Just listen to the music of the traffic in the city

I've been thinking about my reactions when I arrive in a new place. I've realised that when I arrive in a small town (El Calafate, Valpariso or Nazca, to give three examples) I'm generally relaxed and looking forward to some downtime. When I arrive in a city, on the other hand, I get all excited and can't stop grinning. I am a city person, I love the buzz, the potential of such a density of people and, a little bit, the potential danger. In reality I avoid any known danger areas but the thought they are there just adds to the thrill.

Real danger (like walking down a rock-strewn slope or along the ege of a cliff) doesn't excite me. In fact I remember when I visited Petra in Jordan and ended up walking along a practically non-existent path (about 15cm wide) halfway up a sheer rockface with nowhere to go but 200 metres down - while wearing openback sandals. I really thought I was going to die - I was too scared to cry, that's how bad it was. Obviously I survived but I would never choose to do something like that again, even now it brings me out in cold sweats.

Anyhow, I'm in Quito, the capital of Ecuador, it's evening and I'm excited. Hell, I might drag myself away from the internet cafe, go out in the pouring rain and get something to eat.