Quito is a city of contrasts. Wealth and poverty, split along ethnic lines, sit side-by-side, reflecting Ecuador’s colonial legacy. Quito’s Centro Histórico – celebrated for its fusion of European, Moorish & Indigenous art & architectural styles (the Escuela Quiteña) – was one of the first UNESCO world heritage sites. Yet many who actually live there, including those who embody Quito’s patrimonio vivo (living heritage), struggle to make a basic living. Like the lustrabotas, poncheros, espumilleros, and tostaderos. These candid street portraits offer a glimpse into daily life in the old town.
