The view from the Basílica del Voto Nacional. I went inside the basilica and climbed up a staircase to the first landing. I was relieved to see an elevator door open just as I reached the landing and I was able to ascend a couple of more floors with ease. I came out upon a glorious balcony, situated in between the two 250-foot high towers that look out across the city and the surrounding mountains. I took in the sweeping view, looking for familiar landmarks such as the churches of Santo Domingo and San Francisco, as well as the Virgen de El Panecillo high up on the distant hill of El Panecillo.

I then entered into a darkened passageway above the nave, where rickety plank boards formed a frightening path to the far end of the church. Legend has it that the Basílica del Voto Nacional will always be under construction and that should it ever be completed, the world will come to an end. It certainly felt like a work in progress and I realized that with just one false step, my life would come to an end.

At the far end of the nave, a narrow and steep ladder led up to the tower above the dome. I carefully climbed the ladder and then continued up into the highest reaches of the basilica, winding my way up steep staircases to an open platform high above Quito. The views were astonishing, even more so with the effort required to attain them.