We started our day bright and early with a tour of Quito! We walked around the city with our guide, Mauricio, and he explained the history of the city and showed us important landmarks. The square of the city was built in the Spanish style, surrounded by the three powers: the presidential building, the city hall, and the archbishop’s building. The city was colorful and vibrant, and because it was Holy Week the crosses in front of the churches were draped with beautiful red and yellow rose arrangements. The city has a staggering 87 churches, cloisters, and other religious buildings.
After the city tour, we got back on the bus and started our trip to Guayaquil. We drove down the Avenue of the Volcanoes, and Mauricio explained which were still active and which were dormant. As we drove higher into the Andes, we saw native peoples in traditional ponchos and hats, villages by the side of the roads, and lots of dogs running by. We stopped to take photos with the Volcán Chimborazo volcano and saw Vicuñas by the side of the road. As we came out of the Andes and got into the Western Lowlands, the air started to get humid and hot and banana trees grew along the road. We passed rice patties and wetlands, and saw red Cacao beans growing on trees.
In Guayaquil, we had dinner together and went on a night tour of the city with Mauricio. We saw the waterfront and the memorial to the city’s independence in the square. We learned that Guayaquil was an important business center because the rivers provided open access to the ocean and trade routes. After the tour we went back to the hotel and settled in for a night of rest. Tomorrow we say goodbye to Mauricio and head to the Galapagos!