Quito

 
Quito is funky.  High in the Andes, officially at middle-earth, latitude zero.

Kevin and I landed at night.  The narrow cobble-stone streets felt romantic and mysterious.  We stayed in the San Blas neighborhood, near old Quito.  At 11 pm, the streets were quiet and sleeping.

We learned that the Mariskal neighborhood has plenty of night-life.  However, we're not so urban-oriented & we're certainly not night-owls.  Being within walking distance of Old Quito charm felt perfect.

We woke with the city, to find the buildings lining the steep Andean slopes brightly colored, covered in balconies and dripping plants.
After winding our way through old town, we hiked towards the Basilica del Voto.  This church was constructed in the early 20th century, but it feels like an old Gothic cathedral.  The more modern sensibility is evident in the carvings adorning the ledges & engraved on doors.  There are multiple depictions of animals and the natural world, symbolizing the divinity in nature.

Within the Basilica, you can climb up to the roof and catch sweeping views of Quito & the mountains framing it.

When you need to rest your tired feet, walk a mile north or get a taxi to the Mariskal neighborhood.  There are tons of restaurant and clubs to hear live music.  We arrived during a game between Ecuador and Portugal. Thankfully, Ecuador won!  The streets were rumbling with happy soccer fans.

Quito struck me as a city with a pulse, but one that you might have to get to know before it fully reveals itself.  If you're a city person, stick around.  Listen to live music, wander the cobblestone streets, and allow Quito to gather you closer.  Given that I yearn for the wild, I followed the Andes up and out of the city.