Quito
Our time in Quito was divided up by volunteer work, taking in some of the beautiful colonial buildings of the old town with fellow cyclist Byron (www.byrongoessouth.com), getting firmly acquainted with the bus system, Belinda getting over the flu, resting, watching soccer on t.v. in every shop, utilizing a fully equipped kitchen to prepare a few meals and a prison visit.
Roland was a bit undecided and uneasy with the idea of a prison visit in Quito, when our host Luis first suggested it. After reading several blogs on the internet, he found myself wondering whom the visit was meant to benefit. It came across as either an exhilarating experience like that of sky diving or bungy jumping, or as a compassionate gesture that might break from the routine of prison life. As you can imagine, this prison are not an inviting place and once inside your free to roam around with all the inmates. The only thing that disguishes you from the prisoners are a series of stamps issued at various security check points. Lugging around a few grocery bags of food and toiletry items Roland went about searching for a Canadian inmate. Without going into too much detail, a scared Roland was impressed at the courage and mental toughness it takes to survive in a place like this, particularly when your a foreigner. Everything and anything is possible if the price is right. Roland still has mixed feelings on the experience.
When it finally came time to leave Quito, we thoroughly enjoyed our ride out of the city with Luis and the Ciclopolis crew (a cycling organization that promotes cycling and organizes a weekly ride through the city with roads cordoned off from traffic) escorting us to the city limits and beyond.