El Conquistqdor Francisco de Orellana

El Conquistqdor Francisco de Orellana
The Conquistador who put the Amazaon baisn "on the map"....Francisco Orellana

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Getting your hands around Quito

Publicado el 27/Enero/2012 | 14:54
miamiherald@hoy.com.ec

Quito, Ecuador's capital city, conquered 476 years ago by the Spanish, is considered to be the best preserved Spanish colonial city in the Americas.  Designated more than thirty years ago as one of the first World Heritage sites by UNESCO - the United Nations cultural branch - its invaluable architectural and cultural symbols in old town form a labyrinth of tangible and intangible treasures.

Explore "El Centro" and then get to know many of the other attractions throughout the city, from  spacious parks to countless churches and museums.

La Ronda – A Must Visit For Everyone

One hundred years ago when Ecuadorian poet Hugo Aleman wrote: "Undoubtedly Calle de la Ronda symbolizes the absolute bustle of disoriented humanity," Quito  was a nest for bohemian activity and a gathering of all walks of life.  But today the  bustle is more of a a calmer spontaneity that can include serenades, street artists, and a host of great flavors and aromas.

A diverse mix of people can be found roaming La Ronda in the 21st century.  They are the tourists who are drawn to this emblematic, colonial street.

Though officially known as  "Calle Morales" (Morales Street),  the name La Ronda derives from the Spanish verb "rondar," which means to patrol.  When Quito was settled by the Spanish, La Ronda  was the southernmost boundary of the city and, as such,  was part of the patrolled perimeter.

Today, La Ronda is part of the city center, offering a melancholy stroll in the afternoon along a narrow, cobblestone street filled with colonial style architecture.  At night, it is by far the happening place in the central historical district, especially on weekends.

La Ronda  offers more than 40 different restaurants, bars, and coffee shops and is a bit of a cultural center, with artisan craft workshops like Hojalateria Silva, which makes  handmade, galvanized tin  miniatures, and Humacatama, a maker of custom hats, some of whose designs spirit you  back to the livliness of a different era.

Quito Information

Principal Museums

1. City Museum,   Garcia Moreno 572 & Rocafuerte, open Tuesday-Sunday, 9:30am-5:30pm, Admission $3 adults, 228-3882

2. Miguel de Santiago Museum (San Agustin),   Chile 924 & Guayaquil Streets, 295-5525. Monday-Friday, 9:00am-12:00pm & 2:00pm-5:00pm.  Saturday 9am-1pm, Admission $2. www.migueldesantiago.com

3. Metropolitan Cultural Center,   home to the Alberto Mena Caamano Museum.   9:00am-5:00pm, $1.50 adults, 295-0762.

4. Casa Del Alabado Museum of Pre-Colombian Art,   Cuenca 335 between Bolivar & Rocafuerte, Tuesday-Saturday 9:30am-5:30pm, Sunday 10am-4pm, Admission $4, www.precolombino.com miamiherald@hoy.com.ec

5. Capilla del Hombre (Chapel of Man),   Lorenzo Chavez Ea18-143 & Mariano Calvache (Bellavista-El Batan sector), Tuesday-Sunday 10:00am-5:30pm, Admission  $4, 244-8492,  www.capilladelhombre.com

6. Mindalae Museum.   Reina Victoria & La Niña,  252-7240  Monday-Saturday, 9:00am-6:00pm. Admission $3


For Kids
7. Ecuadorian Natural Science Museum,  Carolina Park, Monday-Friday 8:00am-1:00pm, 2:00pm-4:30pm,

Admission  $2,

 244-9824.

8. Yaku Museum of Water,   El Placer Street Oe 11-271, Tuesday-Sunday, 9:00am-5:00pm, Admission $3, 251-1100, www.yakumuseoagua.com.

Other Attractions
9. La Ronda Street,  Historical Center, liveliest Thursday-Sunday after 6pm.

10. Junin Street,   Home to 3 more museums: Architectural Museum, Manuela Saenz Museum, and National Watercolor Museum.

11. Panecillo Monument,   Pancillo Hillside, Monday-Thursday, 9:00am-5:00pm, Friday-Sunday 9:00am-9:00pm, Admission $1.

12. Artisan Marketplace,   Jorge Washington Street between Reina Victoria & Juan Leon Mera, Open everyday 10:00am-7:00pm.

13. Botanical Garden,  Carolina Park, Monday-Friday, 246-3197. 8:00am-5:00pm, Admission $3.50. www.jardinbotanicoquito.com.

14. Cable Car - TeleferiQo of Quito & Volcano Park,   Cruz Loma – Slopes of Pichincha Volcano, Everyday. 222-1996.  8:00am-8:00pm, $8.50.

More Ways To See Quito

Quito Eterno (Historical Tours),

Historical Walking Tours

Flores N40-21 & Junin

228-9506, www.quitoeterno.org

Sunday Bicycling

Fundación Ciclópolis (Bike rentals available, call to reserve)

322-6502 / 223-4475, www.ciclopolis.ec

info@ciclopolis.ec

Every Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. along 29 km of streets from North Quito to South Quito. More than 50 volunteers provide hydration stations and bike rentals.

TOURISM HELP

Information Points

Main office (Historic Centre)  Palacio Municipal, Plaza de la Independencia, Venezuela & Espejo.Monday - Friday from 9:00am to 6:00pm, Saturdays 9:00 to 5:00pm.  257-2445.

Galería Ecuador Gourmet

Reina Victoria N24-263 & Lizardo García  Tuesday to Sunday:

10:00 to 8:00pm,

255-8440 / 223-9469

Ministry of Tourism of Ecuador

Monday to Friday from 8:30 to 5:00pm Eloy Alfaro N32-300 & Carlos Tobar, 399-333 ext. 1007

Tourist Safety Service

Main office in La Mariscal  Corner of Roca y Reina Victoria, Edif. Relaciones Exteriores 24/7, 254-3983.

Historic Center  Plaza Grande

North side of the square on Chile, between Venezuela and García Morenom Edif. Casa de los Alcaldes, 24/7. 295-5785

Helpful Numbers
Information, 104

International Long Distance, 116

Airport, 244-0080

Post Office, 256-1940

GETTING AROUND

Mass Transit:

Trolebus, Ecovia, and Metrobus.

In the north, the routes run along the arterial avenues, 10 de Agosto, 6 de Diciembre and América.

For visitors staying in La Mariscal or in the north, the Trolebus and the Ecovía are the lines you are most likely to use, particularly when getting to and from the Historic Centre. Free transfers at the  northern terminals of 'Río Coca' and 'La Y,' respectively.

To travel to the valley of Cumbaya or Tumbaco, head to 'La Y' on the Ecovía, then change to take the "RC17 Cumbaya" bus. Cost: $0.25, $0.12 for concessions.  From there, numerous bus lines cover various routes amd are  divided into 'populares' which are blue and 'selectivo/ejecutivo' which are red.

Taxis

Taxis are plentiful in Quito and are very useful for getting around. All should be yellow, licensed and have a taximeter. Fares begin at $.35 and min. charge is $1.

Most trips of 10-20 minutes within the city cost about $2-4. A ride from La Mariscal to the Old Town costs no more than $3, depending on traffic.

EMERGENCIES

Emergency Numbers:

National Police, 101

Emergencia, 911

Hospitals:

Hospital Metropolitano Av. Mariana de Jesús & Occidental, 243-1520.

Hospital Militar Queseras del Medio & Av. Occidental, 256-8152

Voz Andes Villalengua 267 & 10 de Agosto, 224-1540.

Clinica Pichincha Veintimilla E3-30 & Páez, 256-2408

Women's Clinics  (Clínica de la Mujer) Av. Amazonas 482 & Gaspar de Villaroel, 245-800

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