[ Quito, Ecuador]
Amigos estimados—
I’ll be leaving Ecuador in a few days, heading north to Cali for my first extended stay in Colombia. There is much to share about future plans, but I thought a brief retrospective of my stay here in Quito would be more apt.
In the foregoing half-year as a temporary Quiteño, I have lived through Carnaval, Holy Week, an attempted presidential impeachment and the subsequent, historic dissolution of the National Assembly (Ecuador’s national legislative body)—still ongoing. I got to know the rainy season, life in the countryside, the gorgeous páramo, sections of the volcanic corridor and its accompanying seismic activity. I completed my first travelbook. I have made many new friends, reconnected with several old ones, and become intimately familiar with a big swath of the city—thanks to Fargo and my terminal case of interminable curiosity. (Looking for the best shawarma in town? A scrumptious Indian lunch? Salsa in the park? Egyptian-style hummus? I can help!)
In other words, I’ve gotten comfortable, settled in, and learned the lay of the land. Quito is a beautiful city, welcoming, easy, historic and vibrant—but my time here is at an end, at least for 2023.
For Part I I’m including a few images from my neighborhood, and the first part of my stay, along with the usual caption-stories. I hope you enjoy them. Part II will be along in a day or two.
Until then,
I remain,
Your friendly neighborhood Transglobalist guy,
—-jim
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