Ecuador 2009»Quito

As we came into land at Quito airport we were thrilled to catch sight of Cotapaxi with its impressive snow capped peak. What better introduction could we have to Ecuador! Once in Quito itself, it wasn't long before we felt the effects of the altitude. But unperturbed, we set off on our journey of discovery, starting off with the Basilica Del Voto Nacional. This magnificent building dominates the city with is colossal size and impressive architecture. Here we decided to brave the climb to the roof despite the altitude. This climb was not for the fainthearted as we ascended through a series of metal ladders attached almost vertically to the walls of the towers and into the clock tower. We were both exhilarated and breathless by the time we reached the top. We used Quito as a base between trips away outside the city and on each return trip we continued our exploration of the Quito. On our return from our first venture out of Quito we took a taxi ride to the Teleferiqo. This was a cable car ride up to the viewing point overlooking Quito and its surrounding mountains and volcanoes. The view was stunning despite the overcast weather. On a clear day the views are even more spectacular. It was quite amazing how far Quito stretches across the valley and we could pick out several landmarks including the Basilica that clearly dominated its surrounding buildings. We could also see the airplanes taking off from the airport, looking really small as they flew well below the mountain peaks.