Here are five fast fun facts about Quito and Ecuador along with some first impressions after being here almost two weeks:
1) Quito is the world's highest constitutional capital, sitting at over 9,000 feet - which makes it too high for malarial transmission to occur.
2) Quito is called "the Florence of the Americas" due to the well-preserved colonial architecture and abundance of art - along with a historical center that is recognized as the best preserved and least altered in Latin America (due in part to Quito being the first city ever delcared a UNESCO World Heritage Site [1978] alongside the Galapagos Islands).
3) Sitting on the Equator (hence the country's name), Quito experiences 12 hours of daylight year round, with the sun rising and setting around 6 - 6:30 every single day.
4) Quito is near Chimborazo, which is the farthest point from the Earth's center, making Ecuador the closest country in the world to the sun.
5) Ecuador is the world's largest exporter of bananas and also the birthplace of the world famous Panama hat - first made in Cuenca, Ecuador, not Panama.
BONUS: the flora & fauna are off the hook as Ecuador is the humminbird capital of the world, has an amazing and huge rose plantation, and is home to the Mindo Cloud Forest.
To be honest, I was a little disappointed initially. Partly coz the airport is a good hour away from the town center, and I hate a slog like that after flying. Additionally, due purely to bad luck/timing, the internet was out in the airbnb we're staying in for the first few days. But our super nice landlord went above and beyond to ensure we were connected while getting the provider out to fix the problem. No issues since!
The historic center is, indeed, amazing - pics to come. There is TONS to do, they have an awesome new metro/subway, and there are parts of the city that are very glitzy/modern - to contrast with the historic center.
Our apartment is a LITTLE chilly for my tastes - esp. in the morning, but it helps both of us with sleeping. There is no HVAC at all, nor fans, and they're not needed as it has been in the mid-upper 60s every single day and the low 50s at night.
Stay tuned for more! And come visit for Christmas! 😁
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