We have just spent 2 weeks in Quito.  Before we came, we rarely walked outside of our jobs, but here have walked daily.  For starters, we go out for both our morning and evening coffee.  In between times we like to wander.

The Guardian Virgen reigns over the city from El Panecillo.

For my Armchair Traveling friends back home here’s a look at Quito, Ecuador!

Every Latin American town has a main square. This is called Plaza Grande or Plaza de La Independencia

The interior of the  Jesuit church, La Compania de Jesus is covered in gold leaf.

No photos were allowed. Here’s a photo of the entrance ticket showing the amazing golden interior.

My covert photo of the glittery golden ceiling.  WOW!

The white-washed churches all start to look the same!

La Catedral has only one tower.

I don’t remember which one this is!

San Francisco

I love the soft colors and flower boxes

The National Bank, although the US Dollar is Ecuador’s official currency.

This is where all the Sacagawea $ coins have ended up.

We use US paper currency to pay our bills and we receive the US Sacagawea $1 coins and a mixture of US and Ecuadorian coins, but we’ve never, ever received a paper 1$ bill back in change.

This is La Ronda, the oldest neighborhood of Old Quito. Reminds me of Spain.

This is Erica. She sold me 2 scarves for $4.

Another pretty Colonial corner

Quito is both modern and old.

There are Gothic churches as well. This is the Basilica del Voto Nacional.

Something we came across during our traisping through the city.

This stall sells only eggs. There were stacks 8′ tall of eggs.  I have never seen so many eggs – not even at Costco.

Ecuador exports flowers

They have dress-up Baby Jesus dolls. Here’s one in camo.

Ecuador Loves Life

Yesterday we hopped on a urban bus without any idea where it would take us just so we could see something new and not touristy.  The bus went south of the city. Eventually we reached the end of the line where we found a bus waiting that would take us back. Bus rides cost a quarter.

Tomorrow night we take a bus on a 8-hour overnight trip to the Pacific Coast city of Bahia de Caraquez.  We’re looking forward to some new scenery and warmer (and more humid) weather.

Thanks for following along, dear readers.  Until next time…