This past week was Carnival, resulting in only two days of school. While most of the Illinois group went to various beaches throughout Ecuador I got to stay in Quito because of some confusion about a photo project. While I was initially a little upset that I didn’t get to travel to somewhere else in Ecuador there sure are worse ways to spend a week than walking around one of Latin America’s most beautiful cities.
Having explored much of Chicago over the years it was really interesting to walk around some of the more residential neighborhoods of Quito and compare the two cities. A few tidbits I noticed about Quito:
-There are a lot of dead end streets.
-Every house is gated in. The level of security varies from broken glass on top of the gate to a 24- hour security guard.
- The pollution is horrible. Every large city has pollution issues, but the high number of 2 cycle engines and unmaintained buses make Quito quite the health hazard during rush hour.
- Public transportation is popular (for 25 cents a ride why wouldn’t it be?)
- The mix of the upper class and very lower class is much more out in the open than in Chicago. While downtown Chicago can be quite the mix of the two, in general neighborhoods are somewhat separated by wealth in Chicago. Not so in Quito. The very very rich live directly next to the very very poor. It was interesting to see the contrast of a six year old in tattered clothes selling gum next to a business man in a tailored suit.
-Centro Historico, the colonial district of Quito, is one of the most beautiful and architecturally distinct neighborhoods I’ve ever seen. The brick paved streets, the constant smell of incense, and the overwhelming amount of fantastic 19th century ornate buildings really make it feel like you’re in a movie. Oh yeah, its also filled to the brim with people selling homemade donuts. I ate a lot of donuts this past week.
-Centro Historico, the colonial district of Quito, is one of the most beautiful and architecturally distinct neighborhoods I’ve ever seen. The brick paved streets, the constant smell of incense, and the overwhelming amount of fantastic 19th century ornate buildings really make it feel like you’re in a movie. Oh yeah, its also filled to the brim with people selling homemade donuts. I ate a lot of donuts this past week.
(A Carnival street comedian)
(A residential area close to Centro Historico)
After my week of exploring it’s fair to say that I really love Quito—and no not just because of the donuts. It’s a fantastic city with a lot of offer, I can’t wait to walk around and explore more of it.
(La Parque Almeda)
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