I spend much of the day was change the tires of the motorcycle. The couple traveled 3000km have worn the front and rear wheels. Ricardo is not the driving school. I decidedly do not see him again not. However his second Paul tells me where to go.
the afternoon I joined my cousin Emily Hotel Renaud, friend and friend of my sister who lives in Mexico City. We visit the neighborhood Guápulo, a former bastion of nightlife quieter today. A clear day it is normally possible to see the valleys and Tumbaco Cuyamba with the distant snow-capped Cayambe. The thick fog prevents us.
Later Emily tells me about a blues club in town that passes for rock music. I will go there that night alone. I'm lucky. The club reopened its doors. Alcohol is available up to an hour of Latin. The music is rock as I like. The Doors, Led Zepellin, The Cure. A delight. I found two companions to drink and talk. Perfect. And to think I almost stay at the hotel. I come home at 3:00 am at the hotel rinsed.
The next morning I woke up late but happy with my previous evening. I am planning to visit the historical center of Quito, located in the southern part of the city. Quito has two world north and south diametrically opposed. The north has the features of a modern city. Broad avenues, towers, road traffic, bars and discotheques, Atahualpa Olympic Stadium. The south has the historical center, districts and the poorest neighborhoods of the city.
Quito was founded by the English in 1534. Its first inhabitants were the discharge, hence the name given to the city. We celebrate the 476 years of its existence.
The historic center is the image of all the works built by the conquistadors throughout the 16 th century. The first basilica from which the view is splendid over the city. An elevator provides access to top floor and a restaurant on the second floor is open. We no longer know whether we are really in a church even though I must admit the interior is magnificent. Quito seduces me and as far as I discovered. The Independence Square is the opportunity to listen to the speeches of missionaries. Their speeches focus on social issues. They often speak freely in several places on the center of the city. The square is also a place of relaxation for older Quitenos monopolizing benches and lounging all day. I still visit with the Compania Church, whose walls are covered with gold and then I joined the Plaza San Francisco, one of the largest squares in the center while pavement. A clown is his show and joins the crowds. Young people ask me in English as part of their studies about my impressions of the country. A few minutes pass. The rain was coming soon and completely empty space.
Later I digress a bit from the center and get lost in the neighborhoods. A few hundred meters the atmosphere is really different. Popular markets crowds gather to buy furniture of any kind, or electronic device. It includes everything. Markets at the foot of the district of La Libertad is a true folklore of noise, people and smell. It buys fruit and vegetables but also dvds of all types and second hand clothing. The view of the neighborhoods on the mountainside is impressive. Everything is dirty but everything is true. I feel really strange. I do believe on some tourists. Later I joined the neighborhoods in the historic center height. The streets go up severely and can have panoramic views over the rest of the city and neighborhoods to the east of Quito, but also on the Virgin located in the neighborhood and keeps an eye on everything else city. After walking a good 3 hours I go back to the center after having been able to attend all these different facets of the center. Few time before returning to the north of the city where my hotel, I avoid little to make me steal my bag. The thing is still funny. I spent much of the afternoon in neighborhoods, and is close to the historic center that I am the victim of theft. Like what.
the evening I stay quiet. I talk a lot with Johnny the manager of my hotel. Johnny Ecuador and worked for 10 years in the reconstruction of houses destroyed by the eruption of the Tungurahua volcano in 1999 still active in Ecuador. He tells me that corruption headquarters at Banco del the Vivienda, institutional organization whose headquarters are in Germany, and who will eventually leave the job. I like Johnny. A nice guy.
Tomorrow I hit the road heading south to Latacunga and then Quilotoa lagoon.
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