Saturday, August 1st - Quito!

Today we had a local walking tour of the historic area of Quito.  We started the morning at the top of the mountain overlooking the entire city of Quito.  The city is surrounded by active volcanoes!  When they are active, they do not emit lava, just smoke and ash.  Our guide, Raquel, told us that it is not uncommon for this to occur.  They haven't had a large explosion since the mid-1800's though...and she commented that if that were to happen today it would wipe out a great deal of the city.

Views from the top of the mountain.  The city of Quito spans 73 km.

We then met a local person, Patricia, and she walked us around the old part of the market and the city.  We had to be quite careful...as many times along the walk she stopped us to tell us that thieves were following us.  I was glad to have the two natives with us!  Being a Saturday, the streets were really crowded as people were out shopping and enjoying the beautiful day!

This gentleman owns a shop that repairs religious statues.  He is the fourth generation in his family to continue the business.  Not only does he repair statues, but people's faces as well!  When we were there he was putting some type of medicinal herbs and cover on a woman's face that had been cut.  Our guide was explaining that women who suffer through domestic violence often come there to have their bruises covered up.  I asked if that was common in Ecuador...and she said, unfortunately yes.  They have instituted programs in school to try and teach children ways of resolving conflicts and mitigating anger without violence.

Fixing a tile roof

The San Francisco Marketplace - It used to be an open air market but they covered it up about 20 years ago.  They sell everything here from meats to vegetables to medicinal herbs to cooked foods, fruits and juices!

Patricia - our local guide

Medicinal herb shop - This woman gives treatments to alleviate stress...ward off bad energies...and revive the body.  I found it fascinating!  So...this afternoon, she came by the  hotel and gave me a treatment.  She had an assortment of herbs and was rubbing them on my body and kind of slapping them against my skin.  I really wasn't sure what was happening...but it smelled incredible when she was using rose petals!  The strange this is....my skin is much softer than before!  She explained that this is an Ecuadorean tradition.  Most women will do it on a Tuesday or Friday, and always done before the new year.  I was glad I tried it!

Medicinal herbs

This is just but one of the reasons I choose not to eat meat....:)

Our guides Mom at her shop.  She sells all kinds of soups and juices.

Another reason to be a vegetarian!  :)

We then walked through the artisan area and visited some of the artists' shops!

Here in this chocolate shop, the owner explained the process of how cocoa is turned into chocolate as we know it.  Then he made chocolates in front of us!  He also showed us the cocoa butter and rubbed it on our skin!  It felt amazing!  Guess which type of chocolate has the most sugar??????? Dark chocolate!  My mom tried it...but I could not... oh well...I love the cocoa butter!

The finished product

This artists works with various metals.  He makes frames, religious pieces, and jewelry.

Street views

This was inside a magnificent church.  I wasn't supposed to take pictures...but didn't know it until after I took a couple.  You can't even begin to imagine the amount of gold in this church!  I've never seen anything like it!  It was still decorated from the Pope's recent visit!  

Main square of Quito

We had lunch at a traditional restaurant and when they brought out Mom's dessert the performance was better than the product!  The guy was dressed up like a penitent and brought it out on dry ice!  

Off to dinner now!  Tomorrow we venture outside of Quito!  I'll keep you posted!