Post a Comment On: VagabondJim

Day 0: - 5/29/23 En-route to: Quito Ecuador
Travel: LAX-RDU (MIA-UIO*) Written: in RDU @ 0200
What a long day so far.  I'm writing from Raleigh-Durham at 0200.  The place is empty, I have a headache (but no aspirin).  I'm hungry.

Yet, it's been a decent start to my dry run. I am happy.

That was supposed to be a "secret dry run" but the secret is out.  Dad called while I was in the quiet area of the LAX Admirals Club (yes, all that flying on American still has some residual benefits - in this case I can use the clubs on international itineraries.)  When I asked to hang on until I was in a place I could chat he asked if I was in a library.  Nope, that was Saturday to print some stuff.

I don't lie; I fessed up.  Of course I did.  No, I did not chop down the cherry tree.

RDU is empty except for a dozen pax overnighting and 3 dozen security and cleaning folk.  But, I'm indoors.  I was hopeful but did not expect that.  Previous fun at JFK taught me that airports do kick everyone out for cleaning and security (and they even prohibit you from riding the inter-terminal shuttle there.  Assholes.)  I asked a gate agent here when I deplaned at 0030.  They said to expect the same here.  So far, so good.

My original plan was to land in Quito and take the bus to the hostal* However, lack of sleep, the threat of rain in UIO, the fact that the buses would take 2 hours (yet cost but $0.50) have me thinking I may taxi to the hostal.  That would blow my daily transit budget…but allow me to rest up for the remainder of the stay.  Probably smart.  Maybe there's an intermediate solution.  I'll find out when I get there.

Rest today.  Then tomorrow will be a light day.  Quito is at nearly 3,000m (this blog is fluent in metric) above sea level.  So light days will be a theme.

The general agenda:

- The Ecuadoran Central Bank's Museum
- The National Astronomical Observatory's Museum
- Wandering the historic old town - I'm staying within the UNESCO Heritage Site.
- See City Museum, the pre-Columbian Art Museum, the Museum of Modern Art- See some churches - there's a cathedral and a Jesuit church (yeah, I saw that pair in Rome too.)
- Catch a soccer match- Eat lots of Andean food.  Especially pork (Hornitos! Fritadodos! Y Mas!!!)- Gasp for breath- Bruise my feet even more


It's not about seeing everything.  It's about wandering through the place to understand its very complicated spirit.  (Conquered by the Incas and then the Spaniards, it has some stories to share.)

And, to refresh my spirit as well.

I. Am. Happy.


The Vagabond has returned.  Wish me luck.


Jim



* Is there another airport with 3 vowels for its abbreviation, or the name of the destination sans all its consonants?  (Couldn't happen in Wales I bet!)  Get used to airport codes.

** In the Castilian*** speaking world a Hostal is a 1 star hotel, not the same as a hostel.

*** One will be corrected immediately when speaking to South Americans and calling their language "Spanish."  It's Castiliano to them.  Fair 'nuff.  Cuando in Roma, hace coma los Romanos.