This Wednesday’s release is another short from Quito, this time a look at some classic Ecuadorian cuisine with best pal Amy of www.amyblogschow.com.

I have been in Quito for about 2 weeks now and I feel that I´ve gotten a chance to see alot of the city and wanted to share some of my thoughts with you. Here are the top 5 things I love about living in Quito followed by a few things I could do without.

Almuerzos: These are cheaply priced fixed meals offered at traditional Ecuadorean restaurants that are found on nearly every block.  For about 1.50 USD you can have a hearty soup made with quinua, a yummy grain native to the Andes, some rice, a piece of meat and some beans all served with a delicious freshly made fruit juice. Excellent.

Chifles: Fried banana chips. Exquisite.  Only about 50 cents USD for a bag of heaven.

The Old City:  This part of town is filled with wonderful colonial architecture that was made to be photographed.  From the plazas to the palaces and churches, this is the crown jewel of Quito.  You can wander around the cobble stoned streets and really get a feel for what life was once like in this gorgeous part of town.

Music: The city owes alot of its charm to the sheer amount of music you are presented with at every turn.  Whether its pasillo, folklorica, salsa or cumbia you can count on hearing something awesome anywhere you go.  I can´t wait to find some local music venues and take in some live acts.

Ease of public transport: Taxis are everywhere and can get you around Quito very cheaply and quickly.  Quito also has a trolley line, and a few other bus lines that can get you just about everywhere you need to be.  A car really isn´t necessary if you live here but you might need one if you want to reach some of the more remote places in Ecuador.

Now on to some of the not so fun parts about Quito

Traffic:  Getting in and out of Quito as we learned this weekend on our trip to the Andes was a nightmare.  Traffic, smog, and standing on buses for hours at a time are not my idea of fun but you just have to go with the flow sometimes.

Safety concerns: While apartment hunting around the city last weekend we kept getting warned by people to be careful for possible muggings, theft, etc.  The city much like any other big city has its rough parts I´m sure but it´s a little scary when people you meet tell you that 90% of their friends have been victimized in some form or another.  We will take the proper precautions and will be buying brass knuckles, bazookas and flame throwers to ensure the rest of our time here is peachy.