You Know You're in Quito When...

 (This is especially for those friends who have lived, been to, or hope to come to Quito, Ecuador.)

- multiple children run up to you at one time to shine your shoes (flip flops, converse, green suede vans..)

- Futbol is more important than anything

- If you don't have nausea at least once a week, you must not be eating. 

- If the doors on the bus can still shut, there's still room for more

- Milk and eggs aren't refrigerated

- You can't breathe at an intersection

- You have memorized the names of the Ecovia stops

- $3 for lunch is really expensive

- No vehicle (car, bus, police motorcycle, ambulance, bike) stops for a pedestrian. They do however honk to let you know they're coming.

-You can buy 100 limes for $1 on the corner, the bus, the street...

- You carry your umbrella with you everyday

- You can go from sweating to freezing in 30 minutes

- You can recognize the bus drivers/helpers by their yell (La Marin, La Marin, La Marin!)

- You can get 120 songs on one CD for $1

- New release movies (still in the theater) are $1.50 on a DVD at the store on the corner

- Rice is served at every meal, every day

- The view of the mountains never gets old

- Coca-Cola is the new water - and even tastes better

- Old Town Quito feels like a different country and time period

- Pinguino Ice Cream - they sell Magnum bars!

- $1 for 25 roses

- Old ladies and children are the best pick-pocketers. Watch out!

- Most buses have curtains and tassels - classy.

- KFC is one of the most popular restaurants in Quito

- You have your "own" panaderia, pirated DVD store, movistar man, and tiendita where you know the workers by name

- Halls cough drops are considered candy

- Aji makes everything taste better

- Regaton is played at all hours of the day/night

- Only 80's-90's top 40 music has made it on the radio here

- Even the poorest of the poor have cell phones

- You have never thought white bread could be so tasty!

- There is a different key for EVERY door in your house

- Family dogs always seem to be hanging out on the roof

- You throw your toilet paper in the trash, not the toilet

- You have been involved in a city bus race

- You have witnessed a political protest

- You haggle with Taxis for a mere 50 cents

- You get turned down by taxis because "it's too dangerous there" or they aren't headed that way

- It takes three days for your clothes to dry because they got caught in three rainstorms on the line

- You put popcorn in your soup

- You drink juice with every meal

...I'm sure this list will continue . This just gives you a taste of life in Quito. The quirks are what make this place magical. Come visit. 

We love you! Don't forget to keep in touch! We love the emails and comments and talks on Skype. They keep us going. 

xoxo,

Anna and Jon