Quito x 2
So for my first post a week late, I
will be posting about my adventures in Quito. The first day we went, we had to
go register our visas, because we are staying in the country for longer than 90
days. So all of the students in the program meet at our university, Universidad
San Francisco, and there is a chartered bus waiting for us to take us into the
city. Along the way we pick up our teaching assistant, Carolina. After about a
30 minute bus ride into Quito, we get to a location. It turns out, this is the
wrong location. So we get back on the bus and go to a second location. This is
also wrong. We are quickly learning about Ecuadorian politics. And at this time
our nice private bus is gone. So get to experience a normal city bus. We then
get to the correct place and start the process. It turns out that the consulate
needs to keep your passports for a few days to fully register your visa. So
after that we leave.
Now on
the way back, Carolina wants us to learn how to use the bus system. We need to
take the Ecovia bus, which runs down a major street. The problem was that this
bus is super crowded. And there are 17 of us that needed to get on. So we got
to practice our aggressive behaviors. We all made it, and took the bus to the
end of the line and the Rio Coco station. Then we needed to get on another bus
to our neighborhood, called Cumbaya (like the song). We get back all right, and
then head off to Spanish class for the afternoon. Luckily, all the busses are
only 25 cents, wherever you go.
Today
we went into Quito to pick up our visas. All the students successfully took the
bus in, and we all got our passports back no problem. Then because it is our
free day, we stayed downtown. We went to the presidential palace for the
changing of the guards, and got to see the president. He was just standing on
his balcony, waiving at the crowds. No tight security like we have in the
states. Then we went to a basilica, and got to climb up to the bell tower.
There was a narrow ladder on the outside of the building, so it was scary. But
we got a great view of the city. After that we went and found a bakery to get some
sugary goods, and then took the buses back home. Overall it was a success. In
the next few days I should be getting you caught up on what I did, such as
Otavalo and El Pahuma.
