ/s1600/IMG_6118.JPG) |
I had de ja vu from eating lunch in this very room a few months ago with the GAIAS study abroad group! It feels very different to come upon the place alone. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisleQWiu5AzhZzXyE29Zbv6oRYcqEHegx7M_AjHmCIal2FxDcfJ789FMLeTbGZiIjQyKDHjTz1uifrK7nfRrwRQMJhrljQE8reKuB3vpt3x34FMb43gtv_P9G1ChWOwVD6p1X2zM_hsr4/s1600/IMG_6122.JPG) |
An Ecuadorian flag between the towers of the Basilica |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBZD4kwv-LoO7cM9rhbWAiXIhsM52ULRXRxQdJL6FBVSL-f5GojCFNk3wwNclZyY-FMa10Q7o3lw9Skb3JNCqBH7l4ZEZIsTACrekYsDEQDxV5-xydudPb6fivo9dClr0dqhiWrBiCF14/s1600/IMG_6123.JPG) |
One of the seven crosses on Calle de las Cruces. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx0Gzkqeab6WRZIG24c-B2mmPfJlA450Z5-cowZ2-oMAppFaxMdB6jdaPWlc1yWGrWCztlEAnAL5VQq4ZBV5bhkuIj_E6S4HFV6wAExyyCCo4rLhS7XYB0_BjexWWsHqZ_KJm-VV2Bap0/s1600/IMG_6128.JPG) |
An elegant courtyard visible from a public rooftop. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVnpwPrnlXu-MmRg9jPs-YwJApXfw5nEqG4Z54x7F-7aFVkncziMV3aUG9rbl_l0M267Yf9nZVBS-t_6r4F2IZ3Z-wa-1QaVH0p0jhqR_TLTJ_OsvHNxd7yXQ3v_BvVoo7UOSamK4eUU4/s1600/IMG_6138.JPG) |
We explored the dark, narrow, winding tunnels under this church where a strange artisan crafts market is now held. |
After the tour, we all decided to grab $2.00 lunches at Almuerzo Como en Casa (Lunch Like at Home), the restaurant our tour guide had recommended. Then, three chill British guys from the tour and I headed out to play frisbee (YEEEE) at a park. My two-person team smoked theirs, and the guys were all naturals at defense. We asked the trash-collector lady to please leave the foam cups we were using to mark the end-zones, and almost ran over a businessman in a suit who had inadvertently cut across our field. We got lots of smiles and funny looks from Ecuadorians who had never seen a game of ultimate. It was so much fun!!!