Nov 17, 2009 - The Equator

Also for anyone interested, the name Quito comes from the words meaning middle earth. ... I shall miss my home stay, Arnaldo and Quito, but in 6 weeks time I shall be back to enjoy New Years eve with his family and friends. ... 4 or so nights of partying Quito Style :P Next time I write on here will be when I have landed safely on the Galapagos Islands. ...

Nov 16, 2009 - Water and electricity or lack of...

Ok so day 2 in Quito. ... As always though we made it down to the centre of Quito to again wonder the streets and see the sights. ... At the moment I am not liking the weather I'm so red And in so much pain, plus the thought of the galapagos islands being the same in temperature if not worse has made me question whether I have choosen the right time to visit the islands.Ok so day 2 in Quito. ... As always though we made it down to the centre of Quito to again wonder the streets and see the sights. ... At the moment I am not liking the weather I'm so red And in so much pain, plus the thought of the galapagos islands being the same in temperature if not worse has made me question whether I have choosen the right time to visit the islands....

Nov 15, 2009 - Police Station Already

So I have finally arrived in Quito after almost missing my transfer in Madrid. ... Speaking little english resulted in me sprinting, yes sprinting up and down the terminal to find my gate, but i made it woop!!! As this title states the first thing I did once arriving in Quito was head to the police station, my room mate had been mugged the night before, and I was bored, thus the reason for me ending up at the police station. ... Quito is like any other city really, it has its modern buildings and its old spanish colonial ones. ...

Nov 14, 2009 - Off to Quito

last night we had our farewell party on the Tall Ship in the harbour. this morning we flew to Quito -the capital city. ... it was a 1-2 hour flight.last night we had our farewell party on the Tall Ship in the harbour. this morning we flew to Quito -the capital city. ... it was a 1-2 hour flight....

Oct 25, 2009 - Culture Shock Again

Flying out of Medellin was quite the process. Upon arrival in Quito we lucked out with one extremely helpful cab driver who drove us around to five or so hostels at no extra charge until we found a suitable one with vacancy. ... We have been continuously warned about how dangerous this city is and so wanted somewhere that was secure and centrally located.Flying out of Medellin was quite the process. Upon arrival in Quito we lucked out with one extremely helpful cab driver who drove us around to five or so hostels at no extra charge until we found a suitable one with vacancy. ... We have been continuously warned about how dangerous this city is and so wanted somewhere that was secure and centrally located....

Oct 7, 2009 - Daily Life in Quito

I am going to be very honest. I’ve been living in Quito for over a month and I think it is time to let you know about my daily life here in Ecuador and some little (and not so little) cultural observations I have made. ... I was discussing it’s reputation with my older host sister a couple of nights ago who just graduated from medical school at La Católica, the other good private school in Quito. ... My host family is very privileged by Ecuadorian standards.I am going to be very honest. I’ve been living in Quito for over a month and I think it is time to let you know about my daily life here in Ecuador and some little (and not so little) cultural observations I have made. ... I was discussing it’s reputation with my older host sister a couple of nights ago who just graduated from medical school at La Católica, the other good private school in Quito. ... My host family is very privileged by Ecuadorian standards....

Sep 21, 2009 - One month in...

Ooops! I realized I haven’t made a post in a really long time! I guess I have a lot to catch up on with everybody! In some ways, I think it is really good I haven’t posted in a long time… it means I have been BUSY! I have been settling into the rhythm of life in Quito. ... However Universidad San Francisco de Quito attracts the elites of Ecuador because it is the most expensive, most highly thought of university in Ecuador. ... The night of the party I my host mom drove us out to Tumbaco, a suburb pretty far from Quito where they had rented this big house/farm for the party. ... Sunday night I went to a family friend’s house in Quito. ...

Sep 16, 2009 - Back to Quito again - and a trip to the "Middle of the World"!

We are back in Quito for the last time now and this time we braved the buses again and made the short trip up to the equator which is known as Mitad del Mundo (middle of the world). ... There is a monument which marks the equator but now with GPS they have found that it is about 200 metres out! There is a second small, unofficial museum which marks the "actual" equator line, so we also visited this as well.We are back in Quito for the last time now and this time we braved the buses again and made the short trip up to the equator which is known as Mitad del Mundo (middle of the world). ... There is a monument which marks the equator but now with GPS they have found that it is about 200 metres out! There is a second small, unofficial museum which marks the "actual" equator line, so we also visited this as well....

Sep 13, 2009 - Quito, round 2

We got back to our hostel in Quito safe and sound. ... The monastery was in downtown Quito and is a place where women decide to devote themselves to God (they actually have a marriage ceremony) and sequester themselves for life. ... (the backpack just seems to get heavier) Anyways, that was it for Quito, on to Otavalo! ...

Sep 4, 2009 - Quito

We arrived in Quito after a short 2. ... Quito is surrounded by mountains and is very beautiful. ... We arrived on Sunday and there wasn´t much open, so we just wandered around.We arrived in Quito after a short 2. ... Quito is surrounded by mountains and is very beautiful. ... We arrived on Sunday and there wasn´t much open, so we just wandered around....

Sep 2, 2009 - An eventful start!

We arrived safely in Quito early yesterday evening and checked into our hostel (which is nice). ... After successfully booking our trips we decided to walk down to the Old Town of Quito. ... We were a bit tired from walking around the hilly streets of Quito so we decided to jump on the Trolebus back up to the New Town where we are staying – however, this appears to be our first mistake! We had been warned to be careful in Quito by many people at home and after arriving, so we had money belts and we padlocked our day pack and where trying to be vigilant all the time. ...

Aug 31, 2009 - The First Big Weekend in Quito

I think it is appropriate to dedicate an entire entry to this weekend because it was my first big weekend in Quito. ... When I finally returned to Quito from the suburb where the University is I went with my mom and Meli to a salon to have our nails done because we were going to a ceremony to watch my host sister Pame get her PHD in medicine and become a doctor! It only cost $2. ... At the beginning they even played the Ecuadorian national anthem, which I had never heard! Afterwards there was a reception on the roof of the hospital where we all drank champagne and could see the entire city of Quito. ... I only slept a few hours because I was going with Scott and big group from USFQ to ride the Teleferico cable cars up to the top of a big mountain overlooking Quito. ... When we retuned back down to earth we decided to go to old town Quito to see some colonial architecture and eat lunch (which cost only $2. ...