view of the city looking out from inside Quito airport

Last night I flew from Cali to Quito via Bogota. Before transferring planes in Bogota, I paused to watch the television screens broadcasting coverage of Obama´s inauguration. I got teary, both filled with pride for my country, but also sad that I´m am miles away DC and the festivities. My fellow passengers smiled at me and it reminded me that for now, we have regained the respect of the world.

We dip below the thick cloud covering to land in Quito. An urban sprawl of lights emerged like I have never seen. The city of Quito is situated in a long narrow bowl, sandwiched between two mountain peaks. A dense grid of cubes creep up the mountain sides and down into valleys. The low lying lights seem to extend for miles and miles.

My reporting partner greets me at the airport and we drive to a lovely home in the valley of Cumbaya which will be our home base. Today, we fly west to the coastal town of Esmeralda where oil is the predominant business. We will begin talking to women refugees from Colombia who have fled poverty and violence and have ended up here as sex workers.
-- Amy Brown