Mom and Dad in Ecuador!! Part II

We hadn't spent much time in Quito yet and thought the best way to show Mom and Dad around town was with a hop-on-hop-off tour.  On our way to catch the trolley we stopped off to show Mom and Dad the view of the valley from the top of the Guapulo hill.

Looking out over the valley (there is another volcano you can sometimes see from here...but alas...more clouds)

First stop was the Basilica. Javier and I learned something new at this stop...the gargoyles on the Basilica are the animals found throughout Ecuador including pink river dolphins and turtles!

Staples family outside the Basilica
We didn't have time to go in, but the building is beautiful from the outside

Next stop: Plaza de la Independencia.  Mom and Dad were worried we'd be bored, but we kept learning new stuff!  Here we heard about an arrogant man that repeatedly insulted the rooster weathervane that perches on top of the Cathedral in the square until one night when he was drunk, the rooster flew down and attacked him.  Now the rooster stands as a symbol of protection in the square.

Quick stop in Plaza San Francisco!  

Mom and Dad on La Ronda.  La Ronda is a popular evening destination for salsa dancing and canelazo drinking.
(It's also a beautiful street!)

The tour also took us up the Panecillo to see the statue of the Virgin.

and gave us this gorgeous view of Quito

Saturday night dinner was at our favorite burger place: La Burguesa!  We usually order milkshakes or the artisanal beers they have on the menu....but with Mom and Dad we got BOTH!

We clean up good for Easter Sunday!

Javier found a church that held mass in English.  It was a short walk from our apartment and a really beautiful church.

inside the little church

We were worried about having a seat, but when we arrived 15 minutes before mass we were the only ones there....so we walked around and took some fun pictures.  Mass was quick, but really nice.  It was wonderful to hear some familiar songs - made it feel like Easter!!

After mass we headed off to brunch so Mom and Dad could meet the Andersons!  We really like the food at Warmi and the company wasn't bad either.  It was really nice to have Mom and Dad meet some of the people we've become close with here.

In the afternoon we headed back to Centro Historico to try to go inside La Compania (our favorite church downtown).  Typical Ecuador...we kept being told that it was opening any second....but it never did.  Instead we walked through a free exhibit of South American art.  Some of it was really cool! 

Day of the Dead art.

and Mom got a new beach hat!  (look at her wearing her backpack in front like a good Quito tourist)

We wanted to show Mom and Dad Parque Carolina.  It's one of the most beautiful parks and is packed on weekends with families playing all sorts of games and sports.  Also...look at that view.

I had made jokes about it, but we saved all the best restaurants for their visit.  When do you think you get too old to be excited about having your parents take you out?  Sunday night was italian at La Briciola.

Javier had to work on Monday, but I took the day to hang out with Mom and Dad as long as I could!  Where better to go on your last day in Ecuador than the center of the world?  Here they are, splitting two hemispheres. 

llamas!

We wanted the good picture at the big monument, but Mom and Dad had to try all the fun games at the other (supposedly more accurate) equator line.  Here we are at 00'00'00" (the other one).

Balancing an egg on a nail head...no problem for this guy!

she needed her glasses to do it...but once they were on....she got it immediately!

Picture of Mom and Dad in front of the rotunda at school
(picture added late because it could not be found...but was eventually discovered on Javier's phone)

After our equator adventures, Mom and Dad got to see our school and meet some friends.  It was just amazing to see them walking around a place that's become so familiar to me and yet so foreign to friends at home.  I think they really enjoyed seeing how our life is down here.  And truthfully, I was worried about how the trip would go, but it was just about perfect.  Mom and Dad were so go-with-the-flow about everything (like at lunch when one person's entree came out a good ten minutes before the rest....that's Ecuador).  They also seemed to really enjoy our outings and agree that Ecuador is beautiful.  We really have fallen in love with this place, so it felt great to have people I love affirm its good qualities.  I am so thankful and happy that they made the trip!