Quito

Our first days in Ecuador were spent in ¨Gringoland¨, a part of Ecuador´s capital city, Quito. After many daily activities, from meetings to shopping, we usually went for a half-hour walk to explore the night-life of Gringoland. The main sqaure was always busy, especially since we were present for International Women´s Day, as well as a concert to promote the rights of prostitutes. On many of the walls in the city, we found glass cemented to the top, as a safety mechanism that is much cheaper and more accesible than barbed wire, though the latter makes the occasional appearance.

Glass on the walls... almost looks like upside-down icicles

On our second day in Quito, we noticed many women carrying roses, and of course wondered the significance. We later found out that men bought the roses for the women to celebrate International Women´s Day. Our only male ICE peer, Mitchell, bought one rose for each of us. What a gentleman! For the event, people gathered in the sqaure to see dancers, both male and female, dressed in exaggeration as women and heightened by stilts, skits, and a band performing. The square was quite lively; all senses were engaged with the performances.

A lively crowd supports International Women´s Day

Stilt performer

Mitch and all the girls with our roses

The following day, we visited the Canadian Consulate in Quito, where we were once again informed of potential dangers and discuessed how to prevent them. On the bus ride back (which only costed 25 cents each - Viva is such a ripoff!) four of the ICE students did not appear after we all exited the bus at our stop. Our co-ordinator, Samuel, ran to the next stop with impressive speed, only to find out that the four students were not able to get off the crowded bus, and returned to the stop using another bus. It is quite impressive how few logistical problems we have encountered to date.

I have concluded that Ecuador has an obsession with oreos. They have blue oreos, half and half oreos (one white cookie, one chocolate, and split cream) and an oreo Rueda de Chicago (ferris wheel). I am definitely not complaining, oreos are my cookie of choice. Following the tasty ferris wheel, we walked down a street decorated by beautiful and eccentric artwork, mostly consisting of oversized masks.

When we had free time in Quito, many of us ventured to a unique mall near our hostel. It is called ¨El centro espiral¨, after its impressive spiraled archetecture. There isn´t really floors in this mall, rather it continues to spiral up towards the skylight roof, providing an extra workout while shopping. It is similar to the structure of the aquarium in Boston.

El Centro Espiral

Finally, we were aqainted with a cause that many Ecuadorians in Gringoland supported with enthusiasm. They rallied for the rights of prostitutes, attracting attention with a female rapper on a portable stage. The crowd was exceptionally lively, dressing up, holding signs, and cheering for the rapper. After some time spent observing the locals, we ventured up a steep mountian in order to see a beautiful view of the Valley of Tumbaco, which is where I reside now. Unfortunately, the view was completely obscured by dense fog. However, we still managed to take some interesting pictures through the fog and had a nice walk up and down the streets of Quito.

Our female entertainer for the night

Elizabeth, an ICE student, illuminated by a light at the concert