In Quito

I have been here less than two days, and I have many impressions, but what has impressed me most so far has been the fruit. I live with a wonderful and kind family in a small neighborhood in La Vincentina. When I walk home, I know I am near because one of the neighbors owns a rooster with a busted clock. He often crows at two or three in the morning and wakes me. At home, mi nueva madre prepares fresh fruit for breakfast and makes her own juice from tomate de arbol, or tomate dulce, which means tomato of the tree or sweet tomato. It is a small fruit and it is better and sweeter than any orange, apple, or pear I have had before. She serves the juice from a bowl. In the grocery store there are many fruits I have never heard of before and I am making it my mission to try them all before I leave.

The city itself sits in a tall valley in the middle of the Andes at 9,000 feet above sea level. It is the second highest capital city in the world. La Paz, Bolivia is the first. Because of this, the city is very long, but not wide. Hanging over the city is an active volcano, Pichincha. It erupted just more than ten years ago, but only released a few inches of ashes on the city. To the south there is another volcano, Cotopaxi, which is allegedly the highest active volcano in the world. It is possible to climb both of them.

I admit so far what I have seen of Quito is not especially pretty. There are many stray dogs in the streets, lots of trash, and a whole lot of smog from cars and buses, but I have only walked through two neighborhoods so far, and there is a lot more to explore. I will try to post pictures soon. Paz.