I can't say I loved everything about our apartment in Quito. It wasn't very clean, the kitchen was sparsely equipped (for example, when we arrived there were only 3 forks), and the curtains were pretty much sheer (Conor made a make-shift curtain out of garbage bags in the middle of one night - that's true love!). 

However, our location was ideal. For one we made friends with our neighbors. We were a short walk to our Spanish school and our chapel. We were close to parks, museums, and old town. One thing we loved about that apartment was that because it was on a busy street, we walked into the busy-ness of the city as soon as we walked out our door. So many people, so many things to buy and see! I loved that energy.

One location we were close to was old town. There were always a lot of police in old town and a lot of people! Old men smoking cigarettes and playing cards. All the benches full of people. It was a fun place to eat chocolate and people watch. But do not buy anything from any of the stores. They are 100% overpriced. Go to the market instead.

We received so many recommendations to visit the Mormon Battalion Historic Site in Old Town San Diego, and I'm really glad we did! It was a fun visit with an excellent interactive presentation. Mormons were instrumental in settling San Diego. It was really neat! Holly loved it and wanted to go through the whole thing a second time, and when I said no, I had the thought, maybe she'll serve her mission here. Who knows? There were lots of lady missionaries in old timey dresses.

We did very little shopping while in San Diego and what we did do was done at Old Town. We bought a nativity and blanket and some tea. I know right? Big spenders. But to be honest, I loved that shopping wasn't anywhere close to important. I really felt like the focus of our trip was being together and making memories. And we did! It was uh-mazing!