We had a lovely day in Quito, warm, sunny and so many interesting things to see! I took photos of some of the more unusual, as well as what is ordinary to the people who live here, but not to us.
The bus stop was across the street from our hotel and took us the new town area of Quito, where we were hoping to join the South American Explorers Club, but they were closed. It turns out that most places are closed on Sunday, but the people were in the park with their families and attending sporting and musical events. A bus ride is 25 cents, a bargain even if there was standing room only.
Very modern bus stops with protection against the weather and it's own center traffic lane.
The bus stop from afar.
Waiting for the bus.
The park were we spent a good part of our day, Ian birding, me people watching and checking out the vendor's stalls.
The view of Pichincha Volcano, a landmark from most places in Quito.
Chess in the park.
Ian and his new camera.
Ecuadorians eat a lot of fruit and there are stalls selling fresh juice everywhere. 50 cents a glass.
Looking up a bird the Birds of Ecuador book.
Many families out and about.
Vendors, too. It didn't look like too many people were buying, but they come to the park every Saturday and Sunday.
This is the equivalent of our CVS, but open to the outdoors.
Lunch outside.
At first I thought this was a car dealership and wondered why there was a shotgun toting policeman in front of it. Turns out it was a casino, the only one we saw and in a retail area.
I watched this man walking along in front of us shaking his can of spray paint, and then suddenly he was defacing this clean white wall. No one stopped him, and I didn't think it was my place to say anything :-)
They are more up front about the dangers of smoking. Ian found this on the sidewalk.
A surprise to me to see a Friday's restaurant in this setting.
