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| Indigenous dancers doing a dance of the Andes |
Day 1:
The Nun in the Night
As we touched down into Quito, we were greeted by green, mountainous landscape, dotted with homes and windy roads. Coming out of customs, we learned that the green bus would take us closest to El Centro and we could take a taxi or walk from there to our Hotel (Inca Imperial). So we boarded the bus for only $2/ticket, just as the sun was setting over the hills, and took a 1.5 hour ride to the Casa de Cultura Museum where we got off. But we would never have found our way without the help of a friendly nun.
On the first green bus from the airport, Mami struck up a conversation with the people sitting behind her. This nun was incredibly kind and explained that she was going the same direction as us and would help guide us as to what buses to take. Not only did she get off with us at the bus terminal, but she also directed us to the red bus we needed to take and told us where to get dropped off. She was a God send for sure!
We walked around the streets of Quito a bit, getting our bearings, and admiring the architecture which looked like a fusion between European, Japanese, and American styles. Then, we took a taxi to our hotel (fair and cheap prices!), enjoyed a delicious Ecuadorian meal, and crawled into our warm beds, exhausted from the day's travel.
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| La Compañía Church |
Day 2:
People Watching in Plaza Grande
Waking up this morning, we all had headaches. I guess going from sea level (Panama) to 2800 meters above sea level in one day can do that to you. All that to say, we chose to sleep in and linger over our complimentary continental breakfast, so we headed out of the hotel around 10a.
There was a bus stop located around the corner from our hotel, so for only 25 cents we boarded a bus heading toward El Centro Historico (Plaza Grande). The bus doors apparently close very quickly, because I got off just as the doors were closing on Mami and Danae. It was fine though, because I just waited at the bus stop while they got off at the next stop and walked back to meet me. Plenty of time for people watching :)
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| I bought a scarf from this sweet lady, Maria. I had to practically sit on the ground to be at her level. |
Elderly couples enjoyed helado on the steps of Plaza Grande, while families strolled past and street vendors hawked their wares. Vendors sold everything from huge bags of pork rinds to Disney themed pillows, and you can't go one block without seeing an ice cream cart. While vendors proclaimed their merchandise, beggars, in contrast, sat silently, with palms out, right outside the doors of the extravagant cathedrals. Many Ecuadorians did pause to share their food or drop a coin into their outstretched palms.
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| "Can you help me with my English homework?" |
Once inside these churches, the detail was astounding: the stained glass windows depicting the life of Christ, gold overlaid altars and entry doors, and gothic arched hallways that made you feel small and remind you of the grandeur of God.
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El Panecillo
We passed an archway and noticed an enormous set of steep stairs set into a nearby mountain. At the top, there was a giant statue of a winged woman standing on top of a globe. Immediately our curiosity was aroused, and we mentally prepared ourselves to climb all those stairs. Thankfully, we received a tip that the safest option for summitting the hill was to take a taxi.
While waiting for the taxi, we spent time laughing and taking pictures in an artistically decorated plaza with giant letters spelling out: QUITO. It was hilarious!Our taxi driver was patient with these newbie tourists, and not only drove us to the top of the hill, but also waited around for us for 30 minutes.
I was thrilled by the panoramic views of Quito and the surrounding mountains, but even more elated when I learned we could enter ($1) the statue and climb the spiral stairs inside to a look-out point. Wow!
The wind whipped our hair in our faces as we tried to attempt group shots with the picturesque city in the background. A city of 2.2 million people, Quito is spread out far and wide, and there are so many areas to explore.
Artesanal stands lined the main road next to the statue, and we saw the strangest sight. A whole roasted pig! Sure enough, the vendors were selling pork and other unusual street food on top of this mountain high above the city.
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Iglesia San Francisco and La Basilica
Winding our way down the hill, we pointed at the two exceedingly tall towers of a church. "The Basilica," we were told. Our curiosity was fueled once again.
But first we had to visit another well-known Quito church, Iglesia San Francisco. Here, we sat in the pews to take in the beauty of the gilded sanctuary
and ended up staying for the last half of the Sunday mass. The priest spoke
compellingly about having joy in Christ (encouraging the congregation
after Ecuador's loss in the World Cup match against Switzerland) and
reminded them Christ is alive. We rose and sang with them songs
accompanied by guitar, and I really treasured this time to simply sit
and give thanks.Leaving Iglesia San Francisco, we all felt a new sense of peace, and we strolled up the street, taking in the various Andes music ensembles and admiring the hand-woven hats and scarves. Our next misson: Find the Basilica.
The Basilica didn't look too far away, but with the altitude and the cold, the uphill hike was slow and laborious. But, as we crested the hill, we got our first view of the Basilica up close. We felt overwhelming triumph in our hearts. We had finally arrived, and it had been well worth the trek!
For another $1 entrance fee, we roamed the cavernous narthex and sanctuary of the Basilica. One room in particular captured my attention--it was patterned and candy-striped in a brilliant array of colors, simply edible in its design and pillared framework. It was a lovely room to honor a dear saint.
Stepping into the brisk Quito air again, we walked around the perimeter of the Basilica, and it reminded me of Notre Dame, with its gothic styling and gargoyles peeking out from its roof. Although what made the Basilica distinct was that these weren't gargoyles, but animals, representative of their counterparts in the Galapagos islands.
We paused in a nearby coffee shop to take shelter from the cold and contemplate this grand architectural achievement. We sipped hot chocolate and were at absolute ease. Summer vacation had truly begun!
