Wolfgang was wretched in the gutted room near the La Ronda neighborhood of Quito. Prior to the early 16th century, this area was a trail used by the Incas to fetch water from the Jatuna stream. After the Spaniards arrived, the early colonists created farms and homesteads along the gully. Within fifty years, they began calling it La Ronda meaning “ring road” because their alley ran parallel to the outskirts of Quito. By the late 19th century, La Ronda morphed into a haven for bohemians. Within the next century, it digressed into a slum for criminals and the homeless. In 2006, the city began revitalizing La Ronda. The transition is ongoing.
