Monday 15.9.14 - Quito

Well last night we enjoyed our complimentary drinks at the bar downstairs, which was a Passionfruit Ecuadorian Cocktail, made with passionfruit, Ecuadorian liquor and grenadine, with sugar encrusted rim. It was way too nice and easy to drink. 

Welcome cocktail in downstairs
bar.

Basically we hung around the hotel and ate a light meal in the restaurant, as lunch at Cafeteria Modelo II was so filling.

This morning we breakfasted and headed off to Plaza Grande (again) for the Changing of the Guard, silly me forgot to change into shoes, so had only thongs on...it had been raining earlier, so we donned coats which probably weren't needed. There were some interesting wreaths at the Indepencia Statue, something about September 15, ????, we were so keen to get a good spot, we didn't take a photo.

We popped ourselves on one of the four paths radiating from the Indepencia Statue and hoped for the best, it was hard to guess where things were going to happen. This was almost 10.30 and it was due to start at 11.00. There were lots of different street vendors wandering around today and more sales than usual, with a large crowd gathering. 

She was selling bling, but we loved
her outfit.

Couldn't figure out what these
were, perhaps empanadas.

Some of the crowd were gathering in front of us, but luckily they were moved on as 11.00 drew near. So we had a view to the Palace and back towards the Statue, which had some kettle drums set up in front, so we figured at least we'd have a view of that.

Here they are bringing more chairs from inside and
handing them over the balcony. Eventually a
large group of school kids sat in these chairs during
the parade.

The Kettle drums to our right.

Fingers crossed it was a good spot. There was heaps of security, lots of different uniformed guards and police, then plain clothes security and variety of army guys on the balcony and even some riot police.

Checking his phone on
balcony, funny hat.

EP on their helmet, I'm assuming royal or
presidential police.

One of the guards, standing in
front of the same type bluestone
edge we are propped up on.
Still pretty empty at this early
stage. The area behind him completely
filled.

I'm guessing they are the National
Police.

And here's the serious guys in
their riot gear. Just near the
end, some people held up
a banner and were quickly
made to put it down.

There was a growing crowd of important looking people on the balcony. 

These guys looked good in their sashes.

We thought this might be the president and family,
turned out not to be the case, but obviously important.

See, quite a crowd.

Then spot on 11.00 it started with a Marching band, Soldiers marching with Flags and Soldiers marching with swords coming out of the Palace along the Balcony then out onto the  street - Garcia Morena, the band stopped in the street and the soldiers marched around the statue and down the path that we were on. We were so close we could have reached out and tapped them on the shoulder. 

Somewhere in amongst all the pomp and ceremony the following occurred:

• The President - Raphael Correa arrived

President in the middle, Mr
Kenya on the left and I assume
Mr Turkey on the right.

Mr Kenya got lots of cheers
and was a happy looking fella.
President Correa, looks stern
here, but he did a lot of waving
and acknowledging the crowd.

• The dignitaries were introduced - we know that there was Kenya and Turkey represented.
• The flag was raised

Flag down and waiting.

Flag up and flag raiser held his
salute for a long time. Only he and
the two guys who exchanged
the sword could be seen saluting,
all the others were holding flags,
or swords or musical
instruments.

• The National Anthem and other songs played and sung by the soldiers
• A song that sounded like the last post
• The handing over of the sword from one Soldier to another, we presumed THIS was the changing of the guard.
• Then they all marched back again.

It was an amazing display and we had a prime spot. It was a tad tricky balancing on a bluestone ledge in thongs, but we managed to hold our position throughout.
LOTS of photos, here are just SOME of them...and a short video...I hope!

Then it was off to stock up on some goodies for the tour at our supermarket, then back to hotel to change shoes, then we headed off via some new streets to see Teatro Sucre (Theatre Sucre) on the Teatro Plaza, which was closed. We watched a street performer with a dog. I'm pretty sure he was making fun of as we couldn't understand a word, he spoke to us and the audience tittered.

As we had walked along we saw lots of kids in a variety of school uniforms, we wondered if they were going to or from at 12.00ish? Perhaps there are two intakes? They were mostly very neatly dressed in traditional pants/skirts and woolen jumpers/blazers/suits with ties. Lots of boys with white pants!!!

This little guy was enjoying the
show.

As were the bigger children,
and there's the dog.

 Lunch at Teatro Cafe, nice mochachino and BLT.

There was a nice statue so an obligatory shot each.

©Suzie Sloan

While sitting at lunch we saw the trolley buses we had read about, just normal buses running on the wires above really, but they seem to have the street to themselves so they hurtle along.

Then we moseyed back towards San Francisco square with the aim of checking out the Panama Hat shop, which was closed yesterday.

On the way I saw a few Movistar (phone co.) shops, I asked in two "abla engles" did they speak English, in a larger third one, a customer answered yes, and helped with translation, a lovely Quiteno, who had lived in New Jersey for 23 years, it seems I need a plan and that I need to go to a bigger Movistar shop on the next corner. Did so, and after a bit of a wait he set me up with a recharge and data, so hopefully that will work - fingers crossed!

Unfortunately the hat shop was shut again, so back to the Plaza Grande to see the wreaths, but no luck. Sat in the sun and people watched for a bit, but it was too hot in the sun, so back to the Hotel.

Saw many more nice streetscapes in our meanderings today.

One of Aunty Sue's. ©Suzie Sloan.

The front of our Hotel - Patio Andaluz on Garcia
Moreno, Quito.

Blurry shot of Sue waiting
while  I was in Movistar shop,
she got asked by a policeman to
get off the pot.

Back at the hotel it's getting fuller and fuller as more Aussies arrive for the tour, so far we have met.

• Joy and David (Brisbane)
• Felicity and Peter (Geelong)
• Rosie and Peter (Beaconsfield)
• Margie??? not sure of name or location.
• Trish and Max - poor Trish, still doesn't have luggage, all the others arrived today evidently, but not hers, we really feel for her.
• Betty (Larraine) was checking in but we didn't meet.

Tonight is our Tour Dinner, then tomorrow it's up and at em early as we head out to Otavalo and the Middle of the Earth/ecuator complex.

The blog posts will no doubt be fewer and farther between from here on, as we won't have the free time or wi-fi access we are currently enjoying.

Thanks again for comments you guys, Lynne, Maria, Keith, keep em coming.