Most of our time in Quito was spent in or around Plaza Grande and the rest of it was spent running errands: doing laundry, searching for a courier service, booking buses to Lima. Ah, the realities of traveling.
We found the city itself reminiscent of European cities: old and charming, crowded and dirty, colorful and busy. Many options for food are available, but perhaps our favorite was a cup of sliced mango soaked in vinegar and sprinkled with salt.
Cab fares start adding up pretty quickly, especially in large cities like this where drivers could throw out random prices and we wouldn't know any better, not having a clue about relative distances. Some seem fair, others not so much. Figuring out public transportation goes a long way and has certainly helped us to save here and there. Up until Quito, we had become accustomed to jumping on and off buses whenever and wherever. With just a wave of the arm, we could hail any bus and with a simple 'gracias', we could just as easily call our stop. With trolleys and buses, and soon a subway, the city has a good, organized handle on its pubilc transportation system.
