el Centro Historico

We've been to the Old Town a couple of times, like Cartagena it's a unesco world heritage site but unlike Cartagena it lacks charm, I found it ugly and grey. I don't know what the difference is, if it's the lack of sunshine or the number of beggars and hawkers on the streets or that some of the streets that we walked down were completely deserted and eerily quiet.

Monastery of San Fransisco

I found it quite a sad place to walk around, obviously since the New Town sprung up in the 1940's and the rich Ecuadorians deserted for a new life there has been no investment, in fact the travel books state that the old town has received considerable investment since 2003 but there's little evidence of it.

Andean hawker

The policemen and their dogs patrolling the streets of the old town however are a bright and friendly bunch who on the count of three salute or sit up and beg!

One, two, three.....oi you in the middle I said THREE!