Hamlet at 9,000 feet

Quito from a hill

Skirting the dramatic, dark clouds of Hurricane Ike, I arrived in Quito, Ecuador last night at around 11 PM and checked in to my hotel--a JW Marriott in the heart of "Gringolandia."

Where I bought all of my cultural gifts for folks back home

After a late dinner of pringles from the minibar and fitful night's sleep, I awoke, looked out my window at a volcano, and got dressed for breakfast. While there were many a la carte options on the menu, it was clear that the waitstaff wanted me to choose the buffet.

View from the old town

A cafe con mucho leche, a few assorted pastries, and guanabana yogurt later, Hamlet, our Ecua-doorman with a blue coat and tophat, helped arrange to have a driver take us around Quito for a few hours. So, a group of 6 assorted university admissions people packed into an SUV and headed to the old town, the colonial center of Quito, and, older than "new town."

Plaza Grande

We visited a few churches, wandered the narrow streets, and lingered in front of the Presidential Palace in Plaza Grande. A crowd had gathered to watch the weekly changing of the guard.

The Changing of the Small Men in Bright Blue Suits

Once the Palace had a fresh, new guard in place, we walked to Plaza San Francisco--in front of Ecuador's oldest church. Apparently, the builder of the plaza was a lazy man and asked the devil to help him complete the project in return for his soul. At the last possible moment the guy removed one brick, thus making the plaza incomplete and tricking the devil. True story.

Me & Quito

After a quick, bumpy drive up to the top of El Panecillo for some views of the city below, we headed back to gringolandia.