Day 23: Quito to Latacunga

I visited Quito's El Panecillo in the morning with a traveller couple from Canada (hello, Doug and Sylvia) who were excellent company. El Panecillo (pic) is a hilltop with a statue of the Virgin Mary that offers enticing views: for tourists, of Quito's Old Town and sprawling suburbs; and for local thieves, of tourist wallets and cameras sticking out of pockets. Luckily we escaped unaffected.


I got the bus to Latacunga, a friendly mid-size town that was much more to my liking than huge, menacing Quito. The only thing you run the risk of losing here is an evening, in the pleasant microbrewery of El Templario pub opposite my hostel. Luckily I escaped unaffected.