A trip to South America in Ecuador

Our next destination from Bogota was Quito, Ecuador. To be honest, I couldn't even imagine what the country is like at all. I didn't even know where it is geographically located on this planet before we decided to go there. 

Somehow we got to the border between the two countries, but we made a huge mistake in the process of an entry to Ecuador. I have been through a border by land before, but I totally forgot to be stamped for departure visa from Columbia, and we headed to stand in a line for entry visas first!! As a matter of course, we got refused for stamps at the counter after a long line. 

After all, it took us much longer than we had expected. But it can't be helped.. 

Then we caught a taxi called collectivo like a shared taxi to the main bus terminal and headed off to the downtown in Quito from there, which took us another 6 hours!! 

　続いて、エクアドルです。コロンビアとの国境では出国スタンプを押す前に入国審査の列に飛び込んだため、また戻されるという最悪の時間の無駄を経験したのはここだけの話です。陸での出国入国手続きは案内がないからわかりづらいのが難点。

　そして首都キトへと向かうのですが、まずは国境でタクシーを使いバスターミナルへ。そこからバスでキトまで６時間。ヘトヘトでしたがもうひと踏ん張り。市街地に着いたときはもう夜でしたが、近くのレストラン街でシュラスコを食らい満足。

As you might know, Quito used to be a hub for all the Chistians in South America. That's why there are lots of magestic churchs left as it was all over the town. I think the Basilica cathedral (the photo above) was the most histrical one.

Our alert level was at peak in here too. Thanks to the precaution, we didn't feel that much that it was a dangerous town. 

　キトはその昔、南米のキリスト教中心都市だったようで、町のいたるところに教会が。上のバジリカ教会は圧巻。ほかにもたくさん見どころがあり、旧市街そのものが世界遺産になっているようです。街並みとしてはキトが一番印象に残った素晴らしいところでしたね。治安も警戒したせいか、そこまで危険な感じはしなかった。個人的にはコロンビアの方がそんな雰囲気が強かった気がします。

We got to spend 3 days in total in Quito with lots of fun!! But another hectic bur ride was just ahead of us... But we managed to secure seats with Cruz del sur that is known for a exclusive bus company in South America. The seats were very comfortable even though we had to be on the bus for about 36 hours, though.. But the seats were like a business class trip. It was still tough, though..

　キトでは２泊して少しゆっくりできました。しかしここからまた過酷な移動です。次は一気にペルーのリマまで大移動。ほぼ１日半くらいバスの中で過ごしました。バスはCruz del surという南米では高級なバス会社。飛行機でいうビジネスクラスのような感じで快適には過ごせましたね。ただ、ずっとバスはきついですが・・。

　次回はペルー編です。