Quito
Surrounded by the impressive snow-capped peaks of the Andes,
at nearly 3,000m, who would believe that Quito lies within 25km
of the equator. Tropical it's not - but pleasantly spring-like
throughout the year it is.
More like two cities rolled into one, the cobbled streets
of the old town gradually become the wider, tree-lined avenues
of the new town, colonial churches swapped for modern hotels
and banks, indian dress for pinstripes. But for a capital
city there is still a small, intimate feel about the place,
just as there is in the country as a whole. The beauty here
is that all the history and culture is contained within a
small and perfectly accessible area. |