Quito Ecuador (Cont’d)-Part 10 –shopping the produce market of Quito
Quito Ecuador (Cont’d)-Part 10 –shopping the produce market of Quito
I really enjoy the street markets of Latin America because they are always so interesting, plus the vendors are always willing to talk with you.
The previous afternoon, my teacher had given me the names of a bunch of different kinds of tropical fruits to research on the internet. Most of them I had never seen nor heard of. My assignment the next day(Wed.) was to go to the market, buy each of the fruits, and be prepared to give a show and tell report to the other students. I was supposed to show each fruit and tell some details about each one; like how it is grown, its growing season, flavor, uses, etc. That sounded fun. I was up for the challenge.
We walked 3-4 blocks to a big indoor fruit market. The best way to give you the idea of the market is to show a bunch of photos here. You’ll get the idea.
Quito, Ecuador-produce market
Quito, Ecuador=fresh produce market
Quito, Ecuador-fresh produce market
Quito, Ecuador-fresh produce market
Quito, Ecuador produce market, Avacados and peanuts
Qutio, Ecuador-fresh produce market
Quito, Ecuador, fresh produce market. Melons and Star Fruit
Quito, Ecuador, fresh produce market
Quito, Ecuador -fresh produce market
quito, Ecuador-they also sell some meat at the produce market. I'll just throw this in for good luck!
Pretty interesting stuff….huh? My next step would be to put it into words and do my best to explain it to the rest of the students in school.
Steve Barrymore, ssb11@prodigy.net
Next-Making the presentation to the other students
Quito, Ecuador (Cont’d)-Part 9-lunch at the Hotel Calima and a visit to Museo del Banco Central
Quito, Ecuador (Cont’d)-Part 9-lunch at the Hotel Calima and a visit to Museo del Banco Central
On the second day of Spanish School at the Academia de Espanol in Quito, Ecuador, all of the students had to help prepare a fruit salad which was intertwined with a vocabulary lesson. It is interesting the way the school brings in different events to help in the learning process. I really like this method.
After our morning classes, Jim and I headed to the Hotel Calima for lunch. It was a place he had already discovered before I arrived in Quito. He was returning home to OKC in the a.m. to his wife and family while I would remain the rest of the week. I noticed that his Spanish had really improved in the short time that he had been there.
Our lunch at the Hotel Calima consisted of soup, lemonade, a banana, a fruit dish, rice, chicken, and a mashed up vegetable. Total cost was $2.25. A great value! Everyone in the restaurant appeared to be a local. The manager wanted to know how we liked the food then wanted to show us around the hotel lobby in case either of us ever needed a place to stay in Quito. I highly recommend this restaurant in the hotel for a good quality, but yet inexpensive meal.
Below is a photo of lunch.
Lunch at the Hotel Calima, Quito Ecuador
also a photo of the inside of the restaurant
Hotel Calima restuarant-Quito, Ecuador-steve barrymore
Quito, Ecuador-El Banco Central
Quito, Ecuador, El Banco Central #2
Quito, Ecuador, El Banco Central #3
Next-shopping the produce market of Quito
Steve Barrymore ssb11@prodigy.net
Quito, Ecuador (Cont’d)-Part 8-our first afternoon tour and a big fat guinea pig
Quito, Ecuador (Cont’d)-Part 8-our first afternoon tour and a big fat guinea pig
At lunchtime on the first day of school, all of the students got together and went out for lunch to a vegetarian restaurant. I had soup, rice, salad, bread, corn, and a bottle of water for the grand sum of $2.70.
After lunch, one of the teachers, Sila, took another one of the students, and I on a tour of the city. We rode buses and the trolley down to Plaza a la Independencia. Sila cautioned us to watch our belongings wherever we were. Here are some photos around the Plaza:
Quito Ecuador-Plaza de la Independencia
Quito Ecuador-Plaza de la Independencia
Quito Ecuador-the Plaza
Quito Ecuador-all the statues have ornate architecture
While in the area it started to rain. Luckily, part of the tour was inside a church, so we could keep dry. We had a guide, but she spoke such fast Spanish that I really couldn’t understand much of what she said.
At the end of the afternoon I met up with Jim at school. He was leaving to return to OKC on Wednesday. He had never eaten the national dish, roasted guinea pig. It Ecuador they call it Cuy (pronounced “Cuwee”). It is not particularly one of my favorites, but Jim wanted to try it. I knew of a very good Cuy restaurant named Mama Clorinda’s where I had eaten it before. So off we went to gnaw on a few guinea pig thighs.
Quito Ecuador-Inside Mama Clorindas restaurant
Quito Ecuador-A big plate of Cuy at Mama Clorindas
We were the only customers at Mama C’s, so we got really good service. We ordered 1/2 Cuy, empanadas, and some ChoCho ceviche. The Cuy came with vegetables. We split the entire dinner. Cost was $21. I thought the Cuy was a little too slender. Jim thought they kept him on the treadmill a little too long. But, we were stuffed anyway! Nothing like a good dinner of Cuy.
Steve Barrymore ssb11@prodigy.net
Next-more Quito
Quito, Ecuador (Cont’d)-Part 7-Language School at Academia de Espanol begins
Quito, Ecuador (Cont’d)-Part 7-Language School at Academia de Espanol begins
On Monday a.m. it was time to start Spanish Language School at The Academia de Espanol. I had asked my family if we could eat breakfast at 7 a.m. each day so that I would have plenty of time to walk the 16-18 blocks to school. The Latin American cities are always a hustle-bustle of activity. To really enjoy them you need to take the time to walk the streets.
I arrived at school at the appointed time-8:15 a.m. The director, Virginia, remembered meeting me from 3 years ago when I stopped by the school on my return from their jungle immersion program in Tena, Ecuador.
The school gave me a brief 10 minute oral interview to test my level of skill and assigned me to Laura who would be my teacher for the week. Laura and I bonded quickly.
Academia de Espanol, Quito-the school office
The school is located in a very busy part of the city. The building has six floors, but is very narrow design. My class was on the 6th floor and we always walked the stairs
The instruction is one on one for 4 hours every morning. They make every effort to make you feel relaxed whatever your skill level.
I had opted in for a special program called the “Activa Program” that extends the study day with a 3 hour tour to different parts of the city every afternoon with one of the school’s teachers. It is all done in Spanish and is done in a teaching manner that helps you to continue to develop your language skills. I would highly recommend it to anyone.
There is a rooftop patio on top of the school building where you can enjoy coffee and snacks at the break each morning. Here are some views from the top:
Academia de Espanol, Quito-view from the patio on the roof
Academia de Espanol, Quito, view towards the center part of the city
Another view from the roof of the Academia de Espanol, Quito
I am enjoying the weather from the roof of the Academia de Espanol in quito with the mountains in the background
this can be fairly typical traffic in Quito, Ecuador-
My first day, I met the other 6 students in the school. All nice people from varying walks of life. Several were there on Rotarian scholarships.
You can read about some of my other travels here
Steve Barrymore ssb11@prodigy.net
Next-my first tour of Quito and a Guinea Pig for dinner.
