Walking around the city, starting gastronomic tour II and going to the airport for Jen :)

Ok, I know I promise Shawn no early alarms. Well, I didn't set up my alarm clock, but woke up early though, hehehe. Sorry, but it wasn't that bad. We'd have a longer day :P

Hostel was ok. I have already stayed here when I was in Quito New Town. In fact, I arranged the accommodation. There are many hostels in La Mariscal, but didn't have time for a research and we needed one with parking spot too. Anyway, I didn't bring a towel with me, so I asked for one at the hostel and I couldn't believe what I saw. Last time here, I was about finishing my trip, so I was getting rid of extra stuff and one of the things I left was my towel, haha. I left it here and now I found it! hahaha. This hostel didn't seve breakfast, so we'd walk around and find something to eat, maybe something local. We'll see. Last night it was a bit cold, but today the sun was shinning, yay! Well, it was naive to think about getting something local in La Mariscal, haha. This place is touristy. Last time I wanted to stay at "Magic Bean" hostel, but it was crowded. I called them with 2 weeks in advance, wow! They might be really popular. But they also have a restaurant and we'd try it.

The Magic Bean is an American type restaurant. It was strange but Shawn wasn't hungry, mmm. "Are you, ok?" Well his no hunger didn't last very long, hahaha. I got a fresh juice and healthy fruit salad - not water mellon please. Shawn told me he'd just get a cup of coffee, but he ended having a HUGE dish with "huevos rancheros", hahaha. It that was light, I didn't even want to think what he'd have had, if he was hungry...

Since the check out was at noon, we decided to take a walk around the Mariscal. I have been here before, but never had the chance to walk around it. So this will be perfect time. La Mariscal looks so differet in the morning than in the night. It was sunny and we needed to look for another hostel for Sun and Mon. We went into a couple until we finally found a nice one - with parking spot - that had availability. I booked that and they would wait for us on Sunday afternoon.

We didn't realize that it was already past noon! We had to hurry up. Went back to the hostel, packed our stuff and asked the lady if we could leave our car parked. It's easier to explore the city by foot. She said there was no problem, sweet! Where could we go for lunch? Well, let's go to the market! I knew it wasn't that close, but we had time and weren't really hungry, so better take a walk. Well, walk was longer than expected and even had to ask for directions, but it was fun.

I knew when we were getting closer, since it was getting busier. Oh! It was getting cloudy... so good I brought a light jacket just in case. I was the local now and was showing Shawn around the market, hehe. We went to the market food court, but I didn't want anything heavy to eat. I went straight to the corn shop and got a bag of mixed corn, yummy! Shawn wasn't hungry - definitely something was wrong with him, well after the huge breakfast, mmm - but got a bolon de verde (pastry of plantain) because I was telling him he needed to eat something. At least he saw something he liked: juice! We got fresh juices. I couldn't help taking pics and the lady was making fun of that, hahaha. Later, we'd pick up Jen from the airport and drive to Cotacachi, but there was nothing for breakfast next morning there. So we bought some fresh fruit, yummy!

Back at the hostel, we left the fruit and I changed, time to wear long pants. It was still early and last time I missed the Guayasamin Museum and exhibition. He's the most famous paintor in Ecuador and I like his work. So we went there. We took the bus and from the bus stop a taxi. Why a taxi and not just walking? Well, the museum and "Capilla del Hombre" (a building designed by himself) are at the top of a hill. Pfff.

Cab was US$ 2, more expensive than the bus, lol. The taxi driver was with his little son, a cute boy. He left us at the entrance of the museum. The clerk asked us if we were looking for the Museum or the Capilla del Hombre, since we were at the museum, but the Capilla was even higher. Mmm, how far? "Just 5 blocks away. " Ok, it wouldn't take me more than 5 min in normal conditions, but climbing, mmm. Also it was already 4:20pm and they close at 5pm. Oh well, let's go to the museum. I could leave the Capilla for other day. I'd be back on Monday - damn they are closed on Monday!

Place wasn't crowded, but there were some tourists. The museum has a part that shows the precolumbian and also colonial art, but the highlight is Guayasamin's work. I like his paintings and my dad does it too. He always showed me a bit from his artwork and last time he was wondering why I didn't visit the museum when I was in Quito. Well, I was doing it now :) Museum is big and the location is great since you have a nice view from the terrace. I was enjoying the paintings and was happy we decided to stay here and not tried to reach the Capilla del Hombre.

It was a bit past 5pm when we left the museum. Now, it would be a challenge to find a taxi. At least going down wouldn't be that bad, the only thing was that it was steep. We wouldn't stand and wait in front of the museum, better start walking down. After 5min a free taxi showed up, yay! We took it, then took the bus and even before 5:30pm we were back at La Mariscal.

We still had a lot of time to kill. I was thinking about checking internet in the hostel, but it was packed. So we went to an internet cafe. While I was doing it, Shawn was just being lazy. I checked my work email and got the news that my colleague would go to Lima on Monday and I was arriving on Tuesday! OMG! No panic, no panic, mmm. I just had to send a couple of emails, made some phone calls and everything was ready and waiting for him to arrive to Lima. He'd arrive on Monday night (almost midnight) and I'd arrive on Tuesday 9:30am, so we'd meet at noon, sweet!

I was ready, but it was still early to go for dinner, mmm. Since Shawn was tired and just the idea of driving 2 1/2 hours to Cotacachi when Jen arrives sounded so appealing + we were homeless, I asked him what he thought the idea about having early dinner, kill sometime and went early to the airport and take a nap in the car, hahaha. I was sort of kidding, but he found the idea Excellent! hahaha.

Ok, now find a nice place to grab a bite. Last time in Quito I saw a Mongolian BBQ place and wanted to try it. We went there, it wasn't even 7:15pm, but the place was packed. Most of the people were just drinking. Yes! It was Friday night and we were in the party area of Quito, duh! We went to Plaza Foch and I saw a place for Wine & Tapas. That sounds good, but Shawn didn't want to drink since he'd have to drive later and I shouldn't do it either, since I promise I won't fall asleep hahaha. Then we saw the coffee tree and that might be a would option, but was packed. Well, we would try the one next door. It looked nice and that meant another review, hahaha!

There were some tables outside, where was a bit cool and loud. There's a giant screen @ the square. So we decided to go inside, we both were tired and just wanted to chill out. It was very cozy and warm inside, yay! Shawn wasn't hungry until he saw the menu, hahaha. My eating partner was back!!! No alcohol tonight, so we got juices. Very tasty and fresh. I think my mora (mulberry or blackberry) addiction started here. Since then, all the juices I had were mora. Just looking for the perfect one ;)

Would we order one dish each or better do it our style? Eating partners style. We ordered 2 appetizers to share, finger food, hehehe. The first was yuca stuffed with melt cheese and the other were balls of crab and shrimp. Both dishes were delicious. I'd have added a bit more salt to the yucas, but they were good. The dipping sauce for the balls didn't match with them, but matched perfect with the yucas, hahaha. And we made a discover! The aji (spicy sauce) they gave us had passionfruit! OMG! That was so good!!! It was a bottled one, so I took a pic in order to look for this marevelous stuff later :P

That food was enough, but... as good eating partners we couldn't help ordering something else. But just 1 dish and to share, hahaha. I was looking for veggies and Shawn is a meat lover, but we found a brochette that came with meat, seafood and veggies, perfect!

The waiter took the order, but came 5min later to let us know that this might take long and wanted us to know it in advance, just in case we were in a hurry. No problem, we had plenty of time. In the mean while, we were just talking about what to do the next couple of days. I know, I'm not a local there, but since I have already been there once and love to explore, I had a good background and many ideas. We'd go straight to Cotacachi, next morning to Otavalo, overnight in Cotacachi and then we'll see.

Yes, the girl was right. It took almost around 30min until we got our dish, but it was really good! It was worth to wait, hehe. The place wasn't that crowded when we arrived, but right now, you couldn't find any empty spot outside and just 1 table inside, pfff. Dinner was delicious, now go back to the hostel, pick up the car and go to the airport for Jen.

We arrived with plenty of time, so I sat up my alarm clock and we took a nap. I didn't want to wake up... I was so tired, hahaha. We went inside the airport and a while later, we saw her. Yay! There was Jen! I haven't seen her in more than a year. I met her in KC for my first Meet Up, how cool!!! After hugs and kisses, we went to the car and started the drive to Cotacachi. As I promised, I didn't fall asleep. Well, almost...