If there's a teleferico, then we have to try it ... so today we went on the TelefériQo, which goes up the side of the Pinchincha volcano. It's only a 10 minute ride up to 3945m so we really felt the effects of altitude as we started walking up from the top, your legs feel heavier, you get puffed doing very little and your head and ears start to pound. It's possible to hike to the top of Pinchincha crater from there, but as it's a 5 hour trip we didn't attempt it. A bit further up the trail we did see what must be close to the world's highest riding school, in a spot with amazing views.
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| Nice spot for a horse ride |
It looks as if there were once grand plans for the area near the top of the teleférico including a hotel but now it all looks quite sad and rundown. The views of Quito from the top are impressive and expansive and there is a cafeteria overlooking the city (providing you are standing up, the windows don't allow you to see out when you are sitting!).
After that we took a taxi to the historic centre of Quito. We walked along Calle Ronda which used to be the famed artisans street but now seems to be tourist shops (most were closed for Saturday afternoon) and restaurants with touts out the front. We then wandered through town, stopping in Plaza Grande for coffee and cake, walking up to the Basílica del Voto Nacional, before walking back to Plaza Foch.
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| Very gothic |
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