After a long flight from Madrid, where we had spent the night, we arrived in Quito feeling like it should be about 11pm, but in reality it was only 3pm and we needed to stay awake until at least 9pm... we made it until 8pm and I was up again at 3am. Very annoying.

Anyway, our transfer from the airport to our hostel was easy (besides Luke briefly going missing looking for an ATM), and our driver was a lovely Korean man who put on some random Korean music as we drove into the winding streets of Quito.

Quito had been caught up in demonstrations for a few weeks before we got there, and the FCO and Smart Traveller were saying "avoid all but essential travel", but it all calmed down about a week before we got there, and the only evidence we saw was graffiti, wire around the presidential palace and a burnt out building. Everything was back to normal, and a couple of days after we got there, the FCO warnings were down-graded.

We had a quick walk round the area and decided that the easiest option for dinner on day one was KFC (don't judge!). It did the job, and we also found a little supermarket for snacks and water. We became regular there over our time in Quito.

We decided to see whether a good last minute deal was to be had on a trip to the Amazon. As it turns out last minute deals don't really exist for the Amazon, the lodges cost what they cost, and perhaps we could have bought a trip a while ago. Galapagos might be different and there are deals to be had, but Amazon prices were the same as I was quoted 6 months ago. We spent the morning having a good wander through our local area, we also got our SIM cards (which was the most annoying process we have had so far, as the amount we bought only lasted 3 days).

Anyway, the most striking about Quito is the altitude, the city is at 2850m, the second highest city behind Lhasa. Which means that walking up stairs is an issue, actually sometimes just walking is an issue. Anyway we both felt a bit crappy so took some Diamox, which seemed to help a bit.

The second most striking thing about Quito is the warnings you get about being robbed, and staying safe. All the hostel reviews you read mention whether the person felt safe or not. There are all sorts of warnings and stories online about people being robbed or mugged. Even a restaurant review mentioned being robbed on the way home by a registered taxi (we've now heard this a few times so only use Uber in Quito). Our hostel gave us a nice leaflet on how to stay safe in Quito, for example:
- try to fit in, don't stare at interesting things too long as you will make yourself stand out.
- don't walk in certain tourist areas at night (or sometimes during the day)
- wear your bag on your front
- don't let people help you
- don't stop for people
- watch your pockets on local buses
- be careful with your luggage on long distance buses, don't let anyone help, don't put your bag between your feet, don't put your bag above your head... etc etc

It doesn't set up the greatest feeling for the city. They do say however at the end of the leaflet that Ecuadorian people are very friendly and hospitable, which to be fair we have also found to be 1.

We did our standard free walking tour, and on the way into the city centre to start the tour, Luke had both of his pockets un-zipped on the bus. He luckily has his wallet on a chain, so that didn't go, and he felt the person open the pocket with his phone in it and moved.

Sitting in La Mariscal (also known as Gringolandia) one night (because you have to experience the over the top western-ness of Gringolandia, the fact that most of the people there when we were seemed to be local youngsters was, I'm sure, an aberration) we discussed the fact that Quito has been the only city was have felt worried about walking around, getting back to the hostel too late, people walking behind us. It has spoilt it a bit.

The walking tour was good and we did get to see the old City (and receive more warnings about where not to walk), where we saw some beautiful old buildings, have a wander through the market where we had lunch and go to the cathedral which dominates the old town, to climb to the top of the spires (health and safety was almost there but not quite). We had a nice French girl who spoke perfect Spanish with us on the tour, which made life very easy for touring the cathedral.

We were only in Quito for two days, and one of those pissed down with rain so hard one afternoon, we retreated into our hostel.

Don't get me wrong, we didn't hate Quito, and we didn't do as much as we should have there, we didn't do any day trips to the massive market, and we didn't go see the centre of the earth, however I was very pleased to be leaving to go to Mindo, a little town in a Cloud Forrest about two hours west of Quito, for a couple of days.

After Mindo we are back at the same hostel for a night, then off down the spine of Ecuador to Banos and Cuenca on a nice, expensive tourist bus (where you don't have to worry about your bags).