IMGP6797.jpg

Plaza of Santo Domingo, Old Town, Quito. We stayed at the Hotel Real Audiencia, the orange building on the corner, for the first few nights. The restaurant on the top floor had a beautiful view of Plaza Santo Domingo, especially at night.

IMGP6798.jpg

Church of Santo Domingo

IMGP6804.jpg

Heading to the Basilica

IMGP6811.jpg

A subtle reminder that we'll soon be heading to the Galapagos!

IMGP6814.jpg

Planning for the Basilica began in 1883, construction started in 1892, and although the basic structure is complete, it remains unfinished.

IMGP6819.jpg

Instead of traditional gargoyles, the Basilica has animals found in Ecuador, such as these iguanas.

IMGP6823.jpg

IMGP6825.jpg

IMGP6835.jpg

interior stained glass

IMGP6836.jpg

IMGP6840.jpg

View of La Virgen de Quito atop El Panecillo. La Virgen can be seen from almost everywhere in the city and is lit up with lights at night. Apparently, it is the only depiction of the Madonna with wings in the world.

IMGP6845.jpg

Wooden bridge across the Basilica roof that leads to the tower ladders

IMGP6846.jpg

IMGP6847.jpg

IMGP6848.jpg

Looking back across the wooden bridge

IMGP6853.jpg

First aerial view of Quito from the roofline of the Basilica

IMGP6858.jpg

So happy to have made it!

IMGP6860.jpg

Now...what time is it here?

IMGP6868.jpg

IMGP6873.jpg

Basilica clock towers with La Virgen in the distant background

IMGP6874.jpg

A panoramic sprawling view of Quito

IMGP6877.jpg

IMGP6880.jpg

IMGP6892.jpg

View from a clock tower

IMGP6895.jpg

The clock's mechanism is apparently out of order.

IMGP6898.jpg

Giselle was trying to diagnose the problem

IMGP6900.jpg

View of the other tower. Note the keyhole window in the center

IMGP6903.jpg

keyhole detail

IMGP6907.jpg

Heading ever higher

IMGP6913.jpg

IMGP6914.jpg

The clock bells

IMGP6915.jpg

IMGP6916.jpg

IMGP6919.jpg

IMGP6923.jpg

IMGP6927.jpg

The Quito airport is currently (and conveniently) located right downtown. However, the city is building a new one much further out which will make catching those 7:00am flights even more tiring!

IMGP6928.jpg

IMGP6929.jpg

Looking up through the many levels of the clock tower

IMGP6930.jpg

IMGP6938.jpg

IMGP6939.jpg

Back to street-level to explore and discover...

IMGP6941.jpg

IMGP6945.jpg

We took a beautiful walk through the old town up toward the new town by way of Parque La Alameda and Parque El Ejido.

IMGP6948.jpg