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Quito General Tips

PapayaNet, Mariscal, Quito - Quito
PapayaNet, Mariscal, Quito
by tejanasueca
Tips and photos for Quito vacations and tourism, posted by real travelers and Quito locals.
Local Time 2:19 am Thursday, May 15, 2008
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Wandering around
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  • By CaptainAmerica on April 26, 2004
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    by CaptainAmerica
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    One of my favourite things in Quito is just wandering around the streets and discover a wonderful plaza, a gorgeous sight of the city with the mountains around...

    I love this picture because it shows a little bit the city surrounded by the Andes... Such a wonderful souvenir.

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    Internet Cafe/Meeting Spot
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  • Updated By tejanasueca on April 3, 2005
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  • PapayaNet, Mariscal, Quito - Quito
    PapayaNet, Mariscal, Quito
    by tejanasueca
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    Papaya Net is the easiest internet cafe to locate in Mariscal (on Calama). It is a known meeting point for people and they offer an area to sit in an chat, some computers, and food and drink. Excellent place to go sit write some e-mails while you are eating breakfast. Tends to fill up though, and then the computers might get kinda slow. So, a lot of people just use it as a meeting spot and then go to another place to use the internet. Any hostel, store in Mariscal should be able to give you exact directions (It is at the corner of Calama and Juan Leon Mera).

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    I was treated well
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  • By b1bob on November 20, 2007
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  • the natives are friendly - Quito
    the natives are friendly
    by b1bob
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    I was treated very well by the strangers I met in Ecuador. It helps that I speak Spanish fluently, but I don't think you need to be fluent. Just know basic words or phrases on how to ask for directions, order in a restaurant, call for help in an emergency, and shop in a store or market. Besides that, be willing to try everything local. The local people will respect your efforts and you will get more out of your trip.

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    Palacio del Gobierno
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  • Updated By b1bob on November 19, 2007
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  • Palacio del Gobierno - Quito
    Palacio del Gobierno
    by b1bob
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    You can't go inside the president's residence. However, you can see the Andalusian patios and fountains in the centre. They show a scale model of Independence Square at the entrance. There is also a placard which marks the spot where President Gabriel Garcia Moreno was assassinated with a machete in 1875 on the way from the cathedral to pray. He was a strong Catholic with many enemies. The tour guide tells me the current president (as of November, 2007) doesn't even live here.

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    Relatively easy immigration process
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  • Updated By b1bob on November 25, 2007
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  • normally, this is all you need - Quito
    normally, this is all you need
    by b1bob
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    For Americans and most Europeans, immigration and customs aren't a big problem here. It's the usual customs and immigration forms they pass out an hour before landing. Ecuador does require visas of a few countries. However, this could change for American travelers. The United States imposes rather stringent visa requirements on Ecuadorian tourists, like many other Latin American countries. Also, in November, 2007, President Correa was outraged at not being "treated like a head of state" at a Miami International Airport security checkpoint (even though his people gave the State Department little or no advance notice). According to news reports, President Correa will avoid passing through the U.S. It is also quite possible the Ecuadorian government could take this perceived snub out on American tourists.

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    Tourist Information Centre
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  • Updated By b1bob on November 24, 2007
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  • Tourist Information Centre - Quito
    Tourist Information Centre
    by b1bob
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    If you find yourself in the historical centre of Quito, there is a tourist centre called Centro de Información Turística y la Tienda de la Ciudad, "El Quinde" right in the city hall building. Here, you can find all sorts of information on the city and buy a whole bunch of things that are handmade locally. They also have a small café where you can take coffee or fresh juices from a wide range of local fruits. They will help you plan your own trip, and the police even give guided tours in English and Spanish. The police who run this place are a helpful lot. They gave me enough literature on the city to choke a mule which I needed to become familiar with this part of town. I want to single out my tour guide, Fernanda Vargas. She helped me understand the historical centre of Quito well enough for me to give the next tour.

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    You never know whom you might meet
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  • By b1bob on November 19, 2007
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  • Sergio and Mark - Quito
    Sergio and Mark
    by b1bob, 1 more photos
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    Mark acemj and I had planned on principle to meet in Quito, but he had trouble getting here. Between a runway mishap closing down the airport canceling his first go and fog closing the airport for the second, I doubted we could ever get together on this trip and I all but gave up on the idea. When I turned the corner at the Mercado Artesanal, there was Mark. He, Sergio, and I talked for about 15 minutes and we made plans to get together the following day. We couldn't have it work that way if we has planned it. Ironically, when we did affirmatively try to meet, it never worked out. On my last full day on holiday here, another local friend named Esteban Cordero whom I had known for 6 years, organised a meeting at the last minute. At first, I thought we would be meeting for supper in the Plaza Foch. However, he had business nearby and we met for lunch instead. We found each other at the Coffee Tree and walked down calle Mariscal Foch for about a block to the Magic Bean, a restaurant Sergio recommended. Esteban and I had a nice long and relaxed lunch there. The waiter was good enough to take a photo of Esteban and me together.

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    Palacio Arzobispal
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  • By b1bob on November 19, 2007
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  • Palacio Arzobispal - Quito
    Palacio Arzobispal
    by b1bob
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    The Palacio Arzobispal (or the Archbishop's old place, for those from Roxboro) is directly across the plaza from the Catedral. This building is the seat of relious authority and the official residence of the archbishop since the 16th Century. It is one of the first buildings to be built in Quito and it has been completely restored to its original glory, although now with a different use. The interior patios have been converted into restaurants and cafes, as well as venues for live entertainment, bars, and small stores.

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    Internet cafes
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  • Updated By b1bob on November 18, 2007
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  • one of many internet cafes in town - Quito
    one of many internet cafes in
    town
    by b1bob
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    Friends and neighbours, I don't know that it's my favourite thing, but it could come in handy. There are more internet cafes around here than there are pickup trucks in Roxboro. I photographed this one because it has a more photogenic front. Like my friend Josh, I recommend "going out and seeing some stuff" but if the stuff is worth writing home about you won't have to walk very far to find one of these. An hours' worth of internet time runs between 60¢ and $1.

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    Post Office in Mariscal
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  • By tejanasueca on May 21, 2005
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  • There is a POST OFFICE in Mariscal on the corner of Colón and Reina Victoria (essential as Ecuador don't use stamps). Hours: M-F 8am-5pm Sat 8am-11:45am Fees: Postcards to the US and Europe take about 2 weeks and cost $1.25 (I know, outragous!)

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    More Quito Tips
    Overview
         		General Tips
    Tips: 63 - Photos: 52
    Restaurants
    Tips: 120 - Photos: 81    		Hotels and Accommodations
    Tips: 91 - Photos: 48
    Things To Do
    Tips: 320 - Photos: 289    		Nightlife
    Tips: 34 - Photos: 19
    Off the Beaten Path
    Tips: 19 - Photos: 17    		Tourist Traps
    Tips: 9 - Photos: 8
    Warnings or Dangers
    Tips: 40 - Photos: 26    		Transportation
    Tips: 35 - Photos: 23
    Local Customs
    Tips: 36 - Photos: 25    		Packing Lists
    Tips: 12 - Photos: 6
    Shopping
    Tips: 35 - Photos: 25    		Sports Travel
    Tips: 5 - Photos: 5
    Flights
    Tips: 10 - Photos: 9

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