On the whole, we're pretty happy with our place in Quito. We're paying just around $500 a month for a two bedroom, all bills paid (including internet), located near the northern edge of the Historic Center. We're just about 5 short blocks from the Grand Plaza, with the last 2 up a hill. Not as bad as the hill in Chapala, with the next two blocks north much steeper - heading up to the large Basillica I shared pics of.
Once you get a few blocks north of the Grand Plaza, it becomes much quieter and less busy. The Plaza is almost always busy and lively - especially on the weekends. So it's a pretty sweet set up. There's a little mom and pop store right next door, and a sweet older woman sits right outside our door on the other side selling produce - I've gotten mandarins, avocados, potatoes, etc. from her. This photo shows our apartment building entrance on the right - the black, iron door under the balcony with flowers.
As mentioned previously, there are a SHIT. TON. of places to eat in the historic center - from nicer places (including the Plaza Hotel) to quick service places, mom & pop restaurants, tons of sandwich places, etc. And the BEST Chinese food I've had outside of China. Seriously, There are multiple small grocery stores within 5-10 minute walks, and plenty of other shopping, as well. As I say, the Plaza is always lively with folks enjoying the weather, visiting, shopping, checking out the tons of museums, cathedrals, and other architectural gems. The historic center subway stop is about a 10 minute walk.
Would I live here if I ended up retiring in Quito? Possibly, but probably not. It gets pretty chaotic in/around the main plaza, although there are multiple other plazas scattered around the area that are less busy. So where would I live?
Probably the La Carolina Park Area - a few miles north of us. This flatter area, still ringed by beautiful mountains, is one of the newer areas of Quito and has a large expat contingent. When you exit the metro stop at the north end of Carolina Park, you would think you were in any modern (clean) city in the U.S. Scattered high rises of condos & apartments, businesses, medical & dental offices, etc. Two large malls (one VERY large that we invariably get lost in), 3-4 large grocery stores (again, one super large one that is a bit overwhelming, actually), multiple movie theaters, and - again - TONS of places to eat at every level and of every cuisine--including lots of fast food options, both local and American.
The park itself is lovely and large. So far, we've only explored the north end, which has a lot of soccer pitches, basketballl & volleyball courts, running & walking trails, etc. This past weekend there was a fesitval - of which Quito seems to have MANY. Soon, we'll explore the south end which has its own metro stop.
The metro is pretty new - opening 2 years ago this month. As Quito is a long, narrow city suqeezed between mountains, the subway has just one line that runs about 10 miles north and south, with 15 stops. It's 45 cents for adults, and 22 cents for adolescents and seniors. Kids are free. Very clean and very efficient, running every 8 minutes both ways. As with many places, there's a distressing amount of boorish behavior, with folks crowding and blocking the doors to get on - althouh not at, shall we say, a Shangahi level of boorishness, thank god.
Uber operates here and is super cheap. There are also tons of yellow taxis, metered. There's also an extensive, cheap, clean bus system that we haven't needed to use yet. Both the Centro and Carolina areas are walkable, we've used the metro extensively beyond that, and would only need a taxi or uber for random places far off the metro stops.
So yeah, I'd probably live around La Carollina and take the metro into the Historic Center on occasion to hang out. UP NEXT: DJ & I each go to the doctor and get prescriptions, and I also go to the dentist!
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