The steps winding the way up to the top of the clock tower are no more than six inches wide, and they're steep, each metal stair only inches above the one below it. At 5'10" and with size 10 (wide) feet, my ascent was something out of a cartoon. I climbed up on my toes -- I only fit on each step from the tips of my toes to the balls of my feet. Had I hunched over and looked frantically from side to side a time or two to make sure a wily mouse or cat or coyote wasn't chasing me, I think animated music would have accompanied my itty bitty tinkle toe climb. But when I reached the top, all of Old Town Quito spread out before me. It was a postcard, addressed to me from blue skies and wisps of white, lightweight clouds above. The Basilica bell rang; it was Quito's finest hour. And I started my clumsy descent, side stepping one foot over the other and holding on to the wobbly rail for dear life.
if you go...
Basilica del Voto Nacional is in Quito's charming Old Town
Fee to climb the clock tower: $2
(there is sometimes a fee to enter the church)
you can take the stairs or the elevator inside the church
hours: 9:00-5:00
So pretty!
ReplyDeletethank you! :)
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