The Old City

Quito has 3 main sections: the new section, La Mariscal, which is the main center for entertainment and tourists, and then there is the Old Town which is the cultural and historic center. Today my host mother and sister took me to the old town to show me the many beautiful churches. We took the trolly there. There is a trolly stop right at the end of the street that I live on and it runs all through Quito down the main street Av 10 de Agosto.

We got off the trolly at the Plaza Grande which is in the the center of this historic district. It was very crowded with people today, most of them Ecuadorean, many of them indigenous people as my host mother pointed out to me.

When we first arrived at the Center there was a procession 

This was carried in the procession, people were throwing flower petals at it 

The Estatua de la Independencia
(statue of independence)

infront of the statue

the President's house overlooking the Center and the Estatua de la Independencia

We then walked down Garcia Moreno which is also called the Street of Seven Crosses because there are 7 churches all clustered there.

My host mother and me

Plaza San Francisco

This is a street called La Ronda. It has been completely renovated in the past few years and is now home to many little restaurants and shops. It is especially busy at night because it gets lit up beautifully. It is a very traditional old street.

My host sister and I on La Ronda

Statue overlooking the city

I obviously want to visit this street again!

Plaza Santo Domingo

I hope to come back to the Old Town, especially to La Ronda at night. Also I hope to soon explore La Mariscal! We rode through it on the way back and it is where the Market is.

Tomorrow morning I start my Spanish classes! :)

¡Hasta Luego!

Mi Familia

For my time here in Quito I am living with a host family. They are wonderful! The mother's name is Ines, the father Eduardo, and the daughter is Maria Ines. They have a poodle named Coco. They also have a nanny/maid who has been with the family for 35 years named Teresita. Eduardo's mother is also visiting for 4 weeks. It is a full house! (family photo to come!)

View of the mountains from the terrace upstairs
(same view as from my room)

They live in a beautiful apartment in the newer part of Quito. It has a good view of the rest of the city as well as the mountains surrounding.

The staircase leading to the roof terrace

Coco

  

My Room 

Living room

Dining room

I had a very relaxing first few days here. In the mornings I wake up and have some fruit and bread and cheese and cafe con leche and then my host mother and I go on a little outing. We have been walking to the huge mall/supermarket about a half mile away. It's a very nice walk, and typical to most countries, things are bought from the market each day.  We come home and have lunch when Maria Ines returns from school around 2 pm. This is her last week of school before Summer vacation so she is mostly taking exams this week. Lunch is the biggest meal of the day. It consists of soup (different each day) and then some main which includes a starch (corn, rice, or potatoes) and a little bit of meat, and sometimes some vegetables (boy do I miss my vegetables though!) For the remainder of the afternoon I have mostly been reading and practicing my Spanish. Eduardo comes home around 8pm and we have a light dinner of coffee/tea and cheese and pate. The food has been very good so far, and of course I am putting chili sauce on everything (but just a little bit, it is super spicy!)

The weekend has been nice because every one is home spending time together. Ines asked me to make pancakes this morning! I made crepe like pancakes for breakfast, which they were extremely pleased with (I have a feeling it will become a Sunday morning tradition).

Two pans going once Ines and Maria Ines came to help!

Our Beautiful stack of crepes/pancakes

Breakfast :)

My first crepe with Kiwi and a blueberry sauce specially made in Quito

My second crepe: half blueberry sauce and cheese and half dulce de leche (because naturally I just had to try it all!)

I am really enjoying living with my host family. It is definitely helping me improve my Spanish quickly. Maria Ines speaks quite a bit of English as well so that is helpful when I have no clue what is happening, which has already happened a few times...

first blog EVER

So this happened...and now....

I am sitting here in the Miami airport waiting for my flight to Quito, and I figured it was as good a time as any to start this blog!

I am about to move to Ecuador for at least a year to teach English after completing a TESOL (teaching English as a second language) certification course. I will be living in Quito (the capital) for at least 6 weeks during this time. I am excited to meet the host family I will be living with there (both of the parents are psychologists!) They have a 15 year old daughter and a french poodle!

Starting on Monday I will be taking intensive Spanish lessons. Hopefully it won't take me to long to feel comfortable speaking, and I know that living with a family will be helpful.

Thank you all for the wonderful send off from Sandgate last weekend!