A Day in the Life… Quito, Ecuador

Some of you have inquired as to what a typical day is like for me in Quito. I’ve been here for a week now, and I do have a routine to some degree, but I like this routine much more than my routine at home…. Maybe it has something to do with not sitting in a cubicle for 8 hours. Maybe it’s because I’m constantly discovering new places to explore, new foods to enjoy, and new people to talk to.

Here is a typical day for me.

• Wake up around 6:30am to go running (same as I used to at home). There is a nice park called El Ejido about 10 blocks from my hostel. At this altitude (2850 m), I definitely notice a difference. It feels like there is a small weight on my chest, and my legs feel a little heavier, but if I slow down a bit from my usual pace, I can jog for about 35-40 minutes. Of course, you have to be willing to ignore the whistles and comments from men. But I still get that when simply walking down the street just less frequently. Something I’ll learn to live with I guess.

• Take a cold shower. I’ve heard from others that they have hot water in their hostels. I’ve only had one day where the water actually got to a temperature I would call “warm.” I think the secret is to shower before anyone else, so since I’m a nerd and go to bed and wake up early, I have a decent chance of getting “tepid” water.

• Get my morning coffee a few blocks away at a restaurant that is way over-priced (prices are equivalent to the US) and serves American-style food. What can I say? I enjoy good coffee, and I get a 10% discount with my South American Explorers membership. Plus, it’s a safe place (security guard outside) where I can leisurely read or work on my Spanish homework.  I’m still searching for a cheaper coffee shop that serves drinkable coffee (yes, I’m a snob).

• Walk to Spanish class. My Spanish school is really fantastic, and it’s a 5-10 minute walk depending on traffic. It has exceeded my expectations. The facilities are very nice and the people are incredibly helpful. I am in class for 4 hours every weekday. I will provide more info on learning Spanish in a future post.

• Pick up some groceries – only enough for a couple days. Although there is a Supermaxi (supermarket) nearby, I have discovered that the small vendors in the neighborhood offer cheaper vegetables, fruits, and bread. And you can buy smaller portions (one egg for 10 cents).

• Have a huge and delicious lunch at a nearby restaurant. It is $1.75 for the “almuerzo,” plate of the day. I was introduced by a friend to a great little place near my hostel. I was surprised to find something both good and cheap in this touristy area. They change up the “almuerzo” every day, but it always consists of a glass of pure fruit juice, soup, and a main dish with a choice of meat served with rice and vegetables. The restaurant is always very busy at lunchtime, and you just sit down at a table with someone else if there is an empty chair. I met someone who told me he’s been traveling to Quito from Venezuela for 10 years, and he always comes to this restaurant when he’s in town. He even walks 2 kilometers from where he is staying. There are no “white people” at this restaurant which is one of the reasons I like it  More to come in a future post about the food in Quito. In short, it’s delicious, but I need to try more things before I put together a post.

• Explore Quito in the afternoon. I spend my afternoons exploring a new area, maybe walking around a different part of the neighborhood, checking out churches or museums in the Centro Historico, or sometimes go with the Spanish school on an excursion.

• Make dinner in my apartment. I have a small gas stove and a refrigerator, but I also have access to a larger kitchen with oven and microwave in the main house. I haven’t gotten too creative with my meals yet. So far I mainly cook an omelet with spinach and other fresh veggies and sometimes will eat just fruit and bread w/ cheese for dinner. Because lunch is such a huge meal and because I sometimes try the local snacks during my afternoon wandering, I usually don’t need to eat much for dinner.

• Work on my Spanish homework, write in my journal, or update my website. I have about 45 minutes of homework every night (including the time it takes to look up any words I don’t understand).

• Night life. When I do go out, it’s either to a salsa club (I’m learning) or to a nearby bar that plays a mixture of music: re-mixed American pop from the 80s, 90s, early 2000s (always amusing to hear what they actually turn into dance music), Cumbia, Reggaeton, and Salsa. Cumbia is from Colombia’s Caribbean area, and it’s becoming popular in the Andean region. Reggaeton blends West-Indian music influences of reggae and dancehall with those of Latin America, such as bomba, salsa, and Latin pop. I enjoy all of the music here except for the Western pop crap, which unfortunately is played a lot where I am staying.