17.08.09 - First Experience of Quito Street Life

Ecuadorians are small, flat-nosed and friendly. The indigenous people are noticeable in their traditional garb and bowler style hats, some carrying baskets of fruit on their backs. They are not, however, social outcasts. The ninos are very cute in their fabric slings on their mothers' backs. I'd like to note that we were not stared at or harassed on our walk through the old and new towns. I felt much more intimidated when I visited Barcelona last year. There are, however, armed policemen and women on virtually every street corner and outside every bank and important building. Greg even noticed a security guard carrying a machine gun as we left the local supermarket. In this sense, it's a little different to the UK!