Exploring Quito

We woke up with quite a view of the city this morning.

First we took a taxi to the Ciudad Viejo (Old City) part of Quito. As we were driving down the narrow cobblestone streets to this place, we began to doubt it even existed. Circling blocks and frequently stopping, our taxi driver seemed to be giving us his own little tour of the area.  Eventually we arrived at the plaza and were relieved to see a few other tourists. We stopped to eat at a quaint little café, trying our first taste of Ecuadorian cuisine: sopa de papas (potato soup with fresh cheese and avocado). We were relieved to be inside when the weather quickly turned to a torrential downpour and the most horrifyingly loud thunder shook the entire café and everyone inside. We then walked to a 400 year old church in the middle of the square and it was absolutely incredible to see the architecture.

Complete with stone walls and ceilings, huge arches and incredibly intricate stained glass; one can't help but think what a feat this was to build during the given time period.