Quito has a beautiful new airport that is quite a ways out north of the city. We took the $25 taxi ride, as it was only a few dollars more than the shuttle. One comes into the city along a great highway that has new businesses on the sides. Eventually, the taxi goes around a curve and you see a wall of high-rise buildings atop a high canyon wall in the distance. We both kind of gasped. The driver said “Quito.”
Eventually, we needed to go up the wall of the canyon, which we did, and entered the city proper. This is truly a world capital, with wide boulevards, high-rise office buildings and apartments, and people everywhere. There seems to be a consensus population of about 3 million. Keep in mind, this is in the Andes at about 7500 feet, so there are constraints on where the city can go. It is about 34 miles long. Then the metropolitan area extends much further in adjacent valleys.
Our room was in the Hostal El Arupo in La Mariscal, the happening area of town.
Our room from the outside
Gate of Hostal El Arupo
Room
Artwork over the head of the bed
There are many universities, and the place is a tourist hub filled with bars and restaurants. We were two blocks from Foch Plaza, the heart of La Mariscal.
We found a nice Argentine restaurant for dinner, and went to bed.
The next day, we headed out to the TelefériQo, a gondola lift running from the edge of the city centre up the east side of Pichincha Volcano to lookout Cruz Loma. This took us up to about 13,000 feet, but it was a clear day, and the views were spectacular.
We met a Toronto couple looking for transportation out. We decided to share a van and go to the Museo Guayasamín. In truth, neither Ellen nor I had heard of Oswaldo Guayasamín. Wow! I normally max out on about an hour in an art museum before becoming over-stimulated. We stayed about 3 hours. The facility includes his home, a museum, and the chapel of mankind. Guayasamín is probably the greatest artist from Ecuador. He was an expressionist, and buddies with Chagall, Miro, Picasso, and a bunch of the big boys. He also was friends with the major South American artists, and many politicians.
His art takes on many of the darkest parts of mankind, but eventually goes into coming together. Well worth it. We couldn’t take pictures in any of the buildings, but here are some of the house and view:
Glad to hear you’re enjoying Quito!
Wow. It looks and sounds fantastic. Good to see the pair of you looking so strong and healthy, too!
What astounding views! Must be almost an out of body experience! Aren’t you almost bursting with the experiences you are having! Love, Mom
Yes. In fact Ellen literally burst (her appendix)
So great to see you both looking terrific! As always, Steve, your descriptions make me think you have found your next career…travel writer.
Love to both of you,
Nancy