Exploring Quito

After a long day of travelling we finally arrived at our hostel for the first two nights. We were warned to look out for transvestites and pick pocketers and as the high altitudes started to make itself known to us we set out to find food. On the way, as promised we dumped in to our local neighbors the transvestites before ending up in a local Ecuadorian restaurant around the corner. As the food was being prepared I felt so unwell, I can only describe it as being drunk and hungover at the same time: the lack of sleep, hunger and the altitude combined was not a pleasant experience but with most thigs in life they get better once you some food and sugar!

The next morning it was an early start to set off to explore Quito. The idea was that we would make our way to the cable cars that would take us to 4000m above sea level and a stunning view over the city. However, due to a lack a Spanish and an attitude of si si, we ended up on a different hill, with a different view but still stunning. We got to El Panecillo where the 40m high statue of the Virgin de Quito stood proudly.

We climbed to the top to get panoramic views of the city and explore the beautiful stained windows on the way to the top.

Our taxi driver Kevin, brought us down from the hill and to Plaza Grande in Old Town where we walked around and explored La Iglesia de El Sagrario (which had the loudest wooden floors possible!) and Iglesia de San Francisco.

We stopped for lunch at El Vegetariano where we had a 3 course meal for 2,75$ leaving us ready to attempt the hill up to Basilica del Sagrado Voto Nacional.

The altitude made it's presence throughout the day as we walked through the hills of Quito, the dizziness came and went. We stopped to enjoy the sun and the school children practising their drums in the park and spent the afternoon preparing for our next stop: Galapagos islands.