I could not help but think, as I circled through nocturnal clouds above the sparkling hills and valleys of Quito, that it is a good thing certain magical and futuristic modes of transportation have not yet been invented. If one were to use Harry Potter’s Floo Powder or Captain Kirk’s Transporter to warp instantaneously from Morningside Heights to Ciudad Vieja, one would be completely thrown off by the change in physical and cultural surroundings. I was glad to have the time during the flight to gather my thoughts and orient myself.
