Our last Saturday in Quito, we went to our friend's for lunch and it was AMAZING! The lunch was soup with fish, yuca and fresh tomatoes, jalapenos and onions. Just like the ceviche at the church, the soup was topped with popcorn and plantain chips. It was so good. I did not want to stop eating! We were also served naranjilla juice and a fruit that only grows in Ecuador and is only available for one month of the year. It's called Sapote and it's very different from any other fruit I've ever eaten.

Holly and Greta got to have a soap fight and a water fight with their friend, followed by a warm shower.

We were so incredibly blessed by the hospitality of this family! They had actually invited us for lunch the Saturday previous and we feel so bad that we didn't fully understand!

In old town Quito, we came across a most amazing art exhibit. The art, split into 4 sections, portrayed the indigenous people over the last century. It was beautiful and moving. "Hard working" is the theme throughout it all. I loved, loved this exhibit. In fact, when we first discovered it, we were only able to view the first section before it closed for the night. Naturally we had to return at a later day.

Also that baby of mine scooting on her bottom down a perfectly lit hallway. 

On Greta's birthday, we met some friends at Greta's favorite park and played. This meant that I got more than 3 hours of Spanish practice! Oh gosh, the language is difficult. Slugging through though! When the afternoon became dark, we walked to our local chapel where the women were making ceviche. Oh my goodness so delicious! Or as they would say in Ecuador, "bien rico" (pretty delicious!). I was surprised when a lady walked around with a grocery bag filled with salted popcorn mixed with plantain chips. That is a topping for the soup and it was so good! I'm so grateful Trader Joe's sells plantain chips back home. 

Now that we are in an apartment with a decent kitchen and for a longer stay, we plan on cooking Ecuadorian food. Hoping to share some photos of what we make! Do I dare make chicken stock out of chicken feet like the locals?!

Some photos from our return trip to see the interior of the Basilica. The stained glass is amazing and no photo I took captures the vibrancy.

Our apartment in Quito was a short walk from the famous Basilica. In fact, we could see the Basilica from one of our bedrooms. We made our way there one Sunday and while we didn't tour the inside that day (it cost $2 and we don't spend money on our Sabbath), we enjoyed walking around the exterior and committed to come back. The Basilica was built like Notre Dame in Paris (been there!), although it's not completely finished, only 70% completed. It's an incredible structure and each time we saw Quito from above, it was clear just how large and impressive the Basilica truly is!