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A view of the apocalyptic Virgin Mary that protects Quito


A close-up of the Virgin Mary


Eating chirimoyas in El Ejido Park

In El Ejido park, we witnessed an official trying to settle a territorial dispute. One merchant was arguing that the neigboring vendor had encroached upon his space. As the argument continued, other vendors, dressed in their bright shawls and traditional skirts, gathered as the official drew lines in the dirt. It was quite a scene.


The view from our hotel room--Volcano Pichincha

I remember thinking that Quito was beautiful even in the dark when we flew into the city on Saturday night. It was foggy, but we could still see the lights of the city in the valley and stretching up the mountainsides in clusters. Daylight confirmed what I had seen only part of the night before. We were surrounded by the Andes on all sides, and as soon as I got over my initial gasping for air at 9,000 feet, I tried to soak in the view and the sights. I enjoyed walking through the city to the Sunday art market, which was my first taste of bargaining in Ecuador, and being able to sit outside in a park on a quiet afternoon and relax. Historical and cultural museum at the Banco Central was impressive. I didn't expect such a complete and well-documented collection, everything from pre-Columbian art to the unique Escuela Quiteno. I think what surprised me most about Quito was how quiet and conservative it was for a city of 1.25 million. The people of Quito lead a well-ordered, calm existence.

--Kathryn Hull

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