Back in November I was invited on a press trip to visit the cities of Quito and Cuenca. I loved both cities in different ways so I’ll give each one its own post. It took me some time to gather my thoughts about how SPECIAL this trip was and how I loved every second I spent in Ecuador (plus things like hosting events, the holidays, and other obligations kept me super busy). But now I have my thoughts together and want to tell you ALL about my trip to Quito and why this city warmed my spirit so much.
I’ve been on a number of press trips over the years and each one is different. Typically I don’t know anyone beforehand which never ever bothers me because I know I’ll always make friends. And even if I don’t, I’m pretty cool to hang with by myself…lol. But what was unique about this trip was how quickly the five of us in my group bonded. By the time we made it to the Plaza Grande Hotel (our amazingly gorgeous and chic home in Quito during our stay) we were already like long-time homies. It made exploring the city even more special.
I could write a novel about how amazing Quito made me feel but since I realize this is the internet and stories are better told through lists, here’s some things I did and LOVED in Quito and why I think YOU should visit.
1. History
I was a super smart kid. When I was in kindergarten, I went to the first grade for reading classes. By the time I was ten, I was surpassing so much in class that I went to a special accelerated school for junior high school. In high school I took a ton of honors classes. I would have been done with college in three years if I hadn’t changed my major so many times. When it came to history and social studies though, I did what I needed to do to get good grades but nothing really excited me. I mean, I STILL remember stuff I learned in history class way back when but it’s not like it makes me do the nae-nae like a blue-red lip color might.
But being in Quito with its rich history and breath-taking landscapes, I felt enriched. And present. It’s one thing to learn about the equator—it’s another to be ON the equator. With pics to prove it. When I have children I’m SO taking them to Quito and other places around the world like it. It’s one thing to read about it—it’s a whole other ball game to be able to see and experience it.
I grew up Catholic so I’ve seen my fair share of pretty churches, but nothing I’ve seen compares to La Compañía de Jesús Church. Its facade is carved out of Andean stone. The altars, pulpits, pillars, arches are covered with gold leaf. The church also features baroque carvings plated with 23 carat gold—it’s quite a sight to see.
Quito has a very strong sense of history which you’ll see further as you read this post.
La Limpia & La Curandera
One of our first outings was inside a small shop owned by this Curandera pictured above (means “the curer” or “the healer,” she’s the fourth generation in her family to do this) in the San Francisco Market where we gathered together in smaller groups to have a limpia which translates to “a cleanse.” At first I was going to pass because I’m VERY adamant about energies and how people interact with mine, but I also had a bit of a dilemma I was sorting out so I talked myself into it. Glad I did! In the teeny room inside her shop, you basically stand as she rubs a series of flowers and herbs—all local to Ecuador on you as she helps “cleanse” your spirit. For me it was more of an affirmation than a cleansing of my spirit (I felt my spirit was already pretty clean…lol) but the first thing she said to me (in Spanish) was that I have a great spirit and that I’m loved by many in my city. I mean, *pops collar* I know some folks out there really love me (haha) but when she added the “in your city” part I had the answer to my little dilemma. I was planning on moving to Atlanta the month after the trip. In fact I even put a deposit down on an apartment but with so many opportunities popping up that would mean staying in NYC, I was a bit conflicted. She helped reaffirm my leaning on staying in NYC.
2. Hospitality
Plaza Grande Hotel
I felt like a QUEEN in Quito. Everyone I encountered was so friendly and nice (and no, not everyone knew I was in the country to write about the trip). Strangers smiled at me as I walked by many of whom paid me MANY compliments like telling me how beautiful I am—hey, I’ll take that kind of treatment. Beats getting pushed on the LIRR any day.
No, but beyond compliments about my physical appearance, it felt so good being in Quito and having everyone I came across filled to the brim with excitement to tell me all about their beloved city.
We flew LAN airlines and I was impressed by the quality of service in coach—I can only imagine the kind of queendom I would have had in first class.
We stayed at the Plaza Grande Hotel located in the main plaza of the historic center of Quito. It’s within walking distance to many sites in Old Quito including El Panecillo, some of the most beautifully reserved churches (some dating back to the 16th century), Town Hall, and tons of culture and restaurants. The staff there is SO accommodating. Like, I think if I asked them to take off my makeup for me and tuck me in, they would have done it…lol.
The way to my heart is through my stomach so I give this hotel high grades for the tasty breakfasts and one night we were free to explore on our own, I was super tired and instead ordered room service. The food was really good considering it had to contend with all the fine restaurants I experienced while in Quito.
3. Food
Listen, I was completely spoiled by how delicious and pure all the food was in Quito. SPOILED. To know me is to know that at some point soon, something I ate is going to make my stomach hurt…lol. It’s practically a running joke in my family. So for me to be trying all sorts of foods and drinks in Quito without a single stomach ache is basically a miracle. And EVERYTHING was SO good. Plus it was also easy for me to stay somewhat on track with eating right because every meal was a lean protein and plenty of delicious veggies. I’ve also trained myself to skip alcohol so I can use those points for food…lol. (Shoot for the 4 points for a 5 fl oz glass of wine, I could have two 3 oz pieces of grilled chicken, a whole bunch of steamed veggies, and tons of water)
But seriously, I don’t think I ate anything I didn’t really like while in Quito. I’d go back just to eat. And then come back again to eat. And again. And again. You know what? And again. HAHAHA
Inside San Francisco Market
Octava de Corpus
I loved this restaurant because it’s totally setup like you’re having dinner in someone’s (really awesome) home. The owner was just the kindest and the food was divine.
With the owner of Octava de Corpus Jaime Burgos
A theme I loved about many of the businesses we visited in Quito were that many of them were family-owned and passed down from generation to generation. We met Luis Banda and his son who make colaciones (or snacks) in a 100-year old pan the same way Luis’ father did to create the deliciously sweet treats made of peanuts, lemon, essential herbs, and sugar.
Luis Banda with his son
Casa Gangotena
With Olga from Dreams in Heels and chef Andres Davila
It’s not often that a famous chef gets to flex his culinary skills to you, but we got exactly that from chef Andres Davila. I turned NOTHING down (I even ate llama spring rolls) and tried EVERYTHING. It was all so good.
I’m not a huge drinker—mostly because I’m SUPER lightweight and can get more than tipsy from one drink, but also because I prefer to eat my calories—but I decided to have a glass of wine before our cooking class at Achiote restaurant and I have to say tipsy cooking class is SO much fun…lol. We were cackling (ok, maybe that was just me…lol) and having a great time while learning how to make ceviche and guacamole. After we were done we got to eat our creations along with some other treats from the chef.
If you follow me on Snapchat, you might remember the snaps from this day…lol.
It’s not very often in life one can say they had lunch inside a restaurant that lies on top of a (currently) inactive volcano. The food was amazing but it was more about the atmosphere here than the food for me.
La Vicentina
This isn’t an actual restaurant and I didn’t eat anything there (we were warned not to as many tourists wind up getting sick from it and I have a VERY sensitive stomach) but it reminded me SO much of the street food scene in Trinidad (#wheremypeople) and Grenada that I had to include it.
4.The Sights
To say Quito is a beautiful city is a serious understatement. I’m not even sure there are words that could accurately describe the beauty of Quito—both Old and New. But I’ll attempt to…lol.
You MUST take the ride along Tren Ecuador. Starting at Chimbacalle station where you can get a little history of the train’s beginnings and have a photo opp in front of a replica train, Tren Ecuador is one of the most beautiful (and kinda romantic if you think about it) ways to view Quito. You’ll also take in majestic views of the Pichincha, Atacazo, Pasochoa and Corazón mountains. I also got a glimpse of the famous Cotopaxi volcano. I practically had to contain myself so I didn’t fall out of the train—I was so excited to look at everything and try to capture what I could on my camera.
One thing Quito isn’t short of is amazing viewpoints. Looking up from just about anywhere in Quito you’ll notice a statue of what appears to be an angel better known as the Virgin of Quito. It sits atop El Panecillo which is 3016 meters above sea level (about 9095 feet) and is believed to protect the city.
El TelefériQo
Inside the cable car
Of course it was super sunny and clear every other day we were in Quito EXCEPT the day we were scheduled to go on El TelefériQo (in English, the cable car). We went from 2950 meters (about 9678 feet) above sea level to 4053 meters (about 13,297 feet) covering a distance of 2.5 km in just 10 minutes, but it was super foggy so we couldn’t see much going up. We also missed out on seeing some snow-capped summits, but it was still fun and highly recommended.
Things cleared up once we reached the top
I was at the middle of the world! 0-0′-0″ latitude at the Equatorial Monument. It was built in 1979 to honor the team who calculated and studied the equator in Quito. They were off by a few meters though which was discovered in recent times thanks to GPS technology. We visited both the monument and the actual equator site.
At the nearby Intiñan Museum you’ll find tributes to the Indigenous people of Ecuador and get a glimpse of how some of them lived. This also ties back into my point earlier about how rich history and culture is in Ecuador. I learned so much while there but it also inspired me to learn even more. I need to look up the best books on Ecuador’s history.
Me concentrating very hard to balance an egg on a nail
La Ronda
La Ronda is Quito’s oldest street but you’d never guess because it’s been so beautifully preserved. Here you’ll find tons of restaurants, art, and at night musicians and other outdoor entertainment. While here it’s common to get a taste of canelazo, a warm alcoholic drink made with brandy and cinnamon as well as sample tons of breads, quesadillas, and empanadas.
Canelazo
Outside The Man’s Chapel with our AMAZING tour guide Jorge Castillo—contact him if you’re looking for a tour
To go to Quito and not learn something about Guayasamín, it’s like, did you really go to Quito at all? Guayasamín was a master painter and sculptor whose work often portrayed social injustices especially towards the Indigenous people in Ecuador. He was celebrated widely while he was still alive and still many years after his death in 1999, he’s considered a national treasure.
We visited his masterwork The Man’s Chapel which Guayasamín started in 1995 and was completed in 2002, years after his death. Walking through it and observing the artwork can make you feel a little (or a lot) sad because so much of it portrays the evil that happened to people throughout the history of Latin America and the world. Guayasamín vividly showcases in his art the years of murder, racism, classism—all caused by man. While there are elements of hope and I’m VERY much the upbeat/brighter side kind of person, I think it’s very important to accurately portray the evils of the past. You’re supposed to feel uncomfortable—there’s nothing to glaze over when it comes to this part of history.
Misc:
While altitude sickness is a REAL thing, it oddly didn’t affect me as much as I thought it would. And I’m quite fragile and EVERYTHING affects me…lol. But aside from a few times I needed to take Advil for an altitude-induced headache, I was fine. I got car sick (like I do anywhere) more than I experienced altitude sickness.
In Quito you can seriously experience all four seasons in one day—even when you’ve stayed relatively in the same altitude. But even more if you go from the lowlands to areas of higher altitude. It’s super important to dress in layers and bring a jacket with a hood. And an umbrella. For ideas on what you need beauty-wise (SPF is the number one thing you need) read What’s Going in My Beauty Bag for My Trip to Ecuador.
Ecuador uses the US dollar which makes shopping so much easier. Many places will take debit and credit cards (check with your issuer about any fees) but make sure you have cash on hand for the street vendors selling jewelry, scarves, and of course food.
Of course any trip is made amazing depending on who you experience it with (even if you go solo) but what also made this such an elevated experience for me was the people I traveled with. I’ve been on a number of press trips over the years and while I make pals anywhere I go (heyyyy), it’s rare that the entire group bonds so much within hours of meeting. By the first few outings in Quito it was already like we knew each other for years. I have to thank Diana from Lady Dee LG, Kathy from Will Run for Miles, Olga from Dreams in Heels, Terri from Tripping with Terri, and Tracy from Tracy’s New York Life for making this trip even more memorable.
A few random pictures:
Yeah, I had to let some of these pics be great…lol.
Your trip looks awesome and your makeup was popping!!! Deets on the makeup pleeeasssee!!! (i.e. foundation, lips, blush, etc.) :-)
Author
Thanks!!
This was a trip from November so I’m not going to remember every detail, but these posts tell what I took with me and what I typically use:
What’s Going in My Beauty Bag for My Trip to Ecuador
My Updated Foundation Routine {Dark Skin}
Wow you did so much!!! I really liked that session with the limpia and curandera! Thanks for sharing this!
Wow! Amazing and beautiful . Makes me wanna pack my bags n go . Thanks for sharing
What an AWESOME recap! I feel like I was right there with you!
I enjoyed your photos and comments about Quito. I’ve never been close to Quito, Ecuador. I liked seeing the church too. It is beautiful.