How do I love thee, Quito? Let me count the ways...
I knew from the moment we arrived in Quito that there was a special energy to the place. And as we expanded our stay there from 5 days to almost 3 weeks, I can say that the Ecuadorian capital will always have a special place in my heart.
Quito is a gritty, chaotic, eccentric city – and I love it for these very reasons and more…
Have Patience
I think most people will admit that initially Quito can appear to be an intimidating place to get to grips with. But give it some time and look a little deeper, beyond the cacophony of honking car horns and dusty, narrow sidewalks.
Beyond this you will find an endlessly exciting city full of duality and charm, mainly due to the incredibly warm, honest and resilient people who call it home.
It’s an unpolished gem of a city, for sure!
The Chaos
Do you need your shoes shined? Some goldfish in plastic bags? Some miscellaneous trinkets?
How about a hand-knitted jacket for your dog? Or a woven horse-hair keyring?
Have you ever dreamt of seeing a paper mache skeleton model dance of its own accord or care to stumble upon a random protest or musical parade?
WELCOME TO QUITO! Every day is an adventure here.
The Noise
The Ecuadorian capital is definitely one to be experienced by all five senses, however the sound of Quito is probably something you will notice immediately!
Drivers in Quito are probably OVERLY familiar with their horns. From sunrise to sunset you will hear cars and buses beeping to their heart’s content. There is definitely some sort of code for car horns in Quito – I still to this day have no idea what it is!
Then there are the dogs. There are cute little pooches running around all over the city, and they aren’t homeless like you might think! We have been informed that dogs here are more than likely owned by someone, they are just left to their own devices which means the whole city is their roaming ground! And once the sun sets – I call this the witching hour – all the dogs seem to come together to bark as loudly and proudly as possible. It’s really quite impressive.
Misconceptions
Quito, much like the rest of Ecuador, is DANGEROUS.
Or at least that is what we read/heard/were told before going. Mostly from people who had never stepped foot in the country.
Needless to say, having heard about the dangers of Quito on more than one occasion, our first walk around the old town was pretty daunting – no camera, no phone, no money etc.
How wrong we were! Throughout our stay in Quito we never faced any difficulties. No theft of our items, no issues while walking around.
Quito is just like any other large city. There are problem areas, there are simply things you do not do; wear expensive jewelry, avoid the advice of the locals etc. If you remain sensible and keep alert you’ll not only be safe, you’ll be able to fully immerse yourself in, and enjoy this wonderful place.
UN DÓLAR!
You will become very accustomed to hearing this shouted out repeatedly throughout the city, as street vendors on every corner offer their wares to locals and tourists alike.
The most prominent of which are those from the indiginous community selling crafts, snacks and fruits/vegetables for ‘un dólar!’.
I would really recommend supporting them if you are looking to get some delicious fresh produce. We bought avocados from a supermarket and some from a lovely lady by the roadside. The latter were infinitely better quality!
Secrets Of Quito
One of the beautiful things about walking around Quito is that outwardly, it has gorgeous architecture and photogenic squares etc. However if you walk a little slower, you will find all sorts of surprises down secret alcoves and alleys in the old town. We stumbled upon some amazing little workshops, chocolatiers and cafes tucked away from sight along busy pedestrian walkways.
Take you time when exploring Quito and you will be rewarded.
Which way?
If the altitude doesn’t make your head feel muddled, the streets of Quito are bound to! Just when you think you’ve got to grips with where you are and where to cross the road safely, Quito likes to throw a curveball your way.
The direction in which traffic flows changes daily, so watch out before you cross the road! Also, the roads in the old town close for cyclists on a Sunday so don’t bother making plans to leave that day via a taxi, Uber or bus.
Oh, and did you know that during certain times and days of the week you can’t drive your car into and around the city as a means of traffic calming measures?
These are just some of the many quirks daily life in Quito has to offer.
The People
The people of Quito are some of the warmest, honest and proudest people you could ever encounter. Everyone we met had such a passion for showcasing their country, and they were more than happy to teach us about the inner workings of life here, good and bad.
I’m forever in awe of how resilient the Ecuadorian people are. They work hard for their families and for a better life for themselves, especially since the aftermath of covid more than halved the number of tourists visiting the country.
People in Quito, (and the rest of the country) from my understanding at least, WANT people to come and visit. They know their small but incredibly diverse country has so much to offer, and they want to showcase it to the world.
Te Amo Quito
There are very few places that have left a mark on my heart in the same way that Quito has.
The city feels like a struggle; there is altitude, noise, pollution, chaos. But with this comes a charm.
People just get on with it. They sell their wares on the street corner, they wait in traffic to get to where they need to be. They welcome you into their restaurants and their shops. They make you feel part of their city.
And, most of all, they are proud of their country, and they want you to experience it in the same way they do. Honestly and unapologetically.
My word of advice is do not skip Quito – or anywhere in Ecuador for that matter. You will be missing out on the adventure of a lifetime if you do!
Until next time,
Lica xoxo
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