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Quito in three days.
After landing in Quito we were not welcomed by the friendly people from Blue House hostel instead we were greeted by a mass of Ecuadorians welcoming their family and friends home, amongst the hustle and bustle plus a little panicing we decided to jump in taxi.
A very nice man took us promptly, running red lights, to Blue House Hostel in Marsical Sucre or as it is known to the locals - Gringoland! Just so you all know we are gringos!
Blue House Hostel is clean, spacious and has very very hot showers so it was a welcomed escape after the 17 hours of traveling. I did want to ask what happened to our airport pick up but decided not to rock the boat with us staying a few days.
Bed Time.
Woke up far too early for our first day of exploration around Quito. Free breakfast then headed out. Walked to the metro/trolley and paid 25cents to enter the platform (very cheap to get right in to the Historica de Quito). A lovely lady then helped us with where to get off etc, Centro Banco.
After consulting the lonely planet we decided to the Old Town walking tour, well sort of, we wandered around trying to find churches and museums to go to. The Old Town is a maze of colonial building buzzing with excitement not knowing what could be around the next corner - a beautiful church, shoe shiners, a mugger (haha) or maybe even a fellow westerner trying to find their way around the hustle and bustle.
Highlight of the day was lunch. I was desperate for el banos (toilet) and we went into the first cafe we saw. As soon as we sat down we were immediatley served soup and melon juice, no menu nothing, so we gave it a go. Mine was alright, John Henry didn´t appreciate his (we both got different meals).
Curiousity got the better of me and I had to know what the chunks were so I asked, I was not expecting the response I got.... the waiter pointed to his stomach and then said `pork entrails´ I steered clear of the entrails and another course arrived as we both began to fell a little ill from the soup. Main Course - breaded fish, crushed sweet potato, rice and an amazing salad - delicious!!! John Henry got a meat stew with rice and salad! We were happy then the best bit happened, he brought over dessert - JELLY!!! All for $3.50 bargain! Set menus will be a regular occurance after the pleasant surprise that followed the not so great soup.
To sum up the rest of the day was spent walking up and down the many hills of the Old Town in the rain attempting to speak spanish and navigate our way back to the meto, that alone took us an hour. Chilled out the rest of the day in the hostel and went for a cheeky drink - mojito and Jh Ecuadors national beer Pilsener.
Hope I´m not boring you yet as that is just day one.
Day two.
Began more or less than same as the first - free breakfast, metro to the Old Town. Then things got a little different as this time we went all the way to Santo Domingo - much more, what´s the word, local, scary, rough, I don´t know all I know is that we both felt a bit uneasy so decided to find our way to La Compañia de Jesus -
One of the most ornate churches either of us have ever seen, lavish with golden walls, ceiling and portraits everywhere, angels stared down from every corner, it was unbelievably beautiful. I´m afraid we weren´t allowed to take photos so you´ll have to take my word for it :)
Down the road we could see soemthing was happening at the square and what we discovered later was right outside the Policia Nationale Headquarters.
People all crowded round wearing the same straw hats, holding banners, shouting and cheering! At first we thought someone famous might be arriving then we heard a guy over a megaphone and everyone cheering him. Intrigued I decided to try out my spanish and casually walked over to one of the many policemen lined up and asked ¿Que Paso? What´s happening? He responded and did I understand him did I heck but I tried that´s the point :) After examining the banners we realised it was something to do with the tranportes executives - No idea if they got what they wanted but it all ended very peacefully and everyone looked happy enough. I wanted to buy a straw hat to match them but Jh said I shouldn´t commit myself to the cause when I didn´t know it was - very sensible.
More and more walking later we decided to head back. This is when we were invloved in our first attempted scam, let me stress attempted. Strolling along minding our own business and Jh felt something land on him... MUSTARD!! I knew straight away (after reading about it numerous times in the lonely planet forums) ´it´s a scam, walk, walk, walk`and I took the bag incase the culprits came up to Jh then we hear ´mister mister´cheeky woman!! Whilst trying to help their unsuspecting victim they pickpocket you or run off with the bag you´ve put down to wipe off whatever they have thrown.
NOT THIS TIME !! John Henry was not impresses as he stunk of mustard and it was all over his hoody (funny now but not when you´ve got an angry jh on your hands)!
Jet lag caught up with me on day two and I fell asleep at 6pm!!
Next time hear about how we walked for miles UP HILL (and I mean vertical hills) only to be told the museum was closed, walked a bit more, got caught up in the parade for Good Friday, almost pick pocketed (jh yet again - I don´t think they like him) and finally the bargains found at Otoval Market and the journey to Mindo, Cloud Forest!!!
just to let you all know I had to put a picture on and didn´t have my lead so will put one of quito on later.
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