Hey everyone!
It’s crazy to believe my Ecuador trip has officially begun! After spending the night in Tower B on the University of Pittsburgh’s campus, I woke up at 2am and mentally prepare myself for the long travel day ahead. After collecting my things and signing out of the dorm, we joined Costa Rica Plus 3 and boarded a bus to the Pittsburgh airport. We arrived at the airport around 3:30am, checked our bags, went through security, and had plenty of time to kill as our flight didn’t leave until 6am. It was a full flight, and I was very grateful I had a window seat, especially because the sun was rising as we took off. I hadn’t flown in over two years, so I was nervous about getting sick. Thankfully, I ended up sleeping through the entire flight and woke up feeling refreshed and ready to take on Miami, where we had a 9-hour layover!
Even though we had a long layover, the time quickly flew by. Our group took a bus to a Miami Beach where we were able to soak up the sun, and some of us even went swimming in the ocean. The warm weather was a nice break from the 55-degree weather that I had been experiencing in Pennsylvania since the semester ended. We also had the chance to explore a few local restaurants, and I enjoyed a delicious beef empanada. It was a great way to bond with everyone and make the most of our free time. By the afternoon, the temperature was close to 90 degrees, so I was definitely ready to head back to the airport and cool off in the air-conditioning.
Our flight to Ecuador took off around 6pm, and I was about to experience the longest flight that I have ever taken. It was around 3 and half hours, and I passed the time by watching the first Pitch Perfect movie! Toward the end, though, I started to feel a little nauseous and had to take deep breaths to keep from getting sick. We landed in Quito, Ecuador around 9pm (Quito is 1 hour behind Pennsylvania), went through customs, and got my first stamp in my passport!! We then took an hour-long bus ride to get to our beautiful hotel, Hotel San Francisco De Quito. After doing a little unpacking and showering, our group went out to explore the area and see a little bit of Quito’s night life. Restaurants were booming with locals participating in karaoke and dancing, and it was a great introduction to Ecuador’s culture and energy!
At this point, I had been up for over 24 hours, and I ended up falling asleep back at the hotel around 2am, which was unfortunate because we had another busy day ahead! Our first real day started around 8:30am with a nice breakfast at our hotel consisting of scrambled eggs and traditional Ecuadorian rolls. By 9am, we were ready to leave and finally get to see Quito in the daylight. Even though I have never been abroad before, I didn’t really experience a culture shock, and I think it is because of how lively the culture in Ecuador is. Vendors lining local streets, people dancing, and the colorful architecture of buildings was captivating to the eye. We started our tour of the city by visiting The Iglesia San Francisco, a Catholic Church, that was breath taking in every way. The altar where the priest delivers his sermon was made of all gold, and alluring biblical paintings covered every inch of the walls. I enjoyed seeing how Ecuadorians practice their faith, and I loved how dogs were welcomed into the church. Unfortunately, we weren’t allowed to take any photos, but I don’t think anything could truly give this place justice.
We then spent the next couple of hours touring a building connected to the church, learning about Ecuador’s history in relation to St Francis. We got to see many forms of artwork that showcased the history, and we got to see where the first beer brewery in the new world originated. After that, we enjoyed walking around the different markets and looking at souvenirs to buy to remember our short time in Quito. We had lunch back at our hotel at 1pm, and it was dish consisting of mashed potatoes, chicken, and rice. For dessert, I went out of my comfort zone and tried an Ego fruit for the first time.
We then had the whole entire afternoon to explore Quito in any way that we wanted. A group of us decided to take on the markets again, and I ended up buying a hand painted canvas of an Ecuadorian street. I ended the afternoon, walking with a group to Basilica Del Voto Nacional, and we climbed the top tower of the cathedral and experienced a breath-taking view of the whole city of Quito.
The night ended with us having dinner back at the hotel, and I packed my bags to get ready for our next destination -> Cayambe. Although I have enjoyed my time in Quito, I am excited to explore some other parts of Ecuador starting tomorrow!
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