quito!

Today my host family gave Uma and I a tour of the city. We packed seven people into a tiny vehicle and went to explore the mega-tropolis known as Quito.My host family is wonderful- they live in a beautiful house filled with windows overlooking the Cumbaya-Tumbaco valley. The view is spectacular. They are multi-generational- it is the grandparent's house we live in, along with two of their children, a son-in-law (who Uma adores), and one of their grandchildren...with other assorted children and grandchildren popping by frequently. Yesterday, on Saturday, we took it super easy and just went out for ice cream in a super fancy plaza loaded with beautiful and rich people. It was okay, but as most of you know, I like things a bit grittier. I was excited to see how the other half lives today in Quito.

The area that I am "supposed" to like, near Carolina Parque, I found to be rather dull. So many people told me it is the place to look-perhaps it was because it was Sunday and many businesses were closed, but there just wasn't much going on. The big draw seemed to be that there are 3 malls nearby and that does nothing for me. The park itself I am sure we would love, so I will give it a second look if I find a good furnished apartment. The "old town" on the other hand was fascinating and beautiful and I can't wait to explore it more, it is way too far from Cumbaya to live, but I imagine I will be going back frequently. It is like stepping back in time- tiny streets with ancient buildings, lively squares, women in traditional dress and multitudes of secret alleyways. We went to see the famous winged Virgin statue in Old Town which took my breath away. As soon as I get my own place, I will get a replica and place it at the center of my alter.

Finally, we saw Guapulo, which I had a feeling I was going to love as I read it had yoga, dance, coffee, and it was considered "hippy". Wow. It was gorgeous-windy narrow roads that hugged the mountainside with amazing artistic graffiti and murals sprinkled about and a gorgeous church. It was the first place I felt like I could truly live and be happy. That said, I should be able to live anywhere and be happy, I just want to be inspired by my surroundings. Hopefully, it will all become clear in the next week or so....