Living in Centro Historico Quito. January 2017.

More places in Centro Historico Quito to enjoy.

Spa La Kaskada: jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and swimming pool
Flores N41-47 y Chile, Quito, Ecuador
Call 099 567 6668
Facebook "Spa La Kaskada"

Spa, baños de cajón, piscina, sauna, turco, hidromasaje, cursos de natación, terapia acuática, restaurante

"La Casa Del Reloj", small family business of Centro Historico, where you can repair your watch, or to buy new watch and watch accessories. 
"La Casa del Reloj" address BenalcÁzar N3-127 Y Espejo
Phones 2284 037/2283 350
I wondered there to check if they have  a leather wristband for my watch and they did. $3 for the new leather wristband and installation!

Best business lunch in Centro Historico Quito
"DIOSOLOPAY" cute cafe located inside of CENTRO CULTURAL METROPOLITANO.
Address: García Moreno 887 y Espejo.
Facebook: DIOSOLOPAY Restaurant
http://dayinquito.blogspot.com/2014/12/hidden-gems-in-centro-historico-quito.html
DIOSOLOPAY has indoor and outdoor sitting, price for "menu del dia" was $6.75 (as of December 2016). I like everything about this restaurant: the quality and presentation of food, the price, the service and ambiance. The customers are local people mostly. 

I already posted about one of the best pizza in Centro Historico Quito
http://dayinquito.blogspot.com/2016/07/the-best-pizza-in-centro-historico.html

Cafe "Dios No Muere", located on the corner of Flores and Junin (Monastery Santa Catalina, Colonial Quito)
On Facebook: "Cafe Dios No Muere"
Tripadvisor:  Tripadvisor.comUserReviews-Cafe_Dios_No_Muere-Quito
Small and cozy place, tucked in a very picturesque alley. Nice spot to eat and drink in a very authentic setting and to buy chocolate produced on a farm owned by Mathieu Guillory family. 

Cafe Dios No Muere

Mathieu Guillory, welcoming and friendly owner.

Places where you can have cup of coffee or buy coffee, beans or ground
http://dayinquito.blogspot.com/2016/12/places-in-centro-historico-where-you.html

2 bedroom, 1 bath, totally remodeled

Centro Historico furnished apartment for sale or rent.

Anti-noise windows in both bedrooms

For booking, pictures and more info
http://quitorental.blogspot.com/

http://larondacondo4sale.blogspot.com/

Living in Centro Historico Quito, Ecuador. Part one. December 2016.

Living in Centro Historico Quito, Ecuador. Part one. December 2016.
Coolest small businesses in Centro Historico: Places in Centro Historico where you can buy coffee: beans or ground.
Cafe Galletti Bolívar
http://www.cafegalletti.com/
Nice ambiance, spacious cafe with nice view of Pasaje Espejo and fun people watching opportunity. I ordered Caffè Americano ($2.25) and Cheesecake de Maracuyá ($3.50). I gave barista $20 and it took her a while to find change for me, otherwise customer service is friendly, ordered items arrived promptly.

Cafe Galletti Bolívar located between streets Guayaquil and Flores, hall of Teatro Bolivar
Monday - Sunday from 9 am to 7 pm
Pasaje Espejo entre Guayaquil y Flores.
(Hall del Teatro Bolívar, Centro histórico)
Atendemos de lunes a domingo de 09h00 a 19h00
Teléfono: (02) 258-9703

Café Aguila de Oro, small shop on Benalcazar Street near the Presidential Palace. This is a small tienda where you can buy coffee, whole bean or freshly ground.
You can read about it here  ecuadorean-coffee-in-quito
address: BenalcÁzar N3-123 Y Espejo
Phones 2280-523/2602-594



2 bedroom, 1 bath, totally remodeled

Centro Historico furnished apartment for sale or rent.

Anti-noise windows in both bedrooms

For booking, pictures and more info
http://quitorental.blogspot.com/

http://larondacondo4sale.blogspot.com/

Trip to Pasto,Colombia: Cafe de la Baca, Garden cemetery in Tulcán. Ecuador. July 2016.

My neighbor, her daughter and co-worker planned trip to Pasto, Colombia since January. The trip was to do some sightseeing and to shop in Colombia. The Revolución Ciudadana going on in Ecuador, turned out to be super expensive and merchandise in E stores cost more than in neighboring countries, more than in US, due to high tariffs and countless taxes.
So, my neighbor decided to combine pleasure with business in Colombia and offered me to join them. Off we went on some Thursday in July. After almost two hours of driving we stopped at Cafe de la baca,  it's not just restaurant, it's a destination worth visiting.
http://www.elcafedelavaca.com/
TripadvisorCafe_de_la_Vaca-Quito

In Tulcán, the capital of the province of Carchi in Ecuador, situated right on the border between Ecuador and Colombia, we visited the Topiary Garden Cemetery.
amusingplanet_topiary-garden-cemetery-of-tulcan

Photo By Diego Delso

Photo By Celine Massa

to be continued: 

Changing dollars to Colombian pesos

Crossing_the_Rumichaca_Bridge_ by_ car

Road from Ipiales to Pasto

Returning from Colombia to Ecuador

2 bedroom, 1 bath, totally remodeled

Centro Historico furnished apartment for sale or rent.

Anti-noise windows in both bedrooms

For booking, pictures and more info
http://quitorental.blogspot.com/

http://larondacondo4sale.blogspot.com/

The best pizza in Centro Historico Quito, Ecuador. July 2016

High quality products at reasonable price, good customer service, nice ambiance - you don't see that combination too often. Pizzeria y Cervezeria artesanal Reina de la Paz - this place has it all!
Facebook "Panaderia Reina de la Paz"
Update Facebook "Pizzamama"
TripAdvisor Panaderia_Reina_de_la_Paz-Quito


Pizzeria y Cervezeria artesanal Reina de la Paz
Pizzamama

Beer artesanal 
Autentica Pizza Italiana
Hamburgers
Bread
Focaccia 
Typical Italian sweets

Calle La Ronda 963
between streets Guayaquil and Venezuela
Telfs: (02) 258-3481
0967 323 690

message from Misionerals de la Ninez.
Reina de la Paz bakery belongs to the foundation of Misioneras de la Ninez. They work in Ecuador, Peru and Italy in helping marginal condition children. Here in Quito (Cotocollao), the Missionaries run an orphanage with 40 children in need.
Buying here you are supporting our solidarity work for charity. Thank you!

from TripAdvisor
Encontramos esta panadería en nuestro recorrido por el centro histórico y sirvió para renovar las energías. El lugar es cálido, impecable y venden unos panes inolvidables. El personal es muy agradable. Se recomienda sin dudarlo!
We found this bakery in our tour of the historical centre and it served to renew our energy. The place is warm, impeccable and sell an excellent quality bread. The staff is very nice. Recommended without hesitation!



2 bedroom, 1 bath, totally remodeled

Centro Historico furnished apartment for sale or rent.

Anti-noise windows in both bedrooms

For booking, pictures and more info
http://quitorental.blogspot.com/

http://larondacondo4sale.blogspot.com/

Saturday night earthquake. Quito, Ecuador. April 2016.

One of the grandest illusions of modern era is illusion of public and personal safety. Not so fast! Nobody knows what is going to happen to him from one moment to the next.

On Saturday, April 16th, my neighbor, her daughter and I were enjoying Centro Historico. It becoming a nice tradition for us to spend weekend there, in my La Ronda condo. Lots to do, lots to see. At approximately 7pm, Saturday night, we were walking around Plaza Grande and all of a sudden the ground started to bounce underneath. People were screaming "terremoto, terremoto!!!" We (and everything/everyone around us) were swaying back and forth for a while! 
After earthquake, the Plaza were full of dressed up crowd: brides, grooms, wedding guests. It turned out there were few weddings in the vicinity of Plaza Grande this Saturday night. 
We went to Mass on Sunday morning to Iglesia de La Compañía de Jesus to pray for the victims, for recovery and for our own safety.

P.S. 
An earthquake with its epicenter on the coast of Province Esmeraldas, Ecuador,  was registered at 7.8 on the Richter scale. We didn't see any damage anywhere in Quito, neither in Centro Historico where we stayed, nor on the way home to North Quito. 


Part two
http://dayinquito.blogspot.com/2016/04/saturday-night-earthquake-conspiracy.html
Part three
http://dayinquito.blogspot.com/2016/04/saturday-night-earthquake-aftermath_19.html
Part four
http://dayinquito.blogspot.com/2016/04/saturday-night-earthquake-aftermath_21.html
Part five
http://dayinquito.blogspot.com/2016/04/one-week-after-earthquake-headlines-in.html


Rental in Quito, for tourists and expats.
We have a 2 bedroom, 1 bath totally remodeled
Colonial Quito, furnished apartment for rent.
Anti-noise windows in both bedrooms
For booking, pictures and more info
http://quitorental.blogspot.com  

About Cafe "Dios No Muere", street tango show and other stories. Quito, Ecuador. December 2015.

My condo in Centro Historico wasn't occupied in November and December 2015. There is fierce competition now in Quito: hundreds of furnished apartments available for short and long term rent, dozens of them in Old Town. My apartment is unique because it has double anti-noise windows in both bedrooms, well, majority of people from North America's suburbia don't understand how noisy Quito is and how important is to have peace and quiet in the middle of loud city. Below, photo of anti-noise window in La Ronda condo.

Anti-noise window

Other reasons might be: in 2015 not as many people come to Quito as before and to rent my apartment one has to be fit enough to get on the fourth floor: 67 stairs to climb, no elevator. There was an offer in November, someone wanted to rent my place below market value but I'd rather have it empty and enjoy it myself occasionally.

Days of Quito parades and concerts in Centro Historico, people watching with glass of wine on my balcony. On a weekends there are different shows (musicians, dancers, mimes, ets) at the street Garcia Moreno (in CH). My favorite was a street tango show, three artists from Buenos Aires: violin player and two dancers. 

Mañosa Banda de Teatro

Mañosa Banda de Teatro

     

Last Saturday my destination was Cafe "Dios No Muere". 

 I was lucky enough to chat with the owner, Mathieu Guillory, for a while. 

We had some catching up to do: I know him since 2006. Back then airbnb wasn't not invented yet, craiglist not as popular in Ecuador. The real estate company, he used to own, helped me to find rental in Centro Historico when I first came to Quito and later with his assistance I bought my La Ronda condo.

Cafe Dios No Muere located on the corner of Flores and Junin (Monastery Santa Catalina, Colonial Quito)

On Facebook: Cafe Dios No Muere

Tripadvisor:  http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g294308-d2319863-r144034959-Cafe_Dios_No_Muere-Quito_Pichincha_Province.html

I had few drinks, nice conversation, bought chocolate produced on a farm owned by Mathieu Guillory family. The chocolate is so good that next week I am coming back to stock up.

As one of the reviewers said: Dios No Muere is a strange jump into the past (cafe located in Monastery Santa Catalina - LB). The owner is American, his child helps him with the orders. In all, a nice family-run business...It has a solid character and nice music..

and it's within short walking distance from La Ronda condo

Rental in Quito, for tourists and expats.

We have a 2 bedroom, 1 bath totally remodeled

Colonial Quito, furnished apartment for rent.
Anti-noise windows in both bedrooms

For booking, pictures and more info

http://quitorental.blogspot.com

Hidden gems in Centro Historico Quito - CENTRO CULTURAL METROPOLITANO and restaurant DIOSOLOPAY. December 2014.

I was in Centro Historico recently and was looking for the place to have lunch. My requirements were: nice atmosphere, good service and less than $10 "menu del dia". I checked out my favorite pizza place (Pizza SA) and had an unpleasant surprise - the prices for  individual size pizza now ranging in between $11.50 and $16!!! Used to be $9.99 for "The Works" Individual Pizza!

Then I remembered cute cafe at the CENTRO CULTURAL METROPOLITANO and it was a hit!  DIOSOLOPAY (that's the name of this establishment) has indoor and outdoor sitting, price for "menu del dia" was $6.10 (as of December 2014). I liked everything about this restaurant: the quality and presentation of food, the price, the service and ambiance. The customers were local people mostly, this place is truly "hidden from tourists" gem waiting to be discovered! 

DIOSOLOPAY Restaurant / Cafeteria located inside of CENTRO CULTURAL METROPOLITANO

Dirección: García Moreno 887 y Espejo. QUITO, ECUADOR.

from their facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/diosolopay

DIOSOLOPAY Restaurant / Cafeteria that combines the flavor, the tradition and the delight of our country, all in one place, in the historic center of Quito.

Food Styles:

Breakfast  Lunch  Dinner  Brunch 

Burgers  Cajun/Creole  French  Italian  Vegetarian

Rental in Quito, for tourists and expats.

We have a 2 bedroom, 1 bath totally remodeled

Colonial Quito, furnished apartment for rent.

Anti-noise windows in both bedrooms

For booking, pictures and more info

http://quitorental.blogspot.com
More photos

Difference between Cuenca and Quito. February 2013.

I visited Cuenca for the first time last month in January 2013.

In 2006 when I researched Ecuador, I considered  Centro Historico Quito and Centro Historico Cuenca. In 2006/2007 you could buy an apartment in CH Quito starting from $15K, in CH Cuenca the lowest price I found was $30K.  I only had $25K for my Ecuadorian real estate rendezvous, so the money was the deciding factor.

Here I am, living in Quito for a few years now. 
Quito is panoramic and multicolored. Cuenca is "Lady in Red". Reddish roofs, lots of reddish buildings. It is more mellow and neat than Quito. Beside Centro Historico, houses in Cuenca have more character than in Quito. There are much more trees and green spaces in Cuenca.  In comparison with capital Cuenca doesn't have any traffic. Nevertheless, I was so happy to be back at home.
Quito, I love you with all of my heart!



Monthly rental in Quito, for tourists and expats.
We have a 2 bedroom, 1 bath totally remodeled
Colonial Quito, furnished apartment for rent.
For booking, pictures and more info
http://quitorental.blogspot.com

Misahualli: the civilized jungle in Ecuador. Part four. July 2012

Part one
http://dayinquito.blogspot.com/2012/07/misahualli-civilized-jungle-in-ecuador.html
Part two
http://dayinquito.blogspot.com/2012/07/misahualli-civilized-jungle-in-ecuador_16.html
Part three
http://dayinquito.blogspot.com/2012/07/misahualli-civilized-jungle-in-ecuador_17.html

I just want to say a few more words about the Banana lodge. We spent four days there. I paid for our accommodations $24 for two of us per day, plus $3 each for breakfast. Breakfast: fresh squeezed fruit juice, mostly from their garden. Fresh rolls from a nearby bakery, brought just minutes after they come out of the oven, eggs, butter, jam, and coffee. It was good!    

We didn't take computers with us and lodge doesn't have TV sets in the rooms.They do have a mini internet cafe, $1 per hour, two computers that you can use.

Since Banana Lodge is located within walking distance from the village square, we went there every day for lunch and to say "hi" to the monkeys. Lunch we had at the restaurant "Nico" or "Doña Rosita" - this restaurant actually has two names. Lunch cost anywhere from $2.50 set menu, $5-$6 - a la carta menu.

Banana Lodge has a beautiful view of the river. It has a private beach and is surrounded by fruit plants. Besides three guest rooms, they have a bungalow type room built from bamboo with mosquito nets instead of windows.  The bungalow room has beds and a hammock, if you stay in the bungalow room, you have to go to the restroom outside.

You have the best of both worlds staying in the Banana Lodge. Peace and tranquility and proximity to the village and to the jungle for your adventure tours.  


Banana Lodge, Misahualli
Free WI FI, free bananas from the garden
comfortable eco-accomodations, internet cafe
Adventure jungle tours
Immersion in indigenous culture
English-Spanish-Russian
http://bananalodge.blogspot.com/
Contact them:
E-mail: barantseva@gmail.com
Telephone: +593-62-890-190
Mobile: +593-98-885-169




Monthly rental in Quito, for tourists and expats.
We have a 2 bedroom, 1 bath totally remodeled
Colonial Quito, furnished apartment for rent.
For booking, pictures and more info
http://quitorental.blogspot.com

Misahualli: civilized jungle in Ecuador. How to get to Misahualli from Quito. Part three. July 2012

Part one
http://dayinquito.blogspot.com/2012/07/misahualli-civilized-jungle-in-ecuador.html
Part two

http://dayinquito.blogspot.com/2012/07/misahualli-civilized-jungle-in-ecuador_16.html

Part four
http://dayinquito.blogspot.com/2012/07/misahualli-civilized-jungle-in-ecuador_18.html

How to get to the civilized jungle at Misahualli from Quito.
Whenever you stay in Quito, take a bus or taxi to the Rio Coca bus station. From Rio Coca bus station take a bus (25 cents) to the bus stop "Cumbaya Supermaxi".
There are buses going from Quito to Tena, (ticket cost $5-$6)  every hour. The same from Tena to Quito. They all stop at the bus stop "Cumbaya Supermaxi".

There is daily direct bus (ticket $7, departure at 11:30 a.m. from station Quitumbe), Quito to Misahualli. This bus goes thru parada "Cumbaya Supermaxi" about 12 p.m.

From Misahualli to Quito direct bus depart at 8:30 a.m. from the village square. Monkeys will wave good bye to you!

The bus ride "Quito - Tena" takes five hours. Misahualli is half an hour by taxi or by bus from Tena.

Cost of  trip "Quito - Tena -Quito" per person:
25 cents from our house to Rio Coca station
25 cents from Rio Coca station  to bus stop "Cumbaya Supermaxi"
$7 from Quito (bus stop "Cumbaya Supermaxi") to Misahualli
Total one way $7.50, round trip $15.

Banana Lodge, Misahualli

Free WI FI, free bananas from the garden

comfortable eco-accomodations, internet cafe

Adventure jungle tours

Immersion in indigenous culture

English-Spanish-Russian

http://bananalodge.blogspot.com/

Contact them:

E-mail: barantseva@gmail.com
Telephone: +593-62-890-190

Mobile: +593-98-885-169

Monthly rental in Quito, for tourists and expats.

We have a 2 bedroom, 1 bath totally remodeled

Colonial Quito, furnished apartment for rent.

For booking, pictures and more info

http://quitorental.blogspot.com/

Misahualli: the civilized jungle in Ecuador. Part two. July 2012.

Part one
http://dayinquito.blogspot.com/2012/07/misahualli-civilized-jungle-in-ecuador.html

Part three
http://dayinquito.blogspot.com/2012/07/misahualli-civilized-jungle-in-ecuador_17.html

Part four
http://dayinquito.blogspot.com/2012/07/misahualli-civilized-jungle-in-ecuador_18.html

You have lots of lodging choices in Misahualli, from luxury to simple hostels and everything in between.  My favorite is Banana Lodge. The couple who owns it has perfect traits for this business. Eduardo is Ecuadorian, he is a jungle tour guide.

Anna is Russian, she came to Misahualli as a tourist 4-5 years ago, saw Eduardo, he used to have a tienda (little store) on the village square, they fell in love and the rest is the history. Anna is fluent in English and Spanish.

Their lodge has three guest rooms with tiled floors, lots of windows, powerful ventilators and restrooms in each room. Contrary to popular belief, it is not too hot in there. At night you need a light jacket. The lodge also has a bungalo room, garden, private beach, and a roofed area with hammocks and bonfire.

If you are the adventurous type and want to live in a tent, they would give you that option. When we were there, the tour company called climbhotrock.com came over and erected their tents on the property. There were eight people, mostly from New Zeland and Australia. They hung out in the area with hammocks, fired up the bonfire, cooked their food, drank Pilcener which Anna and Eduardo supplied for a fee. At their first night, (our second), they went for a night jungle tour with Eduardo. Gary made friends with them and went along.

Banana Lodge, Misahualli

Free WI FI, free bananas from the garden

comfortable eco-accomodations, internet cafe

Adventure jungle tours

Immersion in indigenous culture

English-Spanish-Russian

http://bananalodge.blogspot.com/

Contact them:

E-mail: barantseva@gmail.com
Telephone: +593-62-890-190
Mobile: +593-98-885-169



Monthly rental in Quito, for tourists and expats.
We have a 2 bedroom, 1 bath totally remodeled
Colonial Quito, furnished apartment for rent.
For booking, pictures and more info
http://quitorental.blogspot.com   

Misahualli: the civilized jungle in Ecuador. Part one. July 2012

There is a hidden gem in Ecuador, one of them anyway. It is a little village called Misahualli. I call it the civilized jungle. Since 2008, when we moved to Ecuador, I have been there three times. I love the place.

A few monkey families have lived in this village since the 1990s when someone brought little baby monkeys from the nearby jungle. Monkeys hang out mostly at the village square and on the beach. It is fascinating to watch them.

This time, July 2012 we came to Misahualli with my son, Igor (Gary), who lives in Minneapolis, MN and was visiting Ecuador for three weeks. When people (in Minneapolis) were asking him what he is going to do in Ecuador for three weeks he responded that he will hang out with the monkeys. So, I decided Misahualli is a "must".

Part two
http://dayinquito.blogspot.com/2012/07/misahualli-civilized-jungle-in-ecuador_16.html

Part three
http://dayinquito.blogspot.com/2012/07/misahualli-civilized-jungle-in-ecuador_17.html

Part four
http://dayinquito.blogspot.com/2012/07/misahualli-civilized-jungle-in-ecuador_18.html

Banana Lodge, Misahualli

Free WI FI, free bananas from the garden
comfortable eco-accomodations, internet cafe
Adventure jungle tours
Immersion in indigenous culture
English-Spanish-Russian
http://bananalodge.blogspot.com/
Contact them:
E-mail: barantseva@gmail.com
Telephone: +593-62-890-190
Mobile: +593-98-885-169



Monthly rental in Quito, for tourists and expats.
We have a 2 bedroom, 1 bath totally remodeled
Colonial Quito, furnished apartment for rent.
For booking, pictures and more info
http://quitorental.blogspot.com