Below the surface of Quito...

We have been having a nice time exploring Ecuador's capital of Quito for the past couple of days. While it is only a stone's throw south of the equator, the weather is actually quite pleasant due to the city's high altitude. The first thing that struck us upon arrival was the natural beauty- the city sits at the foot of the Pichincha Volcano, surrounded by striking, dark-green mountains. This creates a heck of a backdrop for photos!

One of the most pleasant surprises during our brief stay has been the lovely Mansion del Angel bed and breakfast. After touring the city and passing many of the city's larger hotels, we would say this is arguably the best place to stay in Quito. It's far more like a luxury boutique hotel than your typical B&B. We have enjoyed quiet breakfasts each morning in the Greek-style glass-enclosed atrium on the rooftop, which provides the perfect vantage point from which to watch the day begin in this bustling city.

While we could have easily relaxed on the roof of Mansion all day, we did manage to break away and see a bit of the city. The vibrant Old City, a maze of colonial mansions, cathedrals, and crowded cobblestone streets, was a wonderful place to wander for a few hours. Talk about great people watching. We were told that this part of the city is one of South America's best preserved "colonial sectors" due to it being an official World Heritage Site. While it is not uncommon for tourists to get lost amongst the winding streets in this area, we believe we may have been the first to have gotten lost within (and locked in) the neighborhood's largest church. We were exploring the dark, underground passageways of the church which are lined with ornate catacombs (supposedly containing the remains of a wealthy Ecuadorian citizens), when we found ourselves in the middle of an ongoing afternoon mass ceremony. Efforts to quietly retreat were futile, as the surrounding doors had all somehow locked behind us. This was like a B-grade horror movie... lost underground in a dark, old Church surrounded by ancient graves from floor to ceiling! "Señor?" Tiffany whispered loudly through the bars of the metal gate we had just passed through, as we unsuccessfully tried to locate the one living human being we had encountered while touring the church (outside of the mass participants). No luck. After wandering aimlessly for some time, we finally did succeed in tracking down a living person who mapped out an exit strategy for us. We ended up in a back alley somewhere and with some effort found our way back to the front of the church.

Having had enough of being inside, we decided to hike to the top of "El Panecillo", a hill that affords spectacular views of the city and surrounding countryside. At the top stands a monumental statue, the Virgin of Quito, which is said to watch over and protect the city.

Having thoroughly enjoyed our quick visit to Quito, it's now time to move on to the main attraction, a journey deep into the Amazon where we will be staying at one of the world's leading eco-resorts. Look for our tales of the jungle shortly!

<< Back

© MoonRings, Inc. 2001 | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use