February 2013
Barbara Barton 's Reviews
Local Insider |
this visit. It’s a new boutique hotel which opened in 2011 after a $10 million transformation from a 1920s mansion. Its imposing location overlooks Plaza San Francisco whose cobbled square goes back to the days of the Inca in the historic heart of Old Town. Each of its 31 rooms has been restored to its former Art Nouveau elegance: original hand-painted ceilings, friezes, murals, and antique chandeliers. The hotel proved a wonderful base from which to explore the city, as well as a tranquil haven upon return. Experiencing Quito is, in a word, a surprise; a revelation from start to finish. From its energetic, newly restored La Ronda district with its tiny, jewel-box arts and crafts shops, to its heart-stopping vistas from on high that rival the Amalfi Coast; from La Mariscal’s non-stop party atmosphere to today’s artisans and designers creating amazing works inspired by pre-Columbian times, Quito is quixotic, kaleidoscopic and, yes, surprising. It is, in fact, the quintessential travel experience we all seek. .... |
