La Ronda - Round the Bend Historic Street
Plaques of its story can be read on its walls as you take in the architecture. Before these buildings, the indigenous aborigines made their living here, using this very street as a path to the Pichincha River, which took care of most of their needs. Evolving in importance, this path became the way to San Juan de Dios Hospital - then on to housing all types of artists - on to a street notorious for crime, a main street for theft and worse. Today, children play here safely, and guards make sure it stays safe for tourists. These buildings remain intact in their original architecture, since earthquakes didn't knock them down. Art galleries and little stores offer stuff to stuff your suitcases with if you feel like spending. We climbed some steps, and after eating a sumptuous meal at Restaurant La Casa de Los Geranios, a hidden gem of La Ronda, continued round the bend to the exiting Tunel de La Paz (Tunnel of Peace) - where the old city joined the new - way back when - through this extraordinary street.
Celebrations of holidays here explode with parades, concerts, theatrics in the street, and maybe a few surprises. I feel perfectly safe, as I go with Angel Rea of Quinde Adventure del Ecuador and drink in the history.
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