Quito - photos 1

Quito:

Capital of Ecuador, Quito is the second most populous city after Guayaquil (please refer to a previous post) and it is the second highest administrative capital city in the world at 2850m after LaPaz in Bolivia (3640m). Quito's origins date back to the first millennium, when the Quitu and then the Caras tribes occupied the area. Then the Kingdom of Quito was conquered by the Incas who burned the city in 1533 to prevent the Spanish from taking it, thereby destroying any traces of the ancient pre-Hispanic city. Quito was refounded by Sebastian de Benalcazar in 1534 and became part of the Viceroyalty of Peru then part of Gran Colombia before becoming the capital of newly formed Republic of Ecuador in 1830. Quito is surrounded by mountains and volcanos, whose most famous is Pinchicha volcano with its highest peak Guagua Pinchicha being active.
Arriving to Quito at 4am at the bus terminal was like arriving in London or Paris in the 70s. Old, dark, cold and nothing open. Not a good first impression of the city! Gladly later, colonial buildings and a little of sunshine gave some colour to the city. But I have to admit that Cuenca was our favorite as the best colonial city of Ecuador. As it was the 30th December, everybody was actively preparing the New Year's Eve making dolls like in Puerto Lopez (see previous post)...

- Plaza Grande or de la Independencia, main plaza in Quito,
- Superb colonial building part of the Palacio Arzobispal situated on the main plaza,
- View of the Basilica del Voto Nacional or Basilica of the National Vow from the Parque Itchimbia situated East of Quito. Construted in 1892, it remains technically "unfinished." Local legend says that when the Basílica is completed, the end of the world will come!!! Inside the basilica, stairs and a lift allowed us to reach the top of the tower (I was not very comfortable especially at the top, I don't like heights!) and offered superb panoramic views of Quito...
- Panoramic view of the South of Quito with in the background the "Panecillo" a hill with a monument dedicated to the Virgen Maria at the top,
- Panoramic view of the North of Quito with lots of buildings and houses. Quito is about 40km long and 5km wide but has only 2.5millions inhabitants (including the metropolitam area)!!