La Seguridad.

(The security.)

One interesting feature of Quito is that nearly every business has security guards, fully equipped with combat boots, bulletproof vests, and guns. Unlike in the United States, these guards are not there to protect the customers, but rather to protect the companies they work for. Robberies aren't actually all that common, but I guess most businesses think it's better to be safe than sorry.

The car lot near my house.

 The bank near my house.

The local grocery store.

Mindo

(The name of a small town in a cloud forest.)

The vegetation in Mindo is far more lush than that of Quito because it is at a lower altitude (although Mindo is still almost a mile above sea level).

Me on a hike to the waterfalls.

A cool abandoned house.

Mi aventura del volcán

(My volcano adventure.)

Me pretending I know what I´m doing while I ride near the volcano Tungurahua, also known as The Black Giant. Tungurahua is the largest volcano in Ecuador.

¡Cumpleaños!

(Birthday.)

I turned 21 yesterday. Here are a couple  pictures from our night in the Mariscal.

Mi primer fin de semana

 (My first weekend.)

Me at Lake Cuicocha. Lake Cuicocha formed in the crater of a volcano after an eruption four thousand years ago.

The equator, which is about twenty miles north of Quito.

Me feeding a llama at the pre-Incan Cochasqui pyramids.

La Virgen de Quito en el Panecillo

(The Virgin of Quito on el Panecillo.)

El Panecillo is on a hill in the center of Quito. The Virgin of Quito divides North and South Quito.

 Vince and I on the observation deck of the statue.

 A close-up view of the statue.

Next week I will publish pictures of a trip and of my host family.

Ayer, Philadelphia. Hoy, ¡Quito!

(Yesterday, Philadelphia. Today, Quito!)

A small part of the northwest part of Quito.

The northeast part of Quito.