El Dia Para Celebrar Quito

Today was the first day when we didn't have school and we weren't going anywhere, so we declared it: Quito Appreciation Day!

We went back to Centro Historico and went up to see the Panacillo, which is this enormous statue of a virgin in the middle of Quito. She's facing the north with her back to the south which I discovered was very symbolic since the south was always known for its poverty and danger while the north was home to more of the upper class families.

Please note my awesome tourist poses! The first pic is facing north and the second south Quito. (though from what I've just told you, you'd think it'd be the opposite.)

We then went to an awesome restaurant, went on a rather long adventure to rent a tent for this weekend, ate some ice cream, did some grocery shopping, and headed home. It wasn't the day I had in mind, one where we did everything Quiteno, and discovered everything Quito had to offer. But we did normal things, things you do at home, and for the next few months, Quito is home! We have a long time to discover everything this city has to offer, and I feel like we did a dang good job appreciating it today!

Low point of the day: I had to buy peanut butter and bread for my trip this weekend, and they don't sell JIF. (I know. I thought about returning to the US immediately, but alas, I can't afford the plane ticket. And what would I do for the rest of the semester anyway?......Eat JIF. Hmmm. No. I can't. I'm staying.) Anyway, I had to buy Peter Pan. I'm not sure you can even call it peanut butter, but here's a shout out to Mary Blonshine. Be proud. I'm eating peanut butter with Tinkerbell on it.