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ACCOMMODATIONS:
Hotel San Francisco de Quito has an ideal location in
the heart of the historic area three blocks from Plaza Grande. The charm of this 17th century colonial house has
been carefully restored and complemented with modern conveniences
such as WiFi (not all rooms get a strong signal so ask when
booking). The reception area and rooms are reached by means
of stairs only. Our two rooms were 27 and 29. 27 is
on the 3nd floor and opens to a patio while 29 is a smaller room
on the 4th floor. Both had kitchen sink, fridge, microwave,
phone and tv. Breakfast, with choice of eggs, was
served in the arched-ceiling cellar. Pleased to recommend.
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ARRANGEMENTS:
Hotel: Made reservations directly with Hotel San
Francisco de Quito through email.
Tours: We did a self guided walking tour around
Quito using Lonely Planet's guide book as reference.
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FOOD & DRINK:
BREAKFAST buffet at the hotel was ample with
juice, bread, eggs, bacon, tea and coffee.
Magda Market store chain
(mango coloured building with orange and green signage) has a fairly well
equipped store two blocks from Hotel San Francisco on the way to
Plaza Grande. We found everything we needed for a relaxing
eat-in dinner using the kitchen in our room.
La Guaragua, on Espejo Oe 2-40, across the
street from Teatro Bolivar. We ate there twice - once on
the pedestrian only street and once inside upstairs.
Reasonably priced, good, fresh food and friendly service.
Hasta La Vuelta, Seňor - located in the former
Palacio Arzobispal on the northeast side of Plaza Grande.
The Archbishop Palace hosts two or three fast food outlets and
three restaurants clustered around a fountain on the ground
floor, another restaurant, balconied and open to the fountain
below, on the second floor and Hasta La Vuelta, Seňor on the top
floor. A beautiful, open-air setting. Prices rose as
we climbed higher but the food was excellent.
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PLACES TO GO:
At an altitude of 2,850m asl Quito is the second highest
administrative capital in the world (next to La Paz, Bolivia)
and the highest legal capital (over Sucre, Bolivia).
Founded in the 16th century and built on the ruins of an Inca
city, Quito became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978.
"Despite the 1917 earthquake, the city has the best-preserved,
least altered historic centre in Latin America."UNESCO
Getting out and walking is the best way to see the city and
mingle with its citizens. How much time you have in Quito
will determine how extensively you enjoy its riches.
Lonely Planet has a very good suggested walking tour in which
you can stop along the way and take a closer look.
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