Historic Quito

One of the first things your body might notice when you land in Quito is the altitude (roughly 9000 feet). I spent the better part of my time here with a nagging headache and gasping for air after going up one flight of stairs (although the fact that I haven't seen the inside of a gym since 2009 may have contributed to that). We didn't have much time in Quito but we were able to walk around the old town – which was actually the first named UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site – and peek into many of the elaborately decorated churches.

There's something about walking unfamiliar streets that makes me pay even closer attention to the light and street scenes. I don't consider myself much a street photographer but I do really enjoy it when traveling. I am moved by the locals in the streets, colors, and the play of light and shadow. I rarely ask for permission so I do try to be as discreet as possible.

The street with all the flags was a charming area/pedestrian street called Calle la Ronda. It's more alive in the night time, but even when we walked by, there was a nice buzz and tons of shops, bars, and hole-in-the-wall eateries serving local delicacies.

We also stumbled across this restaurant/bar, Café Dios No Muere, and I was naturally taken by the simple kitchen set up.

The next morning, we left quite Quito early and I couldn't help but rush out of our car to shoot this pigeon feeder in the San Francisco Plaza. Just moments before, the man with the green hat stormed through and scared all of the pigeons away. When I grabbed this photo, the pigeons were just re-settling in. I had posted this scene on Instagram and someone mentioned that this man is there every morning to feed the pigeons. I don't know why, but that thought really tugs at my heartstrings. I can still see this scene very vividly in my mind. I hope he is happy.