The Plaza of Santo Domingo with its 17th-century church
One of the narrow cobbled streets of Quito's historic center
This 18th-century Jesuit church is one of Quito's most elaborate churches, inside and out. The interior is extensively carved and covered in gold leaf, but photos aren't allowed.
The Jesuit church was modeled on churches in Rome, including their twisted columns
The "half orange" shape of the domes on the Jesuit church is characteristic of Quito
Quito has some imposing buildings from the turn of the 20th century too
Quito residents stroll downtown streets that are blocked off for pedestrians on Sunday afternoons
Spire of Quito's cathedral in Plaza Grande
Part of a monument in Plaza Grande to heroes of the independence movement that helped Ecuador break away from Spain
Dome of the church at the former San Juan de Dios Hospital, now the City Museum
A painting of the Madonna and Child in a chapel at the former San Juan de Dios Hospital, now Quito's City Museum
An old fountain in a coutyard of the City Museum
Courtyard at the City Museum decorated for a special exhibit about festivals celebrating the city's market workers
The Panecilla hill in Quito is crowned with a giant alumnium statue of a winged Madonna
A picture (shot through a bus window on a rainy day) of indigenous Andean women, with their distinctive hats, selling fruit
The Plaza San Francisco, named for the 16th-century church and monastery of St. Francis
Modern buildings in the Benalcazar section of Quito, the first area where we stayed
View from our apartment in Quito of Pichincha mountain
The view of Quito from the top cable car station on Pichincha
The high grassland (called paramo) atop Pichincha at about 13,000 feet
Melissa on Pichincha mountain above Quito
A pre-Columbian gold sun mask on display in the national museum
A museum display of different types of traditional dress for indigenous Andean people in northern Ecuador
A display of traditional sash weaving
A display of guitars made from armadillo shells
This ancient Ecuadoran pot looks like it could have been painted by Picasso
One of a series of potrait statues of Afro-Ecuadoran market sellers displayed in the national museum
A hot-spring pool at the Terrmas hotel in Papallacta in the mountains east of Quito
Plants in the gardens at the Termas de Papallacta hotel
Stream flowing past the Termas de Papallacta hotel (cold water from the stream is channeled into the hot-spring pools to regulate their temperature)
