Iñaquitos Market and Paella (made by Spaniards)

Like I said in my previous post, many of my updates document our exciting and glamorous travels, but we have a good time hanging around Quito many weekends as well.  We had a particularly enjoyable Saturday after our January break when we traveled to Quito's Iñaquito market to pick up some supplies for a Spanish paella.  Our good buddy, Javier Garcia is a paella aficionado.  He has made us many but never been satisfied with the outcome.  On this Saturday he was on a mission to make the best and sent us to the market with a large list.  We had heard about the Iñaquito market before;,a cool spot to go to check out (and buy) lots of local produce and seafood.

like these crabby guys (not on our list, but orange and purple and interesting to look at!)  Also these guys are 100% still alive and bundled up this way.

And this guy.  He was quiet but friendly.  And hanging out with suckers.

Lots and lots of eggs.  Extra Giant eggs.

And stalls upon stalls of veggies.

If I've learned one thing about making a good paella, it is that you must invite a large number of people over to (of course) eat it, but also to help with all the chopping.  Our expert instructed us choppers to chop small (oh good...that makes it go quicker...)

all the fixins

As you can see, stirring was left to the experts.  (This is our friend Tiffany.  She is an expert coffee, tea, and toast maker.)

Look at all the delicious paella!

It was the best paella he has made us yet!  And Javier and I were happy to have discovered Iñaquito market.  We haven't tried cuy (guinea pig) yet and it's an Ecuadorian specialty.  While at the market we saw several being served and think we'll go back to try one!

CicloVia

Well it's been 2 months since my last post.  I would say it's safe to say I'm a bit behind.  Juuuust a bit.  But before I can get into the thrills of Carnaval in Rio, beautiful islands, paragliding, 1950s cars in Havana, monkeys boarding our tour boat, and big ships passing through the Panama Canal...I feel the need to finish two run-of-the-mill posts that I started months ago.  And as exciting as Brazil and Cuba and Panama were, I also like the idea of updating you folks at home on our everyday experiences.  Quito is a great city and we've really enjoyed the weekends we've spent here as well!

Back in Feb (or maybe it was Jan...) Javier and I finally took advantage of a great opportunity Quito offers every Sunday.  Quito is a long city (North to South), with four main avenues running the length of the city.  On Sundays, the city shuts down Amazonas to automobile traffic and allows the bikes of Quito free-reign.  The road is called CicloVia.  At $3 an hour to rent a bike, we just had to feel the wind in our hair, sailing down the streets of the city.

Parts of the road took us a bit closer to traffic than I would have hoped, but you can see the many folks taking advantage of the available roadway.  (Also I dropped my phone and almost feel off my bike right after taking this picture).

Our buddy, Ashley, is a regular on the CicloVia ,so she was showing us the ropes.  Here we stopped at a water station in Centro Historico.

The road took us straight into old town and provided for some amazing views.  It looks small in my photo, but the Virgin of Quito was beautiful up on the Panecillo hill.

Look at this cool tree that grows through the sidewalk.  (And Ashley rocking her bike riding!)

We took the road around the Panecillo and ended up seeing some cool sights.  Including this staircase which puts the Georgetown Exorcist stairs to shame.

And this statue.  I remember the plaque said something cool about this guy, but now I can't remember.  Javier says that is said something about how if he had a balcony in every city and town, he'd be president (and then he was....we think).

Mostly we enjoyed the beauty of Quito's roads.  Ecuadorian streets have a look about them that I hope I recognize forever.

And views like this.

It was a wonderful morning full of Quito sights.

And on the way back we had a view of the Bascilica!

Wish we had taken advantage of this awesome opportunity earlier.  It was something special to see the city this way!