Calgary > Dallas > Miami > Quito

Day 2/108

Thirty six hours after leaving home we are safe and sound at Hostel Revolution, in downtown Quito. Let's start with dinner tonight... quite the experience. We weren't really hungry, but thought we should eat something, so we walked around the block and found an unnamed hole-in-the-wall (literally) around the block. We poked our heads inside out of curiosity, but the owner interpreted this as us asking for two "pollo" (chicken) dinners, and seated us in the corner of the 10" x 10" "space". We went with it. First came a suprisingly tasty mystery-meatball and vegetable soup.  We thought this was all, and were satisfied, but then out came a plate with rice, chopped iceberg lettuce and some unidentifyable "meat" with potatoes in gravy. Our best guess was fat, or rind of some sort. As Alex appropriately put it "which part was the chicken"? Alex tried burrying her "fat" with her rice, but got guilted into eating it after I polished off my plate. The price tag on all this? $1.35US each. Following the meal we realized that we are probably in for a suprise tomorrow, since not only did we eat lettuce, but we (not thinking) drank juice made with tap water; two things we agreed were probably sure ways to get sick. Oh well! Dive right in, right?

Backtracking a few steps, the trip here was eventful, but nothing next to what is coming, I'm sure. The usual; delayed flights, terminal changes, stomach-in-your-mouth kind of turbulence.  We had an overnight layover in Dallas, and Alex's father and step-mother kindly treated us to a stay in the DFW Grand Hyatt - right in the airport terminal - a wonderfully luxurious experience, and almost certainly the nicest beds we will see for the next 4 months. We got some interesting stares as we checked in wearing leggings, sweaters and two packs (one of the front, one of the back) since everyone else in the lobby was in suits! We decided to dress up a bit for dinner... but avoided the $48 entrees on the menu, and opted for some suprisingly large (and delicious) appetizers instead (everything is larger in Texas, right?).