Aventuras de Ecuador: The Panecillo

Friday night, my host family took me to the Panecillo. It is 3,000 meters above sea level and nestled into the heart of Quito. The Panecillo is topped by a giant aluminum sculpture known as the "Virgin of Quito." The sculpture stands very tall in the center of the city, and can be seen from very far away. Once at the top, we walked around the whole sculpture and saw the many wonderful views of the city (North, South, historical center). It's beautiful to go at night because the city litghts shine for miles. After climbing down we walked around the shops surrounding the Panecillo, listened to local music, and drank Canelazo. Canelazo is a traditional hot drink made with Arguardiente, naranjilla, sugar and cinnamon. Also the alcoholic version contains a strong vodka. It's muy rica! We walked to the edge of the Panecillo grounds and looked over the amazing view of the South side of the city. My host sister (Amy), and I ended the night by riding horses circling the edge of the Panecillo. I can't remember the last time I rode a horse, and nearly fell on my face when trying to get off. Everyone had a good laugh from that incident. Overall the view from the top was amazing, and the pictures posted below do not capture the amazing view.