Wow! What a busy start to our trip. My day started at 6:00 A.M., when I went up to the rooftop balcony of our hotel. Although the early wake-up time was much to my dismay at first, the mornings are truly unmatched – the view was beautiful, plus who doesn’t love some peace and quiet?

That peace and quiet wouldn’t last long however, as we ventured into historic Quito after a delicious breakfast. The first thing I noticed was how friendly the vibe was. Hundreds of people were selling various items on the street, and there was a wonderful sense of community, which is definitely a refreshing change coming from a country that heavily prioritizes individualism. 

We started off by touring La Iglesia de San Francisco, which had some breathtaking architecture (interior and exterior) to say the least. I never fully grasped how important religion, particularly Catholicism, is in Ecuador. It was cool to see the sense of faith, hope, and community that it brought to the country. It was also interesting to see the differences between religion in the U.S. and in Ecuador. More specifically, the names of the Saints in Spanish versus English, as well as the difference in symbolism, which can be credited to a mixing of Catholic symbolism from Spain and symbols from the religions of indigenous Ecuadorians.

After that, we attended our first chocolate tasting of the trip. I was expecting all of the Ecuadorian chocolate to be bitter, since the ones we tried in our pre-departure class (with high % cacao) were. However, I was amazed to learn that they are able to make chocolate with high % cacao that still retains its sweetness. I was particularly fascinated to learn that the chocolate tastes different based on the plants/region that the cacao is grown around (i.e. more floral, fruity, nutty, etc.).  We even got brownies and hot cocoa at the end!

After buying a boatload of chocolate, the group split up for some free time to explore the city. My friends and I first sought out some good finds on the streets of Ecuador. I bought a necklace and two bracelets for $12! We then trekked uphill towards La Basílica de Voto Nacional. There were quite a lot of steps to get to the top of the Basilica, but the gift shops and beautiful views kept us occupied. We then ended the day by taking a cab to the statue of La Virgen de el Panecillo. It was really cool to actually go up there, as we were told a lot about it during our pre-departure classes, and you can see it pretty much anywhere in the city. Again, breathtaking views. I expect nothing less. 

I went to bed relatively early as my body was still getting used to the higher altitudes. However, for the day I’ve had, that is a small price to pay!

I am so excited to see what the rest of the trip brings. Until next time! 🙂

-George