It's fitting that for my one hundredth review, WHS #100 on my list of sites visited should be the City of Quito, Ecuador, one of the original twelve sites inscribed in 1978. Quito is nestled in a valley high in the Andes, and the surrounding mountains offered amazing views of the city when I visited in June of 2017. Although Quito may be rough around the edges, and care should be taken in certain areas, I felt quite safe and comfortable walking around the center. Quito was added to the WHS list forty years ago for its effective preservation of the Baroque stylings of its historic center, which can be seen in the rich, gilded interior of la Compañía church, as well as the cathedral of Quito, located on Plaza de la Independencia, Quito's central square. While exploring, I enjoyed learning about Quito's religious heritage through the Carmen Alto Monastery and the nearby Museo de la Ciudad (Museum of the City). I didn't make it to the winged Mary statue at the top of Panecillo hill, south of the historic center, but I did visit the Basilica del Voto Nacional, on the north side; the views of the city and surrounding mountains from the towers were incredible. On my last night in Ecuador, I spent a memorable two hours watching the sunset from the central square, and had a great conversation with an elderly gentleman who had much to talk about regarding his travels and his country. It's moments like those that make travel so worthwhile.

Logistics: Quito's historic center is very walkable, although care should be taken in some areas outside the historic center; visits to the nearby Equator require a taxi or private transportation.