Quintessential Quito, Quito, Ecuador (B)

As the clouds drifted around the peaks beyond the restaurant window so the debate rolled around our circular table – should we or shouldn’t we? An hour later I was glad the majority had voted positively as I stood 4,100 metres above sea level and 1000 metres above Quito relishing the green sunlit patchwork of the moor of Pichincha volcano far below me.

It had taken us longer to make our decision than it had to find three taxis ($5 per taxi each way) and make our way to the base of the teleferico and then ride to the summit of Cruz Loma around 1000 metres above the city Quito. A return ticket cost $8.50 ($2 less for senior citizens. At the top it was clear on behind the mountain but the city was still obscured by cloud. Notices exhorted us not to run and I was happy to obey so when some of my companions decided to go down soon after we got there it was a good excuse not to rush to join them. I wanted to take my time and explore the interior of the Ermita de la Dolorosa, the highest chapel in the world. It was built to celebrate the miracle of La Dolorosa one hundred years earlier when the eyes of her portrait opened and tears fell from them. A replica of this portrait is housed in this beautiful little chapel. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).