First impressions of Quito

And so it begins! We arrived relatively comfortably and without mishap yesterday afternoon, struggling with wakefulness for a few hours before finally giving in. First impression of Quito was an odd familiarity, the effect of recognising the language and being somehow reminded of Manila – realise now that that must have been largely due to the traffic (even years of living in London haven’t prepared me for this amount of pollution…) Then the cold, noise, and groups of thieving children who were almost frighteningly stubborn somewhat eroded my comfort. (Don’t worry – we ducked into a restaurant and our possessions are intact.)

But today began with a good cup of Ecuadorian coffee and a huge breakfast, in the clearly popular backpacker haunt across the road from our hostel. We took a long walk to the Old Town, which was both more chaotic and more charming than the new half we’re staying in. Took some pictures of churches and sat people-watching in some plazas (sadly not much café culture here, but there were benches). I’m feeling gradually acclimatised. Looking forward to getting out of the city and breathing some fresh air, but for now still adjusting to the surreality of actually being here.

No amusing anecdotes yet, but I’ll keep you posted…