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!