South Quito

Quito is a long city, to say the least. Hemmed in by steep valley sides it has had to grow almost exclusively longitudinally, making it incredibly long compared to wide. I live in the center section and have almost never ventured south of Panecillo (“little bread” in Spanish) with its giant angel statue towering over the city from its hilltop perch. Almost every guard, taxi driver, or housemaid I have ever talked to has told me they live “in the south.” It is the district of Quito’s working class, nothing touristy to be found, a place where ordinary people live and work. And it was high time I went to explore.

But why go alone when I had an offer to visit Douglas (one of my guard friends I’ve known virtually my entire time here) and his family? So, last Saturday I met him at 6:30am and we caught the bus for the hour commute south.

After breakfast they took me up to an overlook near the house to get a view of their part of the city.




(Douglas on the right with his two daughters (he has three older sons too), two grandsons, and a nephew with South Quito spreading out behind them.)




(We next headed to a local park and after playing on the big toys I busted out my Frisbee. Like every other time it was a big hit☺)




(Back at the house we decided to do a group pic. I don’t have all the names, especially of the little guys, but everyone was related to some extent. Douglas’ wife is on the left. I’m awful with names but her kindness and instant welcome will stay with me for a very long.)




(After this I taught them how to play spoons and although we used lego blocks it didn’t matter. I think they would have kept playing till nightfall but Douglas and I had to leave at 3:30 (for him to work his next shift and me to get home) so we had stop, to many calls of “one more game!” After we had already played 3 “last games.” ☺)


I have been bombarded since my arrival with descriptions of how filthy and dangerous the south is; “you don’t want to go there” was a comment I frequently heard. However, after my recent visit, I couldn’t disagree more. It may not have the high-rises of the central districts and it is more rundown, but the people make the place for me, and I’ve been fortunate to meet some amazing ones.