Quito, 1430 I slept poorly last night. On previous nights I was dead to the world by 2000. Last night, I saw 2335 and beyond. (One learns to NOT check the time too often as a chronic insomniac. I checked only once.) Part of it was noise. When the sun goes down, this part of towns shuts comletely down. The streets are absolutely empty. The stores are all shuttered by 1800. The place rolls up the sidewalks, the tourists disappear. (I am in the historic old town it is tourist laden by daylight as is appropriate for one of the original UNECO Heritage Sites.) It has usually stayed deserted until a few hours after sunrise (~0615 +/- 20 minutes year round. Sunset is always ~12 hours later.) When I wake at 0800ish the stores are just re-opening. Last night there were trucks parked outside. Lots of conversation. Lots of diesel engine noises. Lots of exhaust fumes. Ear plugs and a mask helped. But only a bit. I awoke tired. And I still feel so. Here's the street when I woke up
+ Styptic pencil (nicked an artery shaving - who knew one could? - 5 hours of bleeding. They have no idea what one is in Quito.) + Kindle (I miss reading.) + Earbuds (long sleepless flights suck.) + Crystal Lite Packets (water is dull.) + Camping utensils (Too many bad plastic utensils in market food courts.) + Better Luggage (travel backpack is a go; sling for daytime wear is better than a small backpack if sans camera gear. 3l may be OK - carrying layers and can serve as 'personal item' aboard flights.)
Quito, ~1545 Exhaustion is setting in and I'm doing my best to pay attention. Honest, I am. It's also about accepting limits and being smart. That's very hard to do here. Elevation is tough on a fat (but thinning) and balding dude. Today's sole destination: Science! (For kids) My two favorite museums, in the world, are Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry and Muenchen's Deutsches Museum. [Immediate digression, to live in the moment: While it has rained here everyday, it sounds like a doozy is about to blow in. Thunder for the first time. Big temp and light drop just now. Glad I'm blogging rather than logging footsteps at this moment. I hear the stores shuttering; I do not hear the touts. Oh, shit... 20 minutes later... I now have 3 bananas, some cookies and chips - perfect for a rainy night dinner. Plus about 4 litres of various fluids. Hydration matters at elevation. Supermercado Santa Maria must be one of the nice girl Santas Maria. Much
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