Skip to main content

Vivo en Guayaquil, Pero Mi Corazón Está en Quito

Dave and I needed a break from the heat and honking of Guayaquil, so we hopped on a quick flight north.   We spent a wonderful four days in beautiful Quito, Ecuador.  Enjoying the many artisan markets, coffee shops, restaurants, mountains, and cool weather.  I wore jeans and long-sleeved shirts, slept with three blankets on the bed, and never left without my jacket, hat, and gloves for the first time in months.  It was pure heaven.

Quito is a very tourist friendly destination, with people from all over the world walking through the streets.  It is not uncommon to hear whispers of French, Dutch, German, English, and, of course, Spanish as you travel down its cobblestone avenues.  The people are also so very friendly, pointing out points of interest that they have discovered to any other tourist they see.  People often can be seen giving tips on which restaurants to try or where the nearest bookstore can be found to complete strangers they bump into.  Many areas of Quito have a very low-key and relaxed vibe, exactly what Dave and I needed!  
 
The first day of our Quito vacation included a delicious breakfast at The Magic Bean, complete with real coffee and amazing fresh-squeezed juices, and a visit to the local artisan market that can be found right outside of the Mariscal, the popular tourist district of New Town Quito.  We were able to take our time looking at the many art exhibts on display as well as take a peek in many of the artisan booths as well.  I found some great deals on some jewelry and bags (my weaknesses here in Ecuador, how can you pass up two to four dollar deals?) and Dave enjoyed all the people watching to be had. 

We spent the rest of the day walking around the Mariscal area, soaking in the colonial architecture, fresh mountain air, and the occasional snippits of English.  After making the initial walk-through, we settled at an outdoor cafe where a live band was playing.  We were able to sit, huddled next to an outdoor heating lamp, and enjoy the sunset while we tried to pick out the words we knew in the spanish songs ringing through the square.

We ended our first day with coffee and reading at J Road Coffee, as well as dinner at a cute Italian Cafe.  Then we headed back to our hostel, the Posada del Maple.  If you are ever traveling through Quito, give this little hostel a shot.  Though many may think the hostel a bit rustic, our room was clean and comfortable and able to sleep four.  They provide free internet service, as well as a free breakfast.  Posada del Maple is in the center of the Mariscal district, close enough for a quick walk to any restaurant or club, but far away enough to avoid any noise from the many late night partiers.  

After walking around the square one last time, we headed back to the Posada to rest up for our next day's adventure...the Teleferiqo.

Here are a few more sights from our day's adventures.

More beautiful architecture.

Live music in the main square.

One half of our room. 


The second half of the room, not including the private bath.

The breakfast room at the Posada.


Outside Courtyard

Popular posts from this blog

Años Viejos, Pyromaniacs, and Fireworks...Oh My

I have to admit, it has been quite awhile since I have actually been awake to ring in the new year and say goodbye to the old.  Dave and I have always been a bit more concerned about the eight hours of sleep necessary to enjoy life rather than seeing the ball drop.  But this year...is different.   It is 12:58 and the neighbor's hired band just started, there are rapid fire explosives (aka fireworks) going off in three minute intervals, and the car alarms throughout our block seem to be answering the loving call of said fireworks.  There will be no eight hours to start off the year for the Richert's this time. Nothing about our experiences in Ecuador could be classified as typical, and New Year's Eve is proving to be no exception.  The evening started out quite and low key, dinner at home with a movie.  There were the occasional firework, but that isn't anything atypical.  I was even contemplating continuing the tradition of snuggling into bed by 10:30.   Before I called...
Read more

Yes or No?

A couple weeks ago, slipped in the far reaches of my mailbox, I found a note that took me back to the good ol' days of elementary school.   You know what I'm talking about. Remember how you would just be sitting at your desk, one leg pumping back and forth, pencil eraser nudging your bottom lip, as you tried to puzzle out those mind-boggling multiplication tables?  And then, out of the corner of your eye, you would see Andy passing a note to Melissa, who would then pass it on to Mark, who would then palm it off to you right before Mrs. Nelson turned around from the blackboard.  Your name would be written all in cursive and curly-q's on the clumsily folded paper.  Carefully, stealthily, you unfold the paper to find: Well, InterAmerican sent me a 'check yes or no' note, and it raised the same sensation of anxiety that those old love notes of yesterday used to inspire.  Instead of the traditional, "do you like me?" question, it was the "will you continue...
Read more

Christmas in Colombia (The post is better late than never...)

As promised, here is the Amazing Richert Christmas Adventure 2008, with special guest star, Sherry Silvers. Bogota, Columbia.   As you can see...this city and I were obviously made for each other.  Bookstores, libraries, and coffee shops were on every block.  Yes, the majority of the books were in Spanish which causes some slight difficulties, but I don't like to focus on those kind of details.  I'm more of a cup half full kind of gal.   Also, the city is bike crazy.  There are hundreds of miles of bike lanes; we saw bike lanes throughout the city and even along the highway.  They just created a bike/walking lane in the middle of the highway, incredible!  They even close off some of the major streets every Sunday and holiday so people can ride their bikes through the main arteries of town without dealing with the potentially dangerous obstacle of cars.  The city had me at hello. Dave found a wonderful place for us to stay that was right in the heart of the historic district of ...
Read more