Quito sooner than I expected
I left Cuenca with a slightly heavy heart. I found the place quite addictive. There was Louis , the owner of Clasico, the cafe where I not only enjoyed delicious food , but also got a number of free Spanish lessons. Cafe Austria, with atmosphere plus, as well as all of the sights of downtown that are too numerous to mention. I had planned on stopping in Latacunga for a few days before coming here to view Mt Cotopaxi, but since it was night, I missed my stop. Had this not happened I would have avoided getting stuck for 4 hrs. in a massive traffic jam due to a multi-car accident about 200 ft. ahead. It was raining which probably played a large role. We were out in the open country, yet in no time there were people out selling food and cold drinks. Anyway, by this time I decided to just head the rest of the way to Quito. I arrived in Quito, took a taxi to The Secret Garden hostel and hoped that they had a bed for the night, since this place is usually packed. My luck held out. I had a good nights rest and a great breakfast and I am enjoying today exploring Quito again. I managed to visit the Museo de Ciudad which I found really interesting, then had lunch,which consisted of salad, rice, beans, potatoes, fish and a drink for $2.60. I can tell I am back in Ecuador. The hostel I am staying in is one of the best. It has an amazing view of Quito, delicious food ( vegetarians no problem ), a very friendly staff, and best of all , it is set-up where there is an upper level terrace for the dining and socializing portion of the stay. It is no wonder it is usually full. Tomorrow I plan to tour the newer city. January 21st. I had an interesting weekend just wandering around the city. I managed to find the Ecuadorean flea market by just walking until something appeared. I found the central park where the Jardin Botanica is located. There is something special about viewing the exotic plants that are native to another country, and since Ecuador is located on the Equator, there seems to be quite a variety of things that are unlike what I usually see. When I returned I found out that the evening meal was going to be including some musical entertainment by a local group of people playing Ecuadorean tunes. They have already released several CDs, so the performance went really well. This hostel is unlike any I have stayed at in all of my travels. New people arrive everyday , yet after several hours they sort of blend-in with the rest of the guests , and it feels like one hugh family. I seem to meet new people on a regular basis and learn so much by just engaging them in conversation. I have found that traveling just seems to agree with me. Anyway, this is my last day in Quito since I leave for the Cloud Forest tomorrow but I will return for about a 5 day stay before heading home. Hopefully, I will see plenty of Aves on my side trip. Adios , till next time.
Tags: Food, Quito, Travel, Views
Timmie
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