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| My-Quito.com : Quito
Apartment -Guápulo |
  
Guápulo:
- The village of Guápulo
is an interesting area -it has a bohemian atmosphere with a number
of bars and cafés and is is home to many artists. Take
a wander down Camino de Orellana to the centre of Guapulo -it
is hard to believe that it lies just minutes from a bustling
modern capital city. The historic church at the centre is Quito's
oldest colonial church, the Sanctuario de Guápulo. It
forms part of an significant group of historic buildings, the
remainder of which is occupied by the Universidad Internacional SEK.
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- In the public square in front
of the church there is a statue of Fransisco de Orellana, the
spanish explorer credited with the first descent of the Amazon
during Pizarro's ill fated expedition of 1541 -the full story
of Fransisco de Orellana.
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- From the top of the hill the
are fantastic views out over the Cumbaya Valley to the East -the
gateway to the Amazon. On a clear day you can see the volcano
Cayambe on the horizon. I recommend taking a walk down the Camino
Orellana to explore the village (although you will probably prefer
to take a taxi back up!).
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- Guapulo was used as a setting
for the kidnap scene in the film "Proof of Life" starring
Meg Ryan and Russell Crowe.
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- The Fiesta de Guapulo is held
in early September each year , and culminates with a big party
with fireworks in the square.
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Shopping:
 The friendly
local shop 'su tienda' just 50 metres down the hill sells fresh
bread, milk, juice and many other day to day needs. It opens
early too so is ideal for breakfast
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- If you walk to the top of the
hill and turn right next into Gonzalez Suarez, you can find a
greater range of shops within walking distance, including a bakers,
two mini markets, fruit and vegetable market, pharmacist and
a video store.
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- Alternatively, for the largest
supermarket in town, ask a taxi to take you to Megamaxi (not
far from Quicentro).
Local bars and Restaurants
- There are a number of interesting
bars and restaurants in Guapulo -just up the hill you can find
your local bar -El
Mirador de Guapulo. here you can have a beer or cocktail,
listen to live music and enjoy typical ecuadorian snacks while
enjoying the fantastic view.
- For a blow-out breakfast buffet
you can go to the restaurant at Hotel Quito -Techo del Mundo -all you can eat and fantastic
views in every direction.
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- Alternatively a taxi ride of
around two dollars will take you into the popular Mariscal Area
of town with its many restaurants, bars, shops and other interesting
sights.
- More pictures of Guapulo.
Quito
- Quito has much to offer the visitor. It makes a great
starting point for a visit to Ecuador. If you are planning a
longer tour of South America it is a good place to acclimatise
to the altitude and perhaps do an intensive Spanish
course at one of the many schools in town. From Quito you
can book trips to Indian markets (Otavalo is one and a half hours
by car), the cloud forest and jungle, trekking in the great volcanoes,
or the Pacific coast.
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- For the more adventurous, you
might try white water rafting
in the cloud forest and jungle, scuba
diving on the Galapagos or climbing
the great volcanos. And for anyone with an interest in nature,
Ecuador displays an extraordinary diversity, with 1640 species
of birds, 4500 species of butterfly, and 358 species of amphibians
(15% of the worlds total). Quito was the first UNESCO world heritage
city and is the Ibero-america City of Culture 2004. A visit to
the restored colonial old town
is well worth doing, especially at night when Quito's many historic
churches are illuminated.
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- There is also a wide range of
museums and galleries, including the Fundacion Guayasamin. Alternatively
you might choose to sample the atmosphere at a local football
match at the Atahualpa Stadium. In the evening you might visit
the National Theatre, and there are a huge number of bars,
restaurants and clubs offering good food at reasonable prices
-just avoid the big chains.
Whatever your interests, Ecuador is a fascinating country.
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- Search this site with Google:
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Quito Apartment
Check availability -click on
calendar for further information.
Our Quito
apartment is situated in a small block of eight similar flats,
located near the top of the steep winding road leading down to
the historic village of Guápulo, Camino de Orellana -see
the satellite image on Google Maps. It is located on the lower ground
floor, and the natural lie of the hill means that both the living
room and bedroom enjoy panoramic views over Guápulo and
the valley beyond.
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