Leaving Quito (Back to the Coast)

Old Quito

We spent a day hanging out in Old Quito which has some really beautiful buildings (although, oddly enough, the vast majority of shops in this part of Quito sell shoes or undergarments... it's a bit bizarre).

These pictures are of the Basilica, a rather old building that is still "in progress". From it you can get great views of the city. Unfortunately that requires you to go up lots of stairs and scary spiral stairs (think glorified fire poles...)A view of another tower of the Basilica, from the tower shown below. The arrow shows how high I climbed. Because I am a wuss, I didn't go higher--it would have required climbing up tall ladders made of rebar .

Teleférico

The Teleférico is a new and very cool thing here in Quito. As long as you can handle heights (or are capable of taking 15 minute naps when and wherever you want) it is an activity I'd highly recommend. Monday mornings seem to be the best time to go, provided the skies are clear.

If you've gone downhill skiing at a large enough resort, you've encountered this type of transportation before--boxes on cables. Quito itself is very high in altitude, but this takes you up to the top of a mountain that is about 4,050 meters.


When you get to the top you can walk to even higher lookout areas and get a fantastic view of Quito.

And yes, in case you are wondering, that is my fiancé :)

Middle of the World

The place where people go to visit the equator in Ecuador, near Quito, is called Mitad del Mundo which made me feel like I was going to see hobbits or something... Alas, the middle of the world is not Middle Earth...

On either side of the equator

The view from the top of the marker/museum

Something new...