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Shop till you drop Experience miske
There are dozens of markets in Quito. For If you don’t know what “miske” is now, you’ll
souvenirs, head straight to Mercado Artesanal learn in Quito. It’s the distilled alcohol made
La Mariscal, a bustling covered warren of ven- from the nectar at the heart of local agave
dors who compete to sell locally made arts and plants – the wild cousin of Mexico’s mezcal and
crafts. Find everything from textiles and jew- tequila. La Casa Agave, a boutique miske pro-
elry to shoes, or even a new bag to carry your ducer and gold medal winner at San Francisco’s
purchases home in. Prices are competitive – World Spirits Competition, is a great place to
and usually a bargain even for those who don’t learn more and of course, taste. (https://casa-
bother to haggle. agave-ecuador.com/en/)
Mercado Inaquito is the place to go for fresh
food – from fruits to local cheeses, seafood and Know before you go
just-butchered meats. Enjoy a snack (or a meal)
at its food court.
Ecuador has used U.S. currency since 1999 –
At Mercado Municipal San Francisco, there’s so no need to bring anything but dollars. You
food – but the big draw is a clutch of healers may still receive some “sucre’ coins as change.
who offer traditional herbal medicines and
Quito sits at 9,350 feet elevation. If you
treatments handed down by ancestors. The af- think you might be prone to altitude sickness,
ternoon we visited, we found parents who talk to your doctor about a prescription for Ac-
sought a remedy for their
etazolamide.
young son’s shyness. In an-
I stayed at Hotel Mama
other cubby, a woman from
Canada paid $7 for a “body- Cuchara, an Art Hotel, in the
city’s historic center, within easy
and-soul energy fix” that re-
walking distance of most major
quired she strip to her under-
wear, get whacked with herb old town attractions. Rooms for
two start at around $300 per
branches, then soothed with a
night and include a lavish break-
gentle neck and shoulders oil
rub. fast buffet. (https://hotelma-
macuchara.com/us/)
Ride sky high I had two excellent guides in
Quito. Each offers full-day city
tours (including a visit to Mitad
For breathtaking views of del Mundo) for up to three people
the city, ride a TelefériQo gon- for $120. The package includes
dola from the western edge of Quito up the private transportation, but not admission fees or
east side of Pichincha volcano. In less than 20 lunch. Contact Daniel Diaz at dxsteel@hotmail
ear-popping minutes you’ll rise from about .com or Antonio Lescano at joseantonioles-
10,000 feet elevation to almost 13,000 feet. cano@gmail.com Diaz offers half-day tours for
We timed our ascent to get a golden sunset $80.
view of Quito and to be at the Cruz Loma look- Find the Quito Tourist Office at www.Quito
out up top as the city comes to life each .com.ec
evening when its 3 million inhabitants switch
on evening lights. Instead we ascended into a
dense, otherworldly cloud. Beautiful – utterly
quiet and peaceful.
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