The Quito Basilica of the National Vow

 

While I was at the hostel, there was a gaggle of adventure guides in training, mainly from Canada staying there as well. They gave me the news that Cotopaxi had just erupted. On this day, I noticed that they were all packed and ready to go somewhere. I was told that they were doing their finals and were being evaluated by their professor, acting as tour guides. I was going the other way, up the ridge overlooking the city, but moved as fast as I could to hopefully catch up with them. I was told where they would be meeting up with others, and an experienced local guide. I the picture they were planning the day. I really hustled, and because they had to wait for the local tour guide caught up with them by the fountain (I had to ask directions in Spanglish) near that church and a major intersection.

 

The most prominent feature of the city as seen through my telephoto lens from the balcony of the hosted, the basilica, was the main target of the group. They had other plans after that, but so did I. I needed to find a bank with ATMs.

 

 

I followed along, being really not part of the group, although they happily welcomed me, as we were trekking up toward the Basilica of the National Vow

 

 

 

 

As you can tell, this is definitely the off-season, where tourism is concerned.

 

The State Seal of Ecuador. You can see the Sun and the Condor here, both of them Inca icons of power and divinity

 

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