Quito, Ecuador

Quito, Ecuador

We did it. Just came back ,after a wonderful week, from Quito, Ecuador. It had been a bucket list item for a while. Not too long ago we were almost there before it got canceled due to a family emergency. Our plans, although on the back burner, suddenly materialized. Planning the trip had a great excitement mixed with anxiety and fear because of the altitude issue. Information about altitude sickness was pretty scary, and enough to want to cancel the vacation forever. We felt fear and also resolve to go ahead with the plan and had a wonderful time, plus zero altitude sickness.  That doesn’t mean altitude at 9000 feet, or more above sea level, is a myth, It is real and we needed a hard look at our own situation and pay heed to it by not overdoing, at least for a day or two to acclimatize, drink a lot of water to stay hydrated, plus pray for a lot of luck. I did, and also comforted myself with President Roosevelt’s golden words:

“So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is …fear itself – nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.”

President Roosevelt

I guess we converted retreat into advance, and arrived into Quito around 11:pm on Saturday, Nov. 2. Our Airbnb host arranged a taxi for us to be picked up making the ordeal of getting to the apartment a lot easier. The apartment was located across Parque La Carolina, and in the center of the Quito’s central business district. I always dread the antiquated check-in process, but on arrival we breezed through and the door had a state- of- the- art digital lock. All we had to do is punch in a given code and a recording  told us to enter. This two bedroom apartment was very nice with a great view. It was fully equipped with all the amenities. We were lucky that the weather was not too cold after the first night when we felt really cold. We really enjoyed the central location from where we could walk to a lot of places.

Next day, Sunday, Nov.3 brought us beautiful sunshine. We left to find a place for breakfast. We found Ambato Bakery a stone’s throw away from our apartment. It was a bakery which also served coffee or tea to customers who wished to  consume their freshly made delicious variety of baked goods on the premises. But their coffee did not measure up to the standard of their baked goods. 

From there we walked over to the Quicentro shopping mall area  which was really a Spanish style plaza around which all kinds of stores, and restaurants were  located. As you can see McDonald’s and Burger King are looming large, are you surprised? Supermaxi grocery store was the point of interest for us, which we were told, was opening at 10:30 am. Since we were early, we  got a chance to enjoy the outdoors until we could do our grocery shopping. All set with the needed groceries, we returned to the apartment and set about getting lunch ready. Delicious lunch was followed by rest and relaxation. I guess we strictly observed the rules to acclimatize so we could start the sightseeing the following day.

Lot more to come on Quito, Ecuador. please subscribe to my blog “rasheedablogs.org” for email notifications.