Walk around Quito

I finally got out to explore Quito, the old and beautiful capital of Ecuador. The city stretches over a vast distance since high-rise buildings are hardly built here. Living in a mountain valley is nothing like a peaceful life on the plains. However, in all the time I’ve spent in these mountains, I haven’t felt a single tremor or earthquake. But the temperature swings? I’ve definitely experienced those to the fullest!

During the day, it can even be quite hot, but as soon as the sun sets, the cold hits hard — there’s no escaping it. Of course, there’s no heating here, and the wind blows straight through the windows (which seems to be the case throughout Ecuador). Apparently, proper window insulation isn’t a thing in this country!

After getting some work done, I decided to take a break, stretch my legs, and just wander around the city without leaving my neighborhood.

I didn’t come across any particularly ancient landmarks, but I did get to observe the everyday life of the locals. Life is the same everywhere — it moves at its own pace, regardless of human dramas.

At the guesthouse, I met Martin, a Canadian who is obsessed with caves and remote, abandoned villages. He also has a thing for spiders, so on the night we met, we ended up looking at photos of spiders he had taken during his last trip. Despite being older, he had a cheerful personality, and we got along right away. It was nice to chat with such an educated person. ?

TAGS: daily reflections, Equinox, Martin
MOOD: learning, exploring, socializing