Jan 23: Have been keeping busy here. Saturday went on a school tour to Otavalo (animal market and goods mercado) What an eye opener. Any kind of animal, any size, pretty crazy. The big market was really something to see. All kinds of goods (beautiful llama products) really cheap. Really tempting to buy a bunch of stuff, buy don´t want to drag it around for 2 months. May try and make it there again before fly home. After Otavalo, went to Cotacachi (all kinds of leather shops) and then to a volcanic lake and a waterfall. Left Quito at 7AM and got back at 7:30pm. Below is a map of Ecuador showing the places I've visited.
View Ecuador 2012 in a larger map
Sunday I walked to the old part of Quito city with a guy from Switzerland who got in at 1AM that morning. Old Quito was pretty nice, lots of huge churches and big open squares. We had a 3 course lunch along the way and it cost us $1.75 each. Pretty nice guy from Switzerland, he is here for 2 weeks as well.
Jan 25: I just finished a spanish session, and I can tell you with 100% certainty that it feels at times like my head is going to explode. The sessions are great for learning but are extremely draining, and the last couple nights have not slept well as a result of barking dogs, traffic noise, and loud music.
General impression of Quito - the people are all good, quite timid for the most part, and willing to help if you can ask the right question. The city itself (New Quito) is a loud, bustling place with constant traffic noise, complete disregard for exhaust pollution, and like Mexico has no issue with dogs wandering the streets & sidewalks doing their business at will. If it were not for the quality of the Spanish schooling I would have left the city already. So will try and atain as much as possible in the next 7 days of schooling and then gladly hop a bus for a more quiet area.
Jan 26: Well today I made the decision to depart from Quito earlier than planned. Have had enough of barking dogs, horns honking, exhaust pollution. I depart for coast late tomorrow night on 7 hour bus ride. Am quite looking forward to getting out of the city. Really like my teacher but is not worth enduring all else. Will see how the trip down the coast goes, and if i can find a good school. If enough time I will possibly slide into Peru and see some ruins.
Good for you to make the decision to leave Quito if you were not enjoying it so much. It is busy and poluted and we did not grow up like that so it is not easy.
ReplyDeleteYou will find lots of Spanish schools on the coast. Bahia is a pretty big place and I am sure there are a number of them.
Happy to know you enjoyed the market at Otavalo. Nancy and I stayed there for 4 or 5 days a couple of years ago and had a great time. The town is much more wealthy now than it was 10 years ago when we were first there. They have done well with tourism and their market.
You have a long time yet in Ecuador and are heading for the coast. Come back to the mountains at some time and vist Banos (our favorite place in Ecuador) and a number of other small towns close to it.
You will enjoy the journey to the coast. Over a very high mountain and through a cloud forest. On one of our journeys on this road we had two blowouts on our bus coming down the mountain. Sort of scary, particularly the first one.
Keep enjoying your time and keep us posted.
Ron
hola Alan, thought you might stick it out in the city a bit longer, lured by the bright lights. you even found a Swiss to keep you company, those Swiss are just everywhere, eh!? i'm sure you will find plenty other neat places to explore and relax. thanks for keeping us posted, it's great to participate in your traveling adventure. had any guinea pig yet?
ReplyDeletehave fun, Sandra