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Thursday November 14, 2013
We left a rainy Banos and headed to the capital city of Quito. We visited the Virgen De El Panecillo, the main square in front of the President's Palace, and the old Basilica which has been restored.
Oh yeah, we had another encounter with beauty queens... 13 of them this time... It must be my cologne...
Hope you enjoy the photos. That was the day's excitement, Cheers, Al  |
| It was a blustery morning in Banos-Ambato |
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| Loved this painting of the Last Supper in the restuarant |
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| A poster in the hostal |
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| A wall map in the hostal |
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| Another wall photo |
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| The view from my room of the huge Basilica |
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| Zoomed in... |
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| I could crane my neck and see the Virgen De El Panecillo |
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| The courtyard of our Hostal Melanie |
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| The old Jesuit seminary |
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| It looks like an old church? |
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| The view from below the Virgen to the old Basilica |
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| Another long view of the old city |
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| The Virgen overlooks the city |
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| She is made up of many 20" aluminum panels |
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| She is on this tower with an observation deck |
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| She is one of few statues of Mary with wings |
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| She has a chained snake under her control |
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| This is only a tiny portion of Quito |
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| These are the 20" panels bolted together inside |
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| Another view of part of Quito |
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| Photo of the statue installation |
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| Lovely painting inside the tower |
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| Many stained glass windows in there |
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| Different nativity scene from another country |
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| and here is another one.. |
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| Photo of a postcard of Chimborazo (closest mountain to the sun) |
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| Gorgeous central park |
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| Beautiful statue dominates the park |
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| This is the Presidential Palace |
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| This gorgeous hotel is on the corner |
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| This church is on the other side |
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| Fountain and statue in line |
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| Cupola with statues |
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| Observation deck above the Library looks to the central park |
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| Love this sprawling church and its green domes |
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| Orlando looking down |
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| Looking over the courtyard of the Library |
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| Another view of the Virgen |
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| Another view over the courtyard |
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| The gorgeous courtyard in the Library building |
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| A view to the Virgen |
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| A view back towards the central park |
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| Our dream courtyard |
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| Wonderfully different trees in the courtyard |
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| Statues with an old printing press |
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| Another old printing press |
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| Statues int he courtyard |
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| The church across the street |
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| A very opulent church |
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| The Jesuit church has much gold leaf |
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| Oh those green domes... |
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| A bus disgorged this bevy of beauties right in front of us |
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| They saw the camera and automatically posed... |
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| I was not going to refuse this opportunity, was I?? |
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| Yet another church |
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| The entryway was stunning |
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| Looking back over the park to the Virgen |
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| Looking down the street to the Virgen |
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| Looking down the street to the Virgen 2 |
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| Looking down the street to the Virgen 3 |
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| We trudged up the big hill to the old Basilica |
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| This old church looks European |
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| It is massive |
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| 3 years ago I climbed up into the towers |
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| Inside we went |
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| John Paul II visited in 1985 |
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| The main altar |
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| Looking back towards the doors |
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| Tiny cupola in the ceiling |
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| Magnificent stained glass throughout this church |
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| This incredible chapel is hidden behind the main altar |
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| More beauty in the wings |
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| This is the opposite side |
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| More stained glass (sample) |
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| Looking down the length of the Basilica |
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| It is getting dark as we depart |
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| Those towers are awe-inspiring |
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| Looking across to the Virgen again |
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| An art wall made out of plants and shrubs |
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| Yet another church close to our hostal |
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| Gorgeous grounds... |
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| Another park dominated by a statue |
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| Couldn't resist the silhouette |
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| and from the other angle... |
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| The night view of the Basilica from our hostal |
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| I had a third-floor room at the back to get this view |
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| It certainly is a pretty sight |
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| The camera loves it. |
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| Good night Quito |
