Early on Tuesday, July 9, 2015, I checked out of my noisy hostel (in Baños, Ecuador) and walked to the small bus station just over a block away, dragging my luggage with me every step of the way. While I had inquired about the bus schedules many times in previous days, I had not pre-purchased a ticket. As I stood in line waiting at the office of one small bus line, a man came up to me and told me his bus was leaving sooner.
As if someone else were driving my body, I curiously left the line I wanted to be in, and followed the man to another bus office, maybe thirty feet away. As I was finalizing my purchase, I asked a question that just popped into my mind.
“This bus has a bathroom on it, right?” I ask with anticipation.
When the man told me “No”, I almost asked for my money back so I could take the other bus … but I didn’t want to make a scene.
This is the first of many curious events — events that later led to unexpected, fearful, growth-filled adventure. I will talk about those events in the main section of this post.
As far as photos go, this post contains the first 67 photos of my short five days in Quito … the capitol city of Ecuador. More photos will follow in subsequent posts.
As usual, the photos in this post are thumbnail images. Please click on any photo to enlarge it. The thumbnails leave much to be desired as far as colors and resolution – plus the thumbnails clip all of the edges. I use thumbnails for the post itself, because it gives people an opportunity to get a summary glimpse without downloading huge amounts of data for the high-res photos.
CLICK ON ANY PHOTO TO ENLARGE TO HIGH RESOLUTION
A Shocking Revelation
After placing my large backpack and carry-on suitcase in the luggage compartment, I nervously walked onto the bus. I never feel comfortable traveling on buses that don’t give you a luggage claim ticket. A nervous little voice always whispers, “What if someone just walks off with your luggage?”
As I placed my day-pack (with valuables) under my seat, I checked in with my heart feelings and reassured the whispering voice that everything was OK. For the next twenty minutes I frequently entertained a chorus of little voices that still wanted to switch to the other bus. Several times I almost acted on those voices, but each time, another feeling reassured me that “all is well”. When the bus finally backed away from the terminal, I knew that the inner debate was finally over.
After a few hours of travel, our bus stopped in a rural area, directly in front of a large gas station. The driver told us we had about fifteen minutes for a quick break.
In all of my six-plus years of travel, at least before today, I have never left my valuables unattended in a public area – but for whatever reason, on this day, I felt a total sense of peace encouraging me to leave my day pack under my seat while quickly running to use the gas station restroom. When I returned to my seat not more than a few minutes later, I noticed that the position of my day-pack under the seat had slightly shifted. Without even thinking, I ignored the obvious and just shuffled it with my feet, returning it to its usual position (where I use my feet to keep track of it).
During the last hour, I repeatedly noticed two young men just across the aisle and one seat back. I never made direct eye contact with them, but did pick up on a subtle energy that they were somehow observing me – paying attention to my movements When a seat opened up on the right side of the bus, I moved across the aisle so that I could more easily observe the luggage doors just below (I was still nervous about my main luggage). When I made that move, one of the young men left the seat behind me and moved up to the seat in front of me. As I moved it, I also noticed that the contents of my day-back were also sliding around inside, as if it was more spacious – but even that insight did not wake me from my trance. And I also noticed that the young man in front of me was observing my every move.
As the bus stopped, I was so thrilled that my luggage was still in the compartments below, that I did not pay attention to the lightness of my day-pack. I remained clueless as the taxi took me on a long thirty-minute drive to a hostel near the historic center of Quito. It was not until after checking in at that hostel that I went to get my computer so that I could announce my arrival on Facebook.
My jaw cringed and my belly sank as I stared down into the empty space where my computer should be. Frantically searching the rest of the day-pack, I discovered that my wallet (inside of a smaller bag in a different compartment of the day-pack) with considerable cash and bank cards, was also missing. The thieves had done a very surgical strike, leaving most things behind, taking only my most precious items. I was thrilled to discover that my three external hard drives (backups, etc) were all safely stashed at the bottom of the section where the computer had been.
Frantic Stops
The first thing I did was run to the hostel office, asking them if I could use Skype on one of their computers. When their microphones didn’t work, I walked down the street to an internet cafe where I quickly called my bank and credit card companies – cancelling all of those precious cards – my ATM lifelines. I was so grateful that just a week earlier, I had begun to carry one debit card in my little shoulder purse.
Next, after asking for advice at the hostel, I walked to the center of the historic town, found a tourist police office, and filed a police report. The officer was so sweet, and did not make me feel embarrassed as I frequently found myself on the edge of sobbing.
I had a similar experience as I asked a travel agent about a possible tour to the Equator monuments. I unexpectedly shared what had just happened, and ended up sobbing for several minutes in his office. It seemed that when I was by myself, dealing with things, I was just fine … but the moment I tried to talk about it with someone, the tears bubbled up with exploding pressure.
That evening, after a quick and unsatisfying dinner, I let the processing begin. I drank a full dose of cacao, isolated myself in my room, and stayed awake for most of the night – in deep intense processing – revisiting everything that had happened – reviewing all of my options (one of which was the fear-based response of taking a flight directly back to the US).
When I reviewed my day, it was absolutely obvious how many subtle hints I had noticed and ignored throughout the day – many more than I have outlined here. Yet, at the same time, I continued to have a strong feeling of puzzling guidance. It seemed that I was shown both sides of my experience … yes, I had been given repeated intuitive and energetic awareness that something was not right … and YES, I was indeed guided to simply be aware of that awareness, while continuing to ignore it.
I find it hard to describe, but it was like I was being given a gift — a tour of my energetic and intuitive sensitivities — a tour that I would never have been aware of if the robbery itself had not actually happened. I absolutely knew that it was all part of my education, and that in the long run, it would all serve me in ways that would only reveal themselves later (and they have been doing just that).
In my meditation that night, I was determined to find love for everything, including those two young men who had made my life so incredibly difficult (at least in the short term).
By morning, I found myself in a pure state of blissful and loving peace, knowing that I was fine … knowing that I would continue with my plans to fly to Guatemala … knowing that I would first hang around and play tourist in Quito for another few days (acting mostly as if nothing had happened).
Regrouping
I was delighted later that morning when I found a replacement battery charger for my camera (I discovered that the charger was one of the missing casualties). Over the next few days, I became quite familiar with one of Quito’s metro bus lines – scouring every computer store that I could find. I never did find what I was looking for (a reasonably priced computer with English keyboard and “Windows 7” operating system). I did eventually purchase a very cheap android tablet on which I could at least do emails, Facebook, and Skype.
And then, the synchronicity began to flow again. I was messaging a friend from New York. She told me she was going to be in Guatemala in a couple of weeks, and was hoping to see me there. One thing led to another, and everything fell into place. I ordered a brand new computer from Amazon, had it shipped to her, and she brought it to me in Guatemala, less than ten days after I got there.
And Now For The Photos
After finding a new charger for my camera batteries, I spent part of the day exploring the historic center of Quito. The following photos are from that exploration.
I began in the historic town square of Quito. This photo is inside a large cathedral there.
The beautiful town square. The tourist police station where I filed a report is just to my right.
Another photo in the historic town plaza.
The exterior of the cathedral.
Interesting murals on this old building. It was about two blocks down this street where I found the open travel agency — and where I sobbed my fears away while talking to a beautiful compassionate man.
A HUGE basilica, about five blocks away from the historic plaza.
Walking down a side street, toward that basilica (upper left center).
An entrance at the back of the basilica. I was expecting to walk into the church. I had no idea that this was actually a tour entrance … and that after paying a small fee I could climb to the highest heights of the basilica towers.
Looking up at the basilica from this same place.
I will eventually be up in the top of that tower on the right.
Taken from the same spot, just looking to the left.
Looking down at some stairs I just climbed.
There are a LOT of stairs kamagra oral jelly uk.
After climbing more than a hundred feet, I arrived at the first level, from where we could look down into the interior of the basilica.
I love this huge window.
Looking down into the interior toward the front of the basilica.
Beautiful stained glass.
I was surprised that we could look outside at the walls above the interior. I still had no idea that I could climb even higher.
Looking at the outside from a different angle. I will soon be in the tower that is barely visible at the upper right corner of this thumbnail image.
A view of Quito.
… and looking in a different direction. The city itself is huge, and most of it is not visible from this point.
… and looking in yet another direction.
Soon, I found a door that led to a path that traversed the entire top of the basilica. This sign was at the entrance, indicating that it is prohibited for children under five years old to climb from this point.
I took this as permission to continue forward.
This is the first thing I saw. This is a wooden ramp that crosses over the entire length of the basilica. At the far side, I barely see a steep ladder.
Getting closer to the far side.
The steps are very steep and narrow. I had to wait for that young man to descend before I could go up.
Preparing to climb up as the young man reaches the bottom.
I am now at the next level, looking out at the bell tower (I will eventually climb that one too).
A different view from the same place.
Looking back toward the center of town.
Then I really giggled when I discovered even more steps, going higher and higher. They are sooooo steep.
Such a climb would never be allowed by insurance companies in the US.
I think I am near the top of this tower now (at least as far as tourists can go).
Wait … I guess there was more. I had to wait on a tiny landing between two steep sets of stairs … waiting for these people to come down first. That place at the top of these steps is as high as I went.
Looking around from the top (at least this one).
Me and the two clock towers. The historic center of town is beyond those towers. I will soon be at the top of that tower on the left.
Someone else took this photo for me.
Same view, without me.
My hostel is over there, right about at the center of this photo.
More scenes from above.
Taking a look at the steps that go back down. Did I say yet that these steps are steep?
That man in red is so afraid, he is sitting down on each step.
But I am not quite ready to leave. I hang out here for a while. I want to meditate and enjoy the peace.
Looking up from this platform.
A gargoyle bird, hanging out above me.
I finally went down a level. This photo does an adequate job of capturing the steepness of these steps.
Walking back across the top of the basilica below.
More of the walk back across …
I love this window on the far end … beautiful sacred geometry.
After reaching the other end, I found this sign that says “Climb to the belfry”.
So I began another climb (my knees were getting sore). This is looking back down at the steps I have already climbed.
Part of the clock mechanism.
And then, I spy another spiral staircase leading up … up … up.
More of the clock mechanisms. You can see parts of the clocks in the upper corners.
One of the clocks as seen from the inside. This makes me wonder if the clock mechanisms in previous photos are just antique relics. This clock does not appear to be hooked up to them.
Looking up at more of the tower above me.
Now at the top, looking up at the bells above.
I climbed these bars on the left, but the gate above is locked.
Looking back at the first tower that I climbed. It is obvious that I am much higher here.
In this photo, I am back down at ground level, looking at a beautiful carved door.
Preparing to enter the actual basilica, doing so from street level.
Looking up into one of the towers (sorry for the fuzzy focus).
I love these old windows.
An interior view of the front.
In previous photos, I was walking across the top of this ceiling.
From the far back, looking toward the front of this huge basilica.
Another beautiful window.
More fuzzy focus.
This woman was on the ground, praying, prostrate in front of the alter. It looks like she has a photo of a loved one just beside her.
Below the basilica is a large lawn area, providing a beautiful spot to get a photo of the entire building.
This is the metro-bus station that I frequently used to get around to the new part of town.
The exterior of my hostel.
As I prepare to retire for the night, still doing lots of “recovery errands”, I have already made plans for two more tours.
Tomorrow, I will go on a tour to the “Midad del Mundo” or “Middle of the World”, which is an all-day tour to the equator, just north of Quito.
The next day, I have arranged to go on an all-day tour to “Quilatoa” – a huge lake in a high-altitude volcanic crater. Similar in a way to Crater Lake in Oregon.
And on the following day I will pack and make final last-minute preparations for my flight to Guatemala.
Photos documenting those two days of tours will follow in two subsequent photo posts.
Copyright © 2015 by Brenda Larsen, All Rights Reserved