Countryside

Near the Puluahua Crater

I Think Someone Lives There?

The beautiful countryside outside of Quito, Ecuador, also near the Pululahua Crater, which is also near the Mitad del Mundo or Middle of the World. Clouds are always rolling in and out constantly changing the look of the landscape.

The Equator

Middle of the World

Well, I always wonder what the Equator looks like and know I know. It's a white line with a red line in the middle. They say it dons't rain much at the Equator but it did this day which may have been a blessing, although he temperature hardly ever gets above 75 degrees it feels hotter and you can burn more easily.

Elevation 9100 ft at the Pululahua Crater

Puluachua Crater

Carlos the Volcano Expert

Puluachua Crater

This wise old man Carlos, will tell you all about the Puluachua Crater, just outside of  Quito, Ecuador at about 9100ft. above sea level I could have stayed here all day photographing this scene as it constantly changes with the the clouds moving in and out. This Volcano is consider dormant but according to Carlos there's no such thing as a dormant volcano.

Lunch Time or Almuezo

Street Vendor serving up Lunch. Quito, Ecuador 

There is probably not one place in the world where you can't find a small outdoor stand to have a good inexpensive lunch or as they say in Quito, La hora del almuezo or lunch time. 

Jesss Christian Academy Part 2

Two young Students taking a break from class

Playing Soccer or Futbal, at 9100 ft 

I'm always remind that our future lies with are youth. Not all school are perfect but a least in Christ centered school like Jesss Christian Academy they'll have a better chance of having a christian world view and hopeful know the different between right and wrong especially today were we live in a world where right is wrong, and wrong is right.

Jesss Christian Academy

Jesss Christian Academy 

The Band from left to right: Carol Brey-Casiano Flute, Lance Martin Bass,Ximena Borja Vocals, Camila Garreton Vocals, Me on Drums, and Oscar Palma Guitar and Vocals

Lance before his face burned

This was a blast playing here at the Jesss Christian Academy in Quito, Ecuador. The kids were well behaved and I had fun getting to talk with them. Although it wasn't hot outside temps in the 60's, playing this close to the equator you will burn especially if your light completed like are Bass player Lance Martin, who burned, ouch!! My flute playing wife brought her sunscreen so she didn't burn.
Bottom two photos taken by Shuyana Ponce

Montebello Academy

Marcos Benaclazar giving his testimony 

Smiling for the camera 

Group shoot of Happy Kids

Ministering to the youth at Montebello Academy outside of Quito, Ecuador. It's always fun to play for kids as you can see in the bottom photos they were more than happy to pose for photos.

Maria

Maria

Maria with Her Baby

Maria works hard everyday selling her scarfs in the Centro Historico section of Quito, Ecuador. A soft spoken delightful young lady who take her baby with her as she sets out to make a few dollars. God bless her.

Street Vendors

Now Open For Business 

Waiting for Tourist 

Top Photo Ecuadorian woman selling handmade goods on a street corner in Quito, Ecuador. Mostly purses small blankets and scarfs all reasonable priced to fit anyone's budget. Bottom Photo Vendors selling mostly tourist souvenirs

Almost Centro Historico

Park in Quito, Ecuador

Somewhere between the Centro Historico and La Ronda in Quito, Ecuador, lies this newly renovated park to which I could never find the name of it. A night this park is well lit with families walking around enjoying the cool night air.

Igelesia San Francisco

Igelesia San Francisco Quito, 

Ecuador

View of  Igelesia San Francisco with cloud covered mountains in background

In the Centro Historico section of Quito, you'll find the first church built in Quito around 1535 called the Igelsia San Francisco. On most days area surrounding the church is a hub of activated with local and tourist alike going about the daily routine. Locals, selling and Tourist buying and me taking photos.

El Panecillo

El Panecillo, Quito, Ecuador

El Panecillo, Quito, Ecuador

El Panecillo, where the Virgen del Panecillo statue stands over looking the city of Quito, Ecuador. This statue is visible from most of the city as it stand at nearly 10,000 feet on the hill that it's situated on. After climbing to the top for a closer look and perhaps some photos, they were renovating it and had some construction apparatus in the way, so I passed on photos for this time.

Herd of Sheep

Sheep Grazing Quito, Ecuador

While scaling the Andes Mountain that surround Quito, Ecuador, at 10,000 ft I came across this herd of sheep grazing in the grass. Out of know where a big sheep dog came out of hiding to check me out. When he saw I was harmless he proceed to back off I must say I was quite impress with him. No one going to steal this flock on his watch.

Plaza de la Independencia

Hotel Plaza Grande

Plaza de la Independencia 

Quito,Ecuador, has many wonderful things to see and explore. The Plaza de la Independencia is one of them. It a great place to hang out and interact with local who are curious about you and like to know what you think of their fair city. 

Basilica de Voto Nacional

Basilica de Voto Nacional Quito, Ecuador

Basilica de Voto Nacional Quito, Ecuador 

This is a huge church in the style of Neogothic Ecuadorian Architecture it is the largest in the New World construction began in 1892 and from what I understand is still a work in progress much like the La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona Spain, the Gaudi Church that work began on 1882 and continues today.

The residents believe that the day this church is completed is the day the world will end. I say then, please finish the church what have got to lose.

Shoe Shine Boy

Shining Shoes in a Park in Quito

Marcos

Little Marcos is Twelve years and works the streets of Quito, Ecuador, shining shoes for $1.00. His day begins early in the morning trying to catch people on there way to work then takes a break and resume later in the day as people return home.  

Little Ecuadorian Lady

Ecuadorian Woman

I love the way the indigenous people of Ecuador dress with their little hats and shawls. There always happy to greet you a big smile and help you out with directions to get around the big city of Quito    

Quito

Quito,Ecuador

Quito,Ecuador

My first impression of Quito, is wow! This is a magnificent city and I'm looking forward to exploring it some more and meeting the local people of Ecuador. I've said this before many times that no matter how beautiful a city is it's the people that make it great.