basillica y liga otra vez!

True story: that window is huge.

crossing over the roof of the sanctuary 

The girls and I headed out to old Quito yesterday afternoon to climb up the huge, old basillica in the city. It's wierd, it's probably one of the younger churches in old Quito, built in 1809. It took over a 100 years to complete, to avoid paying taxes to the Vatican. All that work, and no too much to show for it. It's pretty amazing to look at from ground level, but its not so pretty once inside. We climbed up spires and towers and felt like Quasi Moto in the bell tower. It was great to view the city from that high up, not so great to see the years of graffiti layered on top of one another in every corner of the church. I need to do some more google research to get to the bottom of this Quito mystery.

View just before entering the basillica. 

It was one of the weirdest experiences of all time. The city basically opened up this huge basillica to become a tourist playground. After three sets of stairs there is a maze of sketchy ladders and rickety bridges to traverse this old, stone monolith. The ladders were probably the best, and most frightening part. Even better, watching viajitas climb down the ladders on their butts. It was quite the afternoon. Did I mention I felt like Quasi Moto? I may or may not have yelled up the dizzy-ing spiral staircase, "I'm here, Quasi- it's Esmerlda!"

While this looks like cool, ancient writing- it's actually years worth of graffiti. Ecuador's finest ladies and gentlemen. 

More fun to be had tonight as some of hit up the Liga game. It was Liga vs. Quito (I have no idea how to explain that one, Liga is also a Quito team...) at El Estadio. The game ended in a tie, with both teams having zero points. Bummer. Two high lights for the night- empanadas de morocho with ahi (yes, despite Cole's warnings of "eat street, die") and that we sat in the Muerte Blanco section. For more information on Muerte Blanco, please see previous Liga entry. : ) Chelsea Smith bough a CD of liga songs as well. What a night.

Tomorrow we're leaving for Mishualli, a jungle town about 7 hours ?!?! from Quito. Im sure they'll be quite the update to follow...