A Hot, Humid Night in Quito: Drum Beats, Altitude, and Altitude Sickness
the moment i stepped off the plane, quito hit me like a sweaty drumstick-28.45°c outside, feels like 31.56, and the humidity? 70%. not exactly what i expected at 2,850 meters above sea level. but hey, i'm a touring session drummer, and altitude is just another tempo to adapt to.
"you're gonna feel it in your lungs and your legs," a local drummer told me at a dive bar near la mariscal. "drink the coca tea, or you'll be gasping like a fish on stage."
i took his advice, but first, i needed a place to crash. i found a hostel through TripAdvisor that promised "quiet rooms" and "friendly vibes." let's just say the walls were thin enough to hear every snare hit from the room next door. still, it was cheap, and the owner let me store my kit in the back room-major win.
rehearsals were in an old theater downtown, the kind with creaky wooden floors and posters from the '80s still peeling off the walls. the humidity made my cymbals stickier than usual, and my hands were sliding all over the place. but the energy? electric. quito's music scene is raw, unpolished, and full of heart. i heard rumors that the best after-parties happen in secret rooftop spots-"ask for the red door on calle jaen," someone whispered.
between gigs, i wandered the streets, trying to keep my breathing steady. the air is thin here, and even walking uphill felt like sprinting. but the views? unreal. Yelp led me to a tiny cafe called "la dulce vida," where the empanadas were so good i almost forgot about my burning lungs.
"don't trust the weather app," a barista warned me. "it lies more than a politician."
i just checked and it's 28.45°c there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. if you get bored, cuenca and banos are just a short drive away, and the rumors say they're cooler-literally and figuratively.
my last night in town, i played a gig at a club called "el mambo." the crowd was wild, dancing like nobody was watching, and i gave it everything i had-sweat, sticks, and all. someone told me that the club's sound system is legendary, but only if you catch it on a good night. i guess i got lucky.
quitting quito wasn't easy. the city's got a rhythm all its own, and it gets under your skin. if you're a drummer, a dancer, or just someone who loves a place that doesn't hold back, this is your kind of town. just bring water, bring layers, and maybe a spare pair of drumsticks-you never know when the beat will call you back.
