After a 12 hour literally non stop effort uploading photos to get my Travelpod entries right up to date, decided on a later departure.
A US$3 taxi fare got me at 10 am to the Brasilica which I could easily see yesterday from Panecillo. It was just US$2 to get in. While it was only 22 C outside, how cool it was inside. I love the sunlight casting its coloured shadows through the stain glass windows onto the floor.
Then downhill via Venezuela towards the Old City with the small shops selling all sorts of items: shoe soles, plastic pipes, plumbing hardware…. While this street is right by the tourist area, they certainly do not sell the tourist type of goods!
Back through the Plaza de la Independencia and a queue was forming by the Palacio de Gobierno or Palacio de Carondelet or Presidencial Palacio so I decided to join them. Wonder what was inside this place? Only 20 were admitted in a group at a time, through the metal detector, hand in ones id / passport (I had a photocopy) in exchange for a visitor’s tag.
Besides the gigantic mosaic mural of Orellana navigating the Amazon and the ironwork on the balconies looking over the main Plaza de la Independencia which is from Tuilleries in Paris, it was the wood work that impressed me. On return of the visitor’s badge we received our ID back plus a lovely (free) photo of oneself to remember our visit.
Next up to the Iglesia de la Merced but that was closed. The bell tower houses the city biggest bell.Then over to the Plaza de Francisco. The Monasterio de San Francisco was closed but next door the Museo de Franciscano was open - US$2. The crowds were drawn to a display of miniature scenes. Some were animated as seen by the 2 video clips.
Plaza de Santo Domingo and the same name church was closed. Dominating the Plaza was the large Coke sponsored Christmas tree.
One more circuit of Quito Old City using different alleyways and back down the new wide open Calle de la Ronda which needs developing as it is quite stark at the moment.
While it was only 23 C, after 4 hours I had enough walking around to see “closed” churches so a taxi took me back to pick up my bags from El Arupo hostal and then up to Hotel Quito. All this for US $3.07. Thank goodness I had asked earlier at the “i” by Plaza de la Independencia how to in Spanish ask “to wait for a few minutes while I collect my bags” = espere unos minutos voy a retirar mis maletas.
At 6 pm a group meeting for the Galapagos trip and the first part of 5 days I will with be a group of just 10 people in a ship that can take 16 people. Me and two other families: 5 Canadians from Victoria, BC and a Danish family of 4. So that will mean a cabin for myself on the upper deck.
Quito's Old City CLOSED
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Quito, Ecuador
Other Entries
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1Amazon, Galapagos Is, Inca Ruins & Salt Plains
Dec 1413 days priorAuckland, New Zealandphoto_camera0videocam 0comment 0 -
2Wednesday 14 December 2011 = 40 hours. How come?
Dec 1413 days priorSantiago, Chilephoto_camera156videocam 0comment 0 -
3Child Free Airline next time ...
Dec 1512 days priorGuayaquil, Ecuadorphoto_camera30videocam 0comment 0 -
4The day before Otavalo Saturday market
Dec 1611 days priorOtavalo, Ecuadorphoto_camera61videocam 0comment 0 -
5Otavalo Market
Dec 1710 days priorOtavalo, Ecuadorphoto_camera238videocam 0comment 0 -
6One speed to Tena!
Dec 189 days priorMisahualli , Ecuadorphoto_camera22videocam 1comment 0 -
7Amazon _ _ _ _ Forest? What is the missing word?
Dec 198 days priorMisahualli , Ecuadorphoto_camera102videocam 0comment 0 -
8Floating away to the Atlantic
Dec 207 days priorPuerto Misahuallí, Ecuadorphoto_camera117videocam 1comment 0 -
9Banos - may the clouds clear up
Dec 216 days priorBanos, Ecuadorphoto_camera32videocam 0comment 0 -
10Red hot volcano tossing out molten lava
Dec 225 days priorBaños, Ecuadorphoto_camera20videocam 0comment 0 -
11Canyoning
Dec 225 days priorRío Negro, Ecuadorphoto_camera154videocam 8comment 0 -
12White Water Rafting Banos style
Dec 234 days priorBanos, Ecuadorphoto_camera118videocam 20comment 0 -
13Free as a bird
Dec 234 days priorPelileo, Ecuadorphoto_camera87videocam 3comment 1 -
14Cuenca means the children rules
Dec 243 days priorCuenca, Ecuadorphoto_camera172videocam 0comment 0 -
15Christmas at Cuenca = the children of Cuenca
Dec 252 days priorCuenca, Ecuadorphoto_camera122videocam 0comment 2 -
164 hrs @ Cuenca a'port, Quito views from up high
Dec 261 day priorQuito, Ecuadorphoto_camera105videocam 0comment 0 -
17Tucan Travel - my fellow Ecuador group members
Dec 27earlier that dayQuito, Ecuadorphoto_camera174videocam 6comment 0 -
18Quito's Old City CLOSED
Dec 27Quito, Ecuadorphoto_camera179videocam 0comment 2 -
19Giant Tortoises
Dec 281 day laterSanta Cruz Island, Ecuadorphoto_camera125videocam 1comment 0 -
20250 year old cactus plants
Dec 292 days laterSouth Plaza Island, Ecuadorphoto_camera116videocam 0comment 0 -
21Pre-historic iguanas
Dec 292 days laterSouth Plaza Island, Ecuadorphoto_camera238videocam 1comment 0 -
22Swimming with the sharks, sea lions & turtles
Dec 292 days laterSouth Plaza Island, Ecuadorphoto_camera42videocam 13comment 0 -
23Sting Rays, Crabs & Turtles
Dec 303 days laterFloreana, Ecuadorphoto_camera64videocam 0comment 0 -
24Devil’s Crown - snorkelling
Dec 303 days laterFloreana, Ecuadorphoto_camera43videocam 10comment 0 -
25Post Office Bay - NO stamps required
Dec 303 days laterFloreana, Ecuadorphoto_camera20videocam 0comment 0 -
26Sea Turtles and me
Dec 303 days laterFloreana, Ecuadorphoto_camera25videocam 11comment 0 -
27Galapagos albatross
Dec 314 days laterIsla Espanola, Ecuadorphoto_camera260videocam 0comment 0 -
28Sea lions as sunbathing companions
Dec 314 days laterEspanola Island, Ecuadorphoto_camera67videocam 0comment 0 -
29Graceful Sea Lions underwater
Dec 314 days laterEspanola, Ecuadorphoto_camera40videocam 8comment 0 -
30Interpretation Centre
Jan 015 days laterPuerto Baquerizo Moreno, Ecuadorphoto_camera33videocam 0comment 0 -
31Lobos Is
Jan 015 days laterSan Cristobal, Ecuadorphoto_camera36videocam 0comment 0 -
32Swimming with the sharks again
Jan 026 days laterNorth Seymour, Ecuadorphoto_camera23videocam 12comment 0 -
33The Frigates with their big red pouch
Jan 026 days laterNorth Seymour, Ecuadorphoto_camera71videocam 2comment 0 -
34Who needs Sea Life Park?
Jan 026 days laterMosquera Island, Ecuadorphoto_camera71videocam 7comment 0 -
35Lava = Moonscape = black pack ice
Jan 037 days laterSantiago Island, Ecuadorphoto_camera63videocam 0comment 0 -
36Swimming with the penguins
Jan 037 days laterBartolome Is , Ecuadorphoto_camera51videocam 9comment 0
Comments

2023-02-03
Eve
2011-12-28
woohoohoo - cabin to yourself - brilliant!
don't forget to get your photo in the panama on your return to quito!
look forward to the next updates.
Gloria
2011-12-29
Really enjoy your updates. What a wonderful time and I am sure you will be enjoying your trip now and look forward to that update and photos. Thanks Bruce