Ecuador Part 2

Here we go with Day 2!  We were up bright and early and ready to sight see!  We had a free morning and decided to hit up Old Town, which is the historic part of Quito.  Our trusty translator was in charge of getting us there and he decided we'd take the trolle, which is basically like our bus system.  That was an experience!  So crowded and Ecuadorians don't have personal space.  Poor Sue got her wallet stolen this day and we think it was on the trolle!

Anyhoo, Old Town was beautiful!  So many pretty trees and churches and buildings.  Below are just a few of the pics I took.  Unfortunately, we weren't allowed to take pictures in the churches we toured, but they were incredible!  Gold everywhere and so ornate!

Me in Old Town in what I lovingly called my beekeeper hat

Statue in Old Town

Beautiful trees in Quito

Top of one of the churches in Old Town

Stone work

While we were there, the President had opened his quarters for a tour.  We didn't stand in the enormous line, but these uniformed men on horses were there.  Not quite sure what their purpose was, but they looked cool!

Official people there for the President's event

Women in traditional clothing

We walked A LOT this day!  We walked up a really long hill to see the unfinished church. They say it will never be finished because when it is completed taxes will have to be paid to Rome.  We paid $2 to go up in the church.  Well, I went most of the way up.  To go all of the way I had to go up a ladder and then some scary stairs so I opted to not do that!

Unfinished basilica

View from unfinished basilica

Amazing view of Quito

Window in the church

After we survived walking around Old Town, we loaded back on the trolle.  This time we went to a local mall to eat at the food court.  I did not choose wisely and was not that interested in my sandwich.  After lunch we started toward the Kiwanis club.  Ecuador has one women's Kiwanis club and these incredible women run the Chuquiragua group.  This is a group of young women that the Kiwanis sponsor going to high school.  They also sponsor some young ladies going to college.  This program gives disadvantaged young women the chance to better themselves as they also provide workshops for these young women.  The poise, grace, and kindness of both the older and younger women was amazing!

Visiting with the Chuquiragua Girls while at the Women's Kiwanis club

By the time I finished blubbering with the Chuqis, we went back to the hotel.  The older ladies and Erick went for dinner, but Melissa and I weren't hungry so we stayed behind.  That night Melissa and I taught Erick how to play Go Fish.  It became a theme for the week as we played pretty much every night in Ecuador.  It was an easy to learn game that didn't take too much time.  By the end of the week, we had sucked multiple people in to playing with us!

And that concludes Day 2!