Back in Quito the Trip Ends

 Back in Quito we checked into a lovely small hotel in New Town

 On Sunday some of the main streets in Old and New Town are closed to traffic and open for bicyclists

 One of my favorite high end shops was just around the corner from the hotel.  I loved a series of rugs like the colorful one in the corner.  Unfortunately they started at around $800.

 I purchased a few tagua nut bracelets which are called vegetable ivory and come from palm trees.  They are hardened for a year before being cut into jewelry.

This was the craft market in downtown Quito.  Shopping was hugely disappointing.  Prices were way up and quality was way down.  Many shops had disappeared and many crafts were either not around, too high priced or very poor quality.  I returned home with an empty suitcase.

 A family band in downtown Quito

 Bicycles for rent.  Similar to systems in American cities.  I didn't see anyone on bicycles except on Sunday.

 A view of the mountains from downtown.

 One of the main restaurant areas near our hotel

A beautiful house in New Town now turned into a restaurant.The main city of Quito was Old Town until WWII.  After the war it spread to the suburbs of New Town.  Now New Town is being turned into shops and businesses and the suburbs are sprawling out still further into the hills around Quito.

More Quito Sightseeing

Locals waiting on the steps of the Cathedral on the Plaza San Francisco in old Quito.

The madonna statue in the distance on the hill in old Quito.

The church in another Plaza, Santo Domingo

Pre-Columbian artifacts in the Museo Nacional

Unfortunately for me, they didn't allow the use of Flash with your camera.

The famous Gold Mask in the Sala de Oro

Replicas of pre-Columbian officials wearing their gold ornaments.

A several hundred year old mummy discovered high on a local mountain.

Old Town, Quito Ecuador

Back in Quito we did some sightseeing in Old Town.  This is Plaza Grande near our hotel and the site of the Presidential Palace.

 The area was the original city of Quito and is packed with historic buildings. 

 The fabulous La Campania de Jesus.  This is a fantastically elaborate church blending Spanish, Moorish and indigenous elements, mostly in gold.  Unfortunately no cameras allowed.

 San Francisco Plaza, the main plaze.

 The statue of the Madonna on the hilltop.  This is an unusual one with wings.

 Plaza San Francisco

View from my hotel window at night.