Casa Mil Viente y Ocho is a mobile restaurant that also serves as a tour bus through Old Town Quito at night. Cheesy, right? Well, it was, in all the right ways! After getting lost again on the way to the tour, I saw two men sitting out in front of the bus. Thinking they might be there for the same reason as I, I said hello. That was the beginning of such a fun – and, yes, cheesy – night! I met Patricio and Gerardo. Patricio is from Santiago, Chile and is in Quito working for his government. He was “sneaking away” as he’s had a police escort since he arrived for a delegation. He and Gerardo have been friends since they were children and Gerardo moved to Quito years ago so along with work, they were able to catch up. They had no problem with me joining their party. Patricio served as our translator and was just such fun!
The bus wound it’s way through the very narrow streets of Old Town Quito while serving us traditional Ecuadorian food and explaining what it was. This is an important thing when you don’t recognize what you’re eating! My favorite food was humitas. Humitas are savory steamed fresh corn cakes made from a mixture of freshly ground corn, onion, garlic, cheese, eggs, and cream. They are to die for! I’d seen them being sold on the streets and didn’t know what they were.
Anyway, our first stop was the Basilica del Voto Nacional which I’d seen during the day but which looks like it glows – like it is lit from within – at night. It’s architecture is neo-gothic and our guide told us the history and legends of it’s building. For example, most gothic architecture is “protected” by gargoyles. This one is protected by species from Ecuador only – like Condors and Caymans and Galapagos tortoises. Also, the basilica remains unfinished – on purpose. There are huge areas of the outside that remain empty while their counterparts are complete. Legend has it that once the basilica is finished, the end of the world will come.
We also learned the basilica’s connection to the winged Madonna on El Panecillo. From in front of the alter within the basilica, the is a small heart window through which there is a direct line to view the winged Madonna. Pretty cool!
After hearing of the legends here we were treated to a traditional local drink called the canelazo. It is served hot – which is very important because it gets very cold in Ecuador because of it’s high altitude. It is made of aguardiente – which is a sugar cane alcohol (also called Fire Water!), sugar and agua de canel (water boiled with cinnamon). Other local spices are also used and result in a slightly sweet drink that reminded me of muddled cider with a big kick!
Second stop was the Plaza de San Francisco, the main façade of the Church and Convent of St. Francis. Here we learned how the church was completed with the help of the devil and a local who outsmarted him to maintain his soul.
Finally, we were headed to Plaza de la Independencia – also locally called Plaza Grande. It is the central square of the Old Town and where the power in the city resides. The Presidential Palace is here as well as the building of the municipality of Quito. The square is lovely and lush with blooming trees with a large Independence Monument at it’s center.
Falling asleep on my feet, I decided that Mariscol could wait until tomorrow. Gerardo was kind enough to drive me to my hotel. I think it took him longer to drive there than it would have for me to walk 🙂 The kindness of strangers – and now friends – continues to amaze me! The night would have been so much different – and less – without them.
There’s so much to do here that I’ll probably write another post later. Anyone bored yet???
