Quito, Ecuador: My Brain Feels Like a Hummingbird After This Trip
okay, so. quito. wow. i’m a touring session drummer, and usually, my brain is all about keeping time, you know? steady beat, predictable patterns. this place? threw all that out the window. i just checked and it’s drizzling a persistent, almost apologetic rain right now, hope you like that kind of thing. it’s… damp. and beautiful. and chaotic. like a really good jazz solo.
I was supposed to be here for, like, a week. ended up staying ten days. don’t ask me why. the altitude probably scrambled my brain a little. i’m used to being crammed into vans and hotels, but this… this was different. the colors! the smells! the sheer volume of everything.
I spent a lot of time wandering around *La Ronda, which is this ridiculously charming, cobbled street with artisan shops and cafes. seriously, google it. TripAdvisor link. I got completely lost, multiple times. which, honestly, was the best part.
Someone told me that the best empanadas in the city are at a tiny place near Plaza Grande. I can’t remember the name, but it was run by this woman who barely spoke any English and looked like she’d been making empanadas since she was five. they were amazing. flaky, savory, perfect. I’m already dreaming about going back.
“Don’t trust the pigeons. They’re plotting something.”
That’s what a drunk guy told me outside a bar in El Centro. i’m not sure if he was serious, but it stuck with me. there’s a certain… intensity to the city. a feeling that anything could happen.
I also spent a day exploring Mitad del Mundo, the equator line. it’s touristy, sure, but still pretty cool to stand with one foot in each hemisphere. Apparently, you can balance an egg on a nail there, but i didn’t try it. i’m clumsy enough as it is.
Pro-Tips (because apparently I’m doing a list now):
Altitude sickness is real. drink lots of *agua and take it easy on your first day.
Learn a few basic Spanish phrases. it goes a long way.
Be aware of your surroundings. petty theft is a thing.
Embrace the chaos. seriously, just go with it.
Try the locro de papa. it’s a potato soup, and it’s surprisingly delicious.
Check out the local music scene. Yelp link - there are some amazing venues.
I heard that the nightlife in *Mariscal Sucre is pretty wild. i didn’t make it there myself, but i’ve heard stories…
If you get bored, Guayaquil and Cuenca* are just a short drive away. i didn’t have time to visit either, but they’re definitely on my list for next time.
Honestly, i’m still processing everything. it’s a city that gets under your skin. a city that challenges you. a city that makes you feel… alive. i’m already planning my return trip. maybe i’ll even learn to play the pan flute. (kidding… mostly.) check out some more ecuador travel blogs here: Lonely Planet Ecuador
and if you're looking for a good place to stay, Booking.com Quito has some decent options.