Orientation Day!!

After a wonderful breakfast at the hostel of eggs, toast, coffee, and some juice (maybe guava?), Carlee and I were met by our supervisor Diana to begin our orientation. Firstly Diana is fantastic, it's clear she has been working in tourism for over ten years. She spent about an hour and a half giving us information about our programs, living in Quito, how to stay safe (hey mama), and all the best places to adventure on our weekends. Diana then took us out to lunch at a little place called Magic Bean, where I had a delicious salad and tried a naranjilla juice. Naranjilla is fruit that looks like this:

After lunch we met Gabby, another amazing lady who works for Diana who took us around the Old Town of Quito. Gabby is around Carlee's and my age and really cool. She is finishing her degree in tourism and has travelled all over, including living in China for a year. Her and Diana both speak incredible English. In the Old Town, Gabby took us to Iglesia de la Comañia de Jesus, a beautiful and extravagant church of Baroque architecture, made with a lot of volcanic rock, gold, and hand carved wood. There were no pictures allowed in most of it, but I will add photos of Carlee and me right outside the church, and one in front of a giant bell weighing 2 tons.

In the Central Plaza

She then took us up to the statue of The Winged Virgin, also known as The Virgin of Quito, or locally Virgen de El Panecillo. We climbed a long winding staircase up to the base of the statue where there was a wrap-around deck with a ridiculously amazing view of Quito. 

    the statue is hollow, so this is looking up into the inside!

Once back at our hostel, Carlee and I rested up and went back out for dinner. We shared three appetizers or "entradas": empanada de verde de carne, humita, and a tomal lojano. Basically, a very corn heavy meal. Needless to say it was delicious. 

Buenas Noches,

Zoe