Showing posts with label Basilica de Quito. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Basilica de Quito. Show all posts

Friday, February 22, 2008

Last Day of School in Quito


(Quito, Ecuador)- Our last day of school was made extra special as Ame´s insructor invited her to bring Isabel to school.
¡Listo! ¡Vamos!
Isabel loved the crowded busses in Quito. They were usually absurdly full of people during rush hours.

We really enjoyed how our fellow students were having fun with Isabel at the school.


Isabel is on the top floor, with June. Isabel remained pretty shy with most of the students, although after two days of tourist activity with June, they were on best-pal terms.

Our last day included some instruction, exams, and then making a traditional meal. It was a bit dry for me at this point, since Sonia had shown me how to make several Ecuadorian platos tipicos. After helping with the preparation, I played poker with Bas, Hanna, and Richard while the food cooked. The meal was a fun way to spend our last action together. I was hoping to return in the evening for additional poker fun, but time conspired against me. Lindsay plyed peekaboo with Isabel, and then we left.
The Galapagos Islands are next!

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Fun On The Equator

(San Antonio, Ecuador)- Sure, it's a tourist trap, but if you are in Equador, it would be silly not to visit La Mitad Del Mundo, the monument near the line for which the country is named.

To the right of Isabel, North America. To the left...

Awww...

Set your GPS unit.

Folk dancers near the line. Actually, they cross the line, and nothing in particular happens.

Mitad is about 20 miles north of Quito. On weekends, they have quite a festival there, with folk dancers in traditional garb, 11-piece mariachi bands, and singers who perform the latest light rock Latino hits. The monument is a mini-museum, with displays on Ecuador's natural history as well as the history of the indigenous peoples and the colonial settlers, and it also has great views from the top. It's a fun place to spend a few hours, especially so that you can later say, 'why of course I've been to the Equator'!

Sunday, February 10, 2008

More Restaurant Views


Another view of El Panecillo, plus the Basilica de Quito, below.