Hindu, Hindon't

The Govinda cultural centre in the historic part of Quito runs classes of yoga, among other things, and, on a Sunday morning, leads a free lesson of Bhakti yoga. We joined this morning and tried to interpret the Spanish teachings of proper breathing and diet, while limbering ourselves up with a few basic asanas.

According to a poster in the centre, the session was supposed to be followed by a "Hindu festival", involving talks on vegetarianism, philosophy and more. However, as with many organised events, we found ourselves bumbling around while little appeared to happen. Our eagerness to participate in "the festival" was met with uncomprehending stares and an equivocating answer that pointed us to the available vegetarian food (which is available every day of the week) but no further indication that anything concrete would happen until 6pm at the earliest. We relented and bought some items from the Oki 'eco market', eating them in the pleasant courtyard of the centre, quietly baffled, wondering whether it was terribly British to expect something to actually take place as advertised.

Govinda's courtyard

With a few unexpectedly spare hours, which we had intended to spend otherwise engaged, we walked around the historic centre, which was eerily quiet. Every Sunday a long section of Quito's roads are closed to traffic (except the trolley buses) to make way for cyclists in what is known as Ciclópolis. We were not in time to organise bicycle hire for this week but fully intend to take part next weekend - having witnessed first hand that the event is not, in fact, a fantasy of our own imagination.

The sun and sky were perfect today, reminding me of a particularly good English summer's day, with temperatures in the early twenties and few clouds. We retired to the main square, Plaza Grande, and joined the rest of Quiteño life with cake, coffee, and higos con queso.

Figs and cheese

The Ecuadorians are obsessed with putting cheese (a fresh, white kind that is vaguely salty but not pungent) with everything sweet. The figs are coated in a thick caramelised panela sauce and served with a couple of thick slices of queso fresco. The combination works remarkably well.

Busting some moves in the square

We watched a group of talented young boys breakdancing at the steps of the cathedral, while sellers of coconut juice and ice cream kept the onlookers cool.