Queueing up for Quito

Find out about Ecuador's lofty capital with Romanian expat and travel writer Razvan Petrescu!

Part One: "'What shall I do this week? Oh well, I think I'll just jet off to Ecuador!' And while sitting in the airport, I realise there is a certain logic behind my choice: it is my third trip to Latin America, and after enjoying Caribbean island life in the Dominican Republic and home-made enchiladas in Mexico, the time may well be appropriate for a trip to a more mountainous region in this part of the world - such as Ecuador." Razvan kicks off his visit to Quito with a few basic facts and figures - and a night on the town!
Part Two: "In daytime, the city is quite impressive, surrounded as it is by what seem like perpetually misty mountains. The old town is especially hilly - it takes some serious energy to be able to explore it on foot. Quito appears as relatively clean and with pothole-free roads; traffic can be a bit chaotic, and the sight of a truck with 5-7 people crammed in the back is not that unusual. I am impressed with the vehicles' brakes; some really rickety-looking taxis do wonders on the city's steep and winding streets." Razvan takes a wander round Quito's streets and sees what the city has to offer in daylight...
Part Three: "Not knowing what is in store, I go to the TeleferiQue - one of Quito's top new attractions. It is a ski-lift-like type of contraption that climbs the mountain; it starts quite nicely, with the small cabin hovering at 3-4 metres above the ground, but pretty soon I notice I am above some very tall trees; the view is breathtaking, I can see the whole of Quito in the valley with the mountains around it, but my knees are seriously shaking by the time I get to the top. And, at the top, it is cold. Very cold, in fact. I can see clouds below me." Razvan concludes his look at Quito with a view from above; talks of food and some Ecuadorean pastimes; and considers what makes the city an attractive place to live.