Quito, the capital of Ecuador, is a wonderful city to visit. It is the second highest capital city in the world, and the one closest to the equator. It has a long history and culture that includes the impact of the indigenous peoples and their one-time Spanish conquerors. The place has a lively spirit and an energy that you see and feel on the streets.
But the one additional element of the city that really stood out in my mind was its location. The city exists on the slopes of the Andes mountains and in the vicinity of volcanoes, some of them still active. It is a vast metropolis of over two million people that is sprawled out over the hillsides all around you and whichever way you turn. Not having experienced cities like this previously, it looks quite amazing to me. I wonder about the infrastructure that can keep a place like this going. Anyway, here is the one picture that captures this particular element of the experience of the city in my mind.
Splattered Brains 