Fallobst

(24/03/07) I still can’t believe it: I’m really in Ecuador. My body arrived this morning after a twenty hour trip via Amsterdam and the Dutch Antilles. I feel like my mind is still somewhere mid-Atlantic, and will follow at one point tomorrow.

A. met me for lunch to talk through a couple of things, and helped me find an adapter I will need for my presentations. Then I was back to my own devices, and the challenge to keep myself awake for long enough to adjust to six hours time difference.

I like exploring cities, and for me it is a lot more about getting a feeling for the place and the people than about sightseeing. I thus set off using my favourite strategy:

1. Get lost. Walking is the best way to experience just about any place. What distances are there? What people are on the streets? Which shops supply what? How does housing and architecture change in different quarters? Normally I only set myself a rough direction and follow it without looking at the map for as long as possible. This I can do for about two hours, from time to time correcting my path with the map.
2. When it’s time for a break, I have one. Thoroughly, and ideally with a coffee, a pastry and a newspaper. A notebook and a pen is also brilliant to capture thoughts and observations. 
3. Optionally, I explore some more - maybe now focussing on specific sights. On the way back, I love taking public transport: This soothes my tired feet, and keeps me from walking the same long way all over again. And increases mobility in cities immensely to know how the system of public transport works, how reliable it is, and how good the coverage.
   

In short: Quito appears very unpretentious and down to earth, has a reasonable system of prioritised buses and far more locals than tourists. Its parks are lively at daytime, and seedy in the dark. And luckily, it’s now late enough to go to bed. *snore*