Do you daydream like me of being a nomad and to immerse yourself into a new life? Do you dream of waking up to a new view everyday? That is me. I dream a lot. I try to travel as much as I can, when I can.
I have been fortunate to go to Quito, Ecuador. My sister, MystiBae, was studying abroad for a year, so my parents sent me there to visit her for a week. This was my first trip to South America, and I was ready to use some Español.
One week is not enough in Ecuador, so I do plan on heading back there in the near future. And here is why:
- Quito is in the middle of Ecuador. With Ecuador’s unique terrain, you can go in any direction and be somewhere new. You have the Andes to the west. Even farther West is the beach. Even farther than that is the Galapagos Islands. To your east you have the beginnings of the Amazon. To your south is an active volcano, Tungurahua. Point is no matter where you go, you’ll find something interesting.
- Are you into grandeur churches? I am and I am not even religious. The churches’ architecture are so intricate and rustic. Also, those glass stained windows are so beautiful, especially when the sun shines through them. The church is engulfed in a mosiac of dancing tiles. I was able to even climb high up the church and got a great view of Quito.
- Llamas! Yes, llamas. I love animals and getting to pet a “rare” animal was great. They had a couple of festivals when I was there, and those llamas were strutting their stuff. They are so cute and remind me of the Emperor’s New Groove llama form. Hi, Kuzco!
- Quito, and all of Ecuador, is a bargaining town. They have many stalls where individuals are selling striped pants, llama wool sweaters and lava rock statues. It is customary to bargain on the price. If you don’t, then it is a dead giveaway that you are a tourist. The tit-for-tat is super fun once you get over feeling awkward.
- Ecuador is named after the Equator. It is a totally tourist thing to do, but I can say I apparated in two places at once. One foot in the northern hemisphere and the other in the southern hemisphere. Technically, you could do this in any country that lays on top of the Equator, but I did it in the OG country. Boom!
Ecuador/Quito can be a touristy place, since most of their GDP comes from tourism. However, it thrives on tourism for a reason. People come to see the amazing landscape and the different lifestyle pace. I recommend you commit at least a month to explore all of Ecuador.
-Amy
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