urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:emmiecat emmiecat emmiecat 2038-01-19T03:14:07Z urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:emmiecat:5296 2038-01-19T03:14:07Z 2038-01-19T03:14:07Z marching band Also in Quito, after we took the bus back from Otavalo, we ended up in the major bus terminal in Quito with no idea how to get back to the hotel. I thought we could find the bus, but Maya pointed out that besides a back pack jammed full we also had a bunch of shopping bags and we would be easy marks on a crowded city bus. We opted for a taxi, but even that was hard to find in the grungy, 3 level, underground bus station we were in. We finally circled back to just about where we started and found a taxi. The taxis in Quito are supposed to use a meter, and there are signs up all over the airport and bus station telling you to ask the driver about the meter, but no one actually uses it. So we negotiated the price back to our hotel, about $4 if I remember correctly, and started through lots of Quito traffic.<br /><br />As we approached this big park that basically separates Old Town from New Town, we saw lots of displays of art. Not traditional art, but more like modern art set up in stands along the sidewalks lining the park. As we were looking out the window at those, we realized we were stuck in traffic because of a parade! I was excited and thought it had something to do with the art fair, but it apparently didn't. Then I thought it might have something to do with the upcoming Easter week, but it also didn't. When I asked the taxi driver (who was probably really aggravated at this point and wishing he'd used the meter instead of a mere $4 for this time-consuming trip) he said that it was a school celebrating its something-anniversary. There were marching bands, costumes, dancers, banners, and all sorts of excitement. We caught a different parade after we returned to Cuenca, but that's for another entry.