Quito, The Final Days

Thursday, December 10- Monday, December 14
Quito

We are all ready to head back to Vermont as we end this chapter in our lives. Unfortunately, Brad came down with a stomach virus on Friday which moved to Gayle by Saturday.  We almost made it through the four months without getting sick... we did have a chance to get out and do a few things.


The first day we took a tour of the city which took us around to many different sights and gave us an idea about the different parts of the city.

"La Basilica del Voto Nacional is the most important work of neo-gothic Ecuadorian architecture and one of the most representative in America." (Tour Guide)

We climbed up some steep stairs to a look out in one of the towers.

A view of the city between the towers to the Mirador El Panecillo. You can see the monument in the far back, The Virgen del Panecillo.

Looking out you can see old town in the front and the new section of town in the background.

A view of the Volcano Cayambe.

This sculpture is made from 7, 400 aluminum pieces put together.  It was inspired by the sculpture made by Bernardine of Legarda.  It stands on top of the Mirador El Panecillo.

A view of Cotopaxi in the far back.  We only got a few viewings of it- most of the time it was in the clouds.

In old town the streets are all narrow, curvy and many are steep!

Brad saying hello to some live art.

The Presidents Palace or Palacio do Gobierno.

Sites on the streets

The next day we visited the Museum of National Culture.

A traditionally dressed indigenous woman.  Each of the different groups have their own style skirt, blouse, shawl, belt and hat.

As in Peru, hats are an important role in Ecuador.  Each of the indigenous groups have their own style hat.  This is only a small portion of the different types.

There are also a variety of different ponchos worn by the men.  Again the type, represents the particular indigenous group.

Brad and the boys took the gondola up to the top of

Looking down into the city

A view from above