Arrival in Quito

Hostel Arco Del Sol, Quito, Ecuador

Arriving on the plane in Quito was a breath-taking experience, at first we saw just mountains, some covered in deep forest, others in cloud and mist... But as we got closer and lower we saw the vast spread of urban sprawl located in the huge valley surrounded by mountains and volcanoes. Ernesto had told us that the airport was right in the city centre but I hadn't really taken in quite how much this was the case. Having landed we disembarked the aircraft to find houses surrounding us, something I'd never experienced in the tens of airports I'd visited. In the distance was a huge, white, snow covered mountain that we later found out was an active volcanoe... It was an incredible sight.

Ernesto was, as he'd promised, there to meet us as we came out of the International departures. He had also booked us into a hostel, where I lay now. This evening we went Ernesto's place for dinner, really fresh seafood, mussels, fish and fine chillean wine. The flat was incredible, greeted by artwork made by the guys and their friends including photography, painting and sculpture work. Ernesto explained that within their collective they regularly swap artwork to display in their houses.

The conversation as we ate was really interesting... The main topic was the recent manifestations and people's overthrowing of the president. I'd read a bit on this a few weeks before leaving but that was just as things were beginning so it was facinating to find out how the regular, large scale protests eventually led to the former president fleeing to Brazil. What was more incredible was that the demonstrations were mostly peaceful, and a lot of impact was made through the involvement of forms of artistic and cultural protesting.

There is a history of social movements here with a change of president on three occassions in the last seven years. Each time the manifestations were led by a different class of people, this time it was primarily the middle class, people sick of the bad policy making but the final straw being the presidents selection of cabinet members, all of whom were friends of his, and in the opinion of Ecuadorian people, completely unfit for the job.

Tomorrow we will meet with Ernesto again and arrange our mission to the jungle... So excited I hope I can sleep!