1. Shorts: In general, people do not wear shorts here unless they are playing a sport. At that, many women do not play soccer here, so they especially are not seen wearing shorts. In Parque Carolina, shorts are more acceptable as it is the main park to go running in and for soccer practices. So if you decide to wear shorts in Quito, expect catcalls and odd looks, especially if you’re a girl.

2. Quitenos like to dress up. Generally sweatpants are completely unacceptable outside of the house and sometimes even jeans are not dressy enough. For instance, I went to the grocery store with my host mom and not only did she appear to be in her Sunday best, but everyone else at the store was as well. Sloppy dressing is really just uncommon in Quito.

3. Shoes. This goes along with the previous point, but especially women tend to wear very dressy shoes. All the time. Shoes that you would normally see at a Prom or wedding are seen all over Quito on a daily basis. I’m talking about strappy shoes with 3-4 inch heels on women who are riding the bus.

4. Another note about the bus: the punishment for petty crime, such as pick-pocketing is really very low here, so on the bus, watch your things. It is very common to be unaware as someone either slides your cell phone, camera or wallet out of your back pocket while you’re unaware on a crowded bus, or they may simply slit your bag and slide whatever contents they want out of it. For this reason, if you have somewhere safe to store the things you really wouldn’t want stole, I highly suggest keeping your ID, credit card and passport there. There is no reason to consistently carry your passport around: just bring a copy.

On the same note, violent crime is pretty rare in Quito, so pick-pocketing is more what one would need to worry about.

5. Blondes, but more generally whites: Quito and Ecuador in general has a high indigenous population and an even higher mestizo (mixed indigenous and European) population. Therefore, anyone that is blonde or very European-looking easily stands out. If you don’t mind catcalls, it’s not a bad thing at all as I have found some Quitenos want to talk to the foreigners. Many more want to date foreigners, so be careful of who you give your number, email, ect. out to as they will most definitely contact you. The fact that European-looking people stand out also can make you more of a target for pick-pocketers as it is assumed that you have something worth stealing.

6. Almuerzo: This lunch is the biggest meal of the day. It’s generally around 1-3 in the afternoon. Restaurants are open earlier for lunch, but there are generally not many Ecuadorians in the restaurants, so if you want to choose where you eat based upon how many Quitenos are there, then you will need to wait.

7. The climate changes so quickly. Because of how high up Quito is the air is pretty thin and therefore it doesn’t hold water, meaning that temperature does not hold very well in Quito. So during mid-day it can be up to 70 or 75 degrees F, but during the evenings as low as 40s. Just be prepared and have a jacket with you if you think you will be out late.

A note about the ‘cold’ weather here. Quitenos overestimate how chilly it gets. It is not at all uncommon to see people walking around in the morning or evening with full winter jackets and scarves and hats on. I guess if you really wanted to fit in, you could do the same.

8. Altitude in general can mess with your body, especially if you’re coming from somewhere that is close to sea level. So give yourself a few days to get accustomed to the altitude and I suggest going on a walk each day and not doing any other form of exercise. A walk, especially uphill, will help your body get its heart rate up somewhat so that you can more easily acclimatize.

9. Eggs are a huge thing here. Quito is one of the few places in South America that actually does breakfast, so you can go get eggs in a restaurant (or my host mom cooks them for me) for breakfast. Also, eggs can be friend and put on about anything from spaghetti to steak. Don’t underestimate how foreign that may sound-it’s delicious.

10. Quitenos are very proud of their country. I personally, have only been asked once why I came to Quito to study because most people assume that you wouldn’t want to go anywhere else. Ecuador is rich in natural resources and beauty, so talk about it if anyone asks you. Never complain or talk badly about a country that is not your own-especially in one with such pride in it.

Overall, I have absolutely loved living in Quito and look forward to the rest of my months here. Just take these suggestions as little things to know or be aware of to help you not look as much like a foreigner when in Quito.

Puerto Lopez is known for a number of touristic qualities, but it doesn’t feel like an overly touristy town.? First of all, Puerto Lopez is a fishing village. Meaning that there are tons of boats on the beach of Puerto Lopez and right off the beach during the day as well as delicious and cheap seafood restaurants throughout the town. Puerto Lopez is also inside Parque Nacional Machililla, so it is not only a departure point to Isla de la Plata, but also close to Los Frailes and Agua Blanca.

The hostels and restaurants are open and booming during Carnival. Most restaurants have a set almuerzo, large meal, generally lunch, which usually consists of a main dish with rice, lentals, salad, some meat, weather it is fish, steak or chicken and a drink, usually juice. The prices of meals depend on how close you eat them to the beach, basically. The restaurants right on the beach look more legitimate, but meals can reach upwards of $7 or $8, while the almuerzos further from the beach are just as tasty, but generally cost between $2 and $3. Be sure to bargain the price before ordering, and remember when you pay what price was agreed upon.

The quality and price of hostels can vary greatly in Puerto Lopez as well. One that I recommend over the others is Villa Colombia. Here, our group of 7 weary travelers was greeted at 6:30am after an overnight bus ride with ready rooms and smiles from the owners. After checking in, they let us sleep and made us the complimentary breakfast around 9a. And we weren’t even paying to stay in the rooms that day. The advice about which parks to go to was invaluable as well as the personalized tour of Isla de la Plata from Galo, who also works at Villa Colombia. On our last day, we were even welcomed to check out just a half hour before our bus left for Quito; meaning we got to shower and rest before the long trip back. Villa Colombia is not directly on the beach, but a 7-10 minute walk away so there is tranquility in the hammocks of Villa Colombia that cannot be obtained at the bustling hostels on the beachfront.

Los Frailes is one of the most beautiful beaches in Ecuador and is a 15-20 minute bus ride from Puerto Lopez. It is also one of the most secluded as many Ecuadorians refuse to pay the entrance fee. It differs depending on what type of ticket you are buying; the general entrance fee for just the beaches run form $2, if you have an Ecuadorian resident ID, to $20 if you are buying a ticket for both the beaches and Isla de la Plata, without an Ecuadorian ID. Still, the $20 is definitely worth the 4-day pass to both the beaches and Isla de la Plata. There are three beaches available at Los Frailes. The first?is both the biggest and best for swimming. The second is more scenic with rocks along parts of the shore and an island off the middle of the beach. The third is a tiny, tucked away gem with black sand. All are wonderful places to pass the day away in.

Isla de la Plata is just as enchanting as the beaches at Los Frailes. It’s also called the “Poor Man’s Galapagos” as Isla de la Plata harbors many of the same species as the

Galapagos, for a fraction of the cost. Also, if you go during June, July or August, Isla de la Plata tours include whale-watching tours. Isla de la Plata is an hour to an hour and a half ride from Puerto Lopez by boat through beautiful blue waters. Many guides will then take you on a tour around the island and show the different species available there. Lastly, our group went snorkeling off the shore of the island and discovered a wealth of different fish and coal. Isla de la Plata is very biodiverse and a great place to visit if the Galapagos are not in your budget or tour.

Getting to Puerto Lopez could be tricky. There are two bus companies that run from Quito directly to Puerto Lopez, Carlos A. Aray and Reina del Camina. You can buy tickets from both lines in Quitumbre, the bus station far south of Quito. There is also an office of Reina del Camina in Quito, close to the Mariscal, so this option is more convenient for many. There are definitely differences between the two companies. Reina del Camina takes a route to and from Puerto Lopez that goes through the mountains instead of along the coast; meaning that is takes less time and stops

less?often than Carlos A. Aray. Since there is an office?in Quito, Reina del Camina drops all the passengers off in central Quito, not at the Quitumbre station (which is great if you’re getting in in the early morning as there are lots of taxis waiting to take you home). Also, the busses are air conditioned with Reina del Camina. Carlos A. Aray will get you to Puerto Lopez, but the bus ride is longer, stops more often, and is not air-conditioned. In Quito, the lack of air conditioning doesn’t really matter, but once on the coast it definitely makes a difference. Despite that, these are the only two companies that run directly to Puerto Lopez, so Carlos A. Aray is a better option than?taking a combination of busses to get there.

Puerto Lopez is one of the most enchanting and interesting beaches to go to in?Ecuador. There are many activities available despite the general atmosphere of a tranquil beach and fishing village, making Puerto Lopez a place to visit over and over again.

The University of San Francisco in Quito was established by the University of San Francisco, note the name, in 1988 in response to the need of more higher education in Ecuador. It is a private, liberal arts college of just under 6,000 students, including students from all campuses, Cumbaya (Quito), Riobama and Tiputini as well as undergraduate and graduate students.

I am currently at the school in Cumbaya and coming from Elon University, a small, private school in North Carolina, I feel at home in Cumbay?. The campus is compact, but still large enough to have open spaces for students to sit and enjoy the weather, the buildings are a bit of a maze and the landscaping is unbelievably gorgeous. Aside from the?ascetic?aspects, USFQ employs some of the most reputable teachers and is one of the most highly regarded institutions in Ecuador. The class sizes are small, generally no more than 25 students at most, and professors are very?interested?in student learning,?abet?sometimes late to class.

I have mostly experienced the classes designed for International students and have had most of my contact with the Office of International Programs, so most of my information is relavent to studying abroad at USFQ. The university offers a handful of classes solely for international students to learn spanish and others about ecuadorian culture. There are also classes offered in english. My one english class has half American students and half Ecuadorian students with an Ecuadorian professor.

All of the professors I have here have not only been helpful to the international students, but also go out of their way to make sure that we understand whatever they are teaching. Specifically, many know key words in english. Two of my classes are not tailored towards international students, but the professors make an effort to help us as

well. Classes are taught in different fashions, just as they are at any American univeristy. They can range from lecture to discussion based to even presentations of students about specific topics. The only big differences I have heard about is the class size for students that come from larger Universities and the fact that people are generally just a little later in Ecuador, so classes rarely begin on time.

The office of International Programs has been immensely helpful in all areas. They hold a 2-day orientation and?information session that includes information about the University in general, problems that international students may encounter, cultural differences and any health issues to?expect?while transitioning into a new culture and way of eating, specifically. They brought all the students on a tour and helped us figure out our classes, but have also been available for all sorts of questions. Questions anywhere from “How do I find a syllabus online?” to “My visa from the US is incorrect, how do I fix that?”

The campus of USFQ is not only beautiful, but very similar to campuses one may find in the United States. There?are clubs galore and different groups that put on events on and off campus all the time. Recently, I attended a?coffeehouse get together hosted by student life to encourage international students to mix with Ecuadorian students. Here, we ate cookies, drank coffe, watched a few tango dances and then watched a hypnotist. The students really do try to integrate with the international students. This is evident through the coffeehouse, through classes, and through the off campus events. Clubs and sports classes are a great way to mix with the Ecuadorian students.

Overall, the University of San Francisco in Quito is a fantastic place to study abroad. It is similar enough to an American university that students from the US can feel at home, the campus is beautiful and welcoming and many of the Ecuadorian students honestly want to get to know the International students. USFQ is a great place to look into if you are planning to study abroad and learn lots of spanish.

Ciudad Vieja is easy to get to by either Trole or Ecovia. (I’m sure the Metrobus is just as easy, but I have not yet tried using this line.) At first glance, Colonial Quito is very busy, somewhat touristy but also not entirely colonial. The main plaza of Colonial Quito is Plaza Granda (a.k.a. Plaza Inpendencia because whenever the population really dislikes whatever the president is doing, they come here to protest and usually kick him out of office) which holds two of Quito’s most important buildings. The first is El Palacio, where the President works, and the other is Catedral Metropolitana de Quito, one of Quito’s most historic catedrales.

If you go to El Palacio on a day when the President is not working in the building, probably try for Saturday, you may be able to get a tour. The tour is free, but you are required to present some sort of identification. A passport would work wonders or a CENSO would be just as good, an Ecuadorian identification card, but you might be able to get in with just your U.S. drivers’ license. Inside, they take a complimentary picture of you to commemorate the day and then bring the tour through the courtyards and most important rooms of El Palacio. Halfway up the stairs to the second story is an elaborate mural depicting the?conquer?of the indigenous ecuadorians and there are other indigenous artifacts throughout the second story. The tour exhibits many historical artifacts, the main rooms of el palacio and even the President’s golden alter. If you come on a day when they are giving tours, this is one of the most interesting things you could see in Quito.

Catedral Metropolitana de Quito is also worth the visit. It houses not only many of the robes worn by Quito’s bishops, but also the tomb of Sucre, the liberator of Ecuador. There are tours available as well. These focus not only on the artifacts held within the building and the history of the building but also the special art throughout. Catedral Metropolitana de Quito is fairly unique in that is houses many paintings which use?syncretism. These works show popular Christian themes, such as the birth of Christ, with a mixture of white?Europeans?and indigenous ecuadorians, and even common andean animals. These were used to connect the ideas of the catholic church to the everyday lives of the ecuadorians during conversion.

There are more than 20 churches in Colonial Quito. So sometimes it is difficult to decide which to visit and which?to leave for a later date. The places I definitely recommend are el palacio, Catedral Metropolitana de Quito and a handful of others. La Compa??a de Jesus is by far one of the most beautiful and ornate churches in all os Quito. In?fact, many Ecuadorians will tell you it is their absolute favorite. The entire inside of the church is gilded. An absolutely amazing sight. La Basilica is also worth seeing. It is the largest and tallest cathedral in Quito, so very easy to find. If you begin from Plaza Grande, to go Venezuela street and walk back north a few blocks and it will be?easy to find. It is highly suggested to walk up to the very top of La Basilica and also not to miss a step along the way (although you could take an elevator). A legend surrounding La Basilica says that it was built upon a sacred indigenous site and because of this, if you miss a step on the way up or down the towers of La Basilica bad things will befall you. Or at least this is what my taxi driver told me the night before I went.

I have yet to visit many museums in Colonial Quito, but a few have been recommended to me many times. Casa de Sucre, on streets Venezuela and Sucre, is one of the most popular recommendations as well as Museo de la Ciudad, on Garcia Moreno and Morales. There will be another post on Quito’s museums soon.

Of course, there are many places to eat and shop throughout Colonial Quito. A line of stores are beneath El Palacio where one can buy anything from horsehair paintings to shoes and wall hangings. Across Plaza Grande from El Catedral Metropolitana de Quito is a large shopping center with tourist information and floors of places to eat. Also, if you wander up and down the streets running to and from Plaza Grande, it is lined with shops and restaurants. One of the most fun streets to walk through is Chile as it is a pedestrian street (and cars have the right-away in Ecuador, so this can be a real concern).

Colonial Quito is one of the most interesting and historical places in Quito. The area has so much to do that so far two weekends have not been enough for me to experience all that I would like to see and do here. One of the best parts about Colonial Quito is that Ecuadorians love it too, so although it has a strong tourist pull, many Ecuadorians frequent this area of the city, so there is no way to possibly feel like you are in Disney World.

Ever since the dawn of the first city, urbanites have been working hard to find a reprieve. Nowadays, many people are flying to a sunnier, quieter destination for a mere two or three days before zipping back to the city. Living in New York means that flight options are plentiful, so why not zip over to Europe if you have five days to spare? Here’s why.

Now that we’re accustomed to flying, we forget just how wide the Atlantic is and how many things can go awry while we’re in transit. Take my first attempt at a European weekend getaway. I booked an inexpensive ticket through Air Europa from New York to Paris, and agreed to connect in Madrid and travel during the off-season for that lower price. Had everything been on time, I would have enjoyed four full days in Paris, but that would be too easy. My flight to Madrid was delayed four and a half hours, which meant that I missed my connection, and had to make an emergency call from a Madrid airport phone to a relative in Paris that ended up costing me $54 (I talked them down when I got the bill). By the time I dragged my cynical, exhausted body to the center of Paris, I had missed meeting up with two people who were expecting me, and simply passed out in my hotel. On my way back to the U.S., I arrived back in Madrid with an hour to spare and to my great surprise, was met by a guy with a sign bearing my name. This guy said that my flight was closed, God only knows why, and that I should sprint across the gargantuan airport to make it on time. So I run with my bag, only to find a gigantic, heinous line at the gate, in which I waited another 20 minutes. This flight also left late.

My first suggestion is to pay more for a direct flight, and my second suggestion is to shorten the distance. I had an excellent time in Paris despite the above inconveniences, but the fact remains that Europe is still far away. Believe it.