Ecuador

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I've been fortunate enough to travel to many new and exciting places, but my favorite of all is my home in Ecuador. Inside, I have arranged photographs from my personal collection, along with some insight into the culture of my country. Think of this book as your personal companion into the beauty of Ecuador. I'm a big advocate of travel, and if you are interested I would be happy to help you plan your trip!

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Capital: Quito

Currency: U.S. Dollars

Climate: Tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands

Population: 14,486.499

Ethnic Make-up: Mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 65%, Amerindian 25%, Spanish and others 7%, black 3%

Religions: Roman Catholic 95%, other 5%

Government: Republic

Languages: Spanish and Quechua

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The eye-catching colors of Ecuador leap out from every corner of its diverse landscape, from fluttering rainbow-hued macaw wings in the Amazonian jungle to the calm, dazzling blue lakes of the Andean sierra and the fiery terracotta sands of the Galapagos Islands. Brooding snow-capped volcanoes provide a striking contrast to the roaring heat of the salsa-dancing coast. You'll gaze in wonder at the sparkling gold interior of Quito's baroque churches while walking in the footsteps of Spanish conquistadors and Incan warriors.

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Hardy survivors of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, Quito's 500-yearold buildings usher you through columned archways onto hidden courtyards, its baroque churches twinkling with gold leaf. Catch a cooling river breeze as you stroll along Guayaquil's glitzy Malecón promenade, lined with shops and restaurants blaring hot salsa tunes. Cuenca, the capital's World Heritage Site sibling, crowns layers of Cañari and Inca foundations with colonial-era architecture; beneath the streets lie the ruins of ancient temples and regal palaces.

In the Andes sierra, Ecuador's core, stunning turquoise lagoons nestle in extinct volcanic craters and riders on horseback traverse lush national parks and misty cloud forests. Glide in a canoe to the music of tropical bird song as you visit indigenous communities in the Amazon rainforest in the east. Small, undisturbed beaches and humpback-whale-filled waters on Ecuador's Pacific coast lead to the Galapagos Islands, where giant turtles, seals, penguins, iguanas and other native wildlife roam freely in a naturalist's paradise.

A fresh-faced Darwin was mesmerized by the Galapagos Islands' vibrant native wildlife. You will be too, as you spy flamingo-dotted salt lagoons, sea lions beached on volcanic red sand, and swaggering marine iguanas or dive alongside penguins as falcons swoop overhead. You can scale the majestic Cotopaxi Volcano or trot on horseback inside the Cotopaxi National Park.

As you canoe along the Amazonian jungle waterways of Yasuni, Ecuador's largest national park, look for multicolored macaws and pink river dolphins.

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BY AIR Ecuador's TAME airline offer flights to a variety of Ecuadorian cities and nearby South American cities.

Most one way tickets are under $100; making it easier for you to decide what the best option is for you and what fits your plans.

BY BUS Ecuador has a very good bus system linking all major towns in the country, making it the most popular way to travel Ecuador.

It's a great way to check out the scenery of the country. Plus it's dirt cheap. Typically you'll pay about a dollar for every hour of travel.

BY CAR Big city driving in North America is a piece of cake compared to what happens on the roads of Ecuador.

Many inexperienced and dare devil drivers speed everywhere. There are a few traffic signs, but hardly anyone pay attention to them.

TAXIS AND VANS Taxis are common in all big cities and towns. Even smaller towns have drivers available that will be willing to take you where you need to go.

In the city, only take a marked taxi.

Not all taxis are compact cars nor are they all yellow, so a cooperative seal on the door is the best way to tell the difference. Ask for a price before you get in.

It's great to have small bills when taking taxis, so you can pay exactly what you agree on. If you need a car for a day, you can pay a taxi driver a daily rate to take you around. So you have the convenience of a car without the stress of driving.

Larger vans are also available at the airports and by making a reservation. These are great for large groups or if you have lots of luggage. They usually charge a bit more, but if it saves you from taking two taxis, it should be worth it.

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The biodiversity within Ecuador's borders is stunning. While it only makes up .02% of the world's landmass, it contains an amazing 10% of the world's plant species. In fact, Conservation International has listed Ecuador as one of just 17 "mega diverse" countries on the planet. Cataloging of the nation's biological treasures is far from complete, and already scientists have counted 3,800 species of vertebrates, 1,550 species of birds, 320 species of mammals, 350 species of reptiles, 375 species of amphibians, 800 species of freshwater fish, and 450 species of marine fish. Ecuador is a bird watcher's paradise. A full 18% of the world's bird species can be found in Ecuador, more per square meter than in any other Latin American country.

In fact, although Brazil is 30 times Ecuador's size, Ecuador has just as many species of birds. And last but not least, there are over a million species of insects in Ecuador (they're not all ugly -- 6,000 species are butterflies).

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GUANﾃ。ANA (Soursop) The Guanﾃ｡bana is a green fruit with a rough outer skin. This white flesh can be eaten fresh and tastes vaguely of strawberry. It is very sweet and mild.

NARANJILLA (Little Orange) Are a round, bright orange fruit a little smaller than a tennis ball. The inside is full of tiny seeds and pulp.

GRANADILLA (Pamela's Favorite) The outer shell of the fruit cracks open to expose the fruit inside which consists of dozens of black seeds enclosed in a semi-transparent gray pulp. The seeds and pulp are eaten whole and the cracked skin is discarded.

UVILLA (Gooseberry) They are bright yellow and grow inside a husk that looks like a paper lantern. The flavor is a somewhat like pineapple and they are eaten raw and fresh.

TUNA (Prickly Pear) The tuna is the fruit of a species of cactus. The fruit even looks like a small cactus. The outer green skin is cut open to reveal the red pulp inside. There are small, crunchy seeds that are tasteless and can be eaten. The fruit itself has a very mild flavor and is fairly bland.

ORITO (Finger Banana) Ecuador is famed for the varieties of bananas it produces. One favorite is the Orito,a small banana, about half the size of the ones destined for export. Oritos are sweeter and have a slightly richer taste than the bananas sent abroad.

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Meals are a big part of Ecuadorean culture. Any time you go are invited into someone's house you can expect to be offered food. Whether it's a "cafesito", which means coffee with fresh baked bread, a fruit or even a full course meal. It is considered good manners to always accept the food, even if it's just a small taste. The following are some more tips that can help you understand the Ecuadorean way of thinking about food. N ever arrive on time when invited to a home. Although it may sound strange you should arrive a little later than invited. Dress well as this affords the host respect.

Don’t discuss business at social events unless prompted to. It is considered good manners to reciprocate any social invitation. The host says "buen provecho" ("have a good meal") as an invitation to start eating. Food is always eaten with utensils. Even fruit is eaten with a knife and fork. Meals are social occasions and can be quite lengthy. Expect lively conversation during the meal. Wait for a toast to be made before taking the first sip of your drink. The host makes the first toast. The most common toast is "Salud!" When you lift your glass, look at the person being toasted. If you do not want to drink more, leave your glass one-quarter full.

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Ecuador

Interior Design and Architecture Services Proposal  21

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The basilica is the most important work of Neo-Gothic Ecuadorian architecture and is one of the most representative of the Americas. It is the largest Neo-Gothic basilica in the New World. The building is noted for its grotesques in the form of native Ecuadorian animals such as armadillos, iguana, and Galapagos tortoises. Visitors are able to see the sanctuary for $1, while access to the rest of the Basilica ranges from $1–3. Visitors are able to climb to the top of the towers. From the highest point of the main tower, one can see the city and the surrounding mountains.

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The artisan market is in Quito and can be easily reached by taxi or bus. In this market you will find handmade crafts made by people in Otavalo and other neighboring villages. You will find brightly colored scarves, sweaters and blankets made out of alpaca. There is also silver jewelry, andean wind flutes, paintings, things crafted out of wood, and many other goodies that you will want to bring home. Always barter with the vendors, they will give you a higher price if they can tell you are a tourist.

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In the eighteenth century a group of French scientists devoted to the study and measurement of the planet. In 1736 its mission to determine the arc of the meridian in the southern hemisphere brought to them Quito, Ecuador.

The team of specialists spent nearly eight years placing their markers of small pyramids along the Andean countryside. They suffered all kinds of adversity, as their markers were destroyed by superstitious natives or expropriated for use as building materials. In 1936, the Equator determined by measurements made by the French Geodesic Expedition was finally identified by a monument. At latitude 0-0'-0 "on the equator, is the great square pyramid Equator Monument. Positioned with its four monoliths in 1979, the central monolith is decorated with a globe surrounded by a silver ribbon representing Ecuador.

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Quito is situated in the so-called 'Avenue of Volcanoes' and one fun way to see the two dozen or so in the area is on the unbearably cute Tren de Ecuador, which attracts locals and tourists alike and is expanding to the coast at Guayaquil in mid 2013, with multi-day trips available. It’s definitely slow going, and some train-goers arrange to get off after a couple hours on day trips with local agencies – then ride up towards the sky at Cotopaxi National Park, where you can ride horses in wide-open, naked grass mountain tops with unreal 360-degree views. You’ll welcome the Andean ponchos and chaps for extra warmth.

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From the tiniest geckos to the giant humpback whale, Ecuador is amonf the twenty most biodiverse countries on earth, and the coastal region is no exception. Home to the famous Galapagos Islands and stradding the equator, Ecuador has designated about 400,000 hectares of ocean as marine preserves, and has more than forty national parks and ecological reserves which account for 10% of all Ecuador land masses. Ecuador has over 100 beaches. From broad sandy beaches, to mangroves, to tropical jungle right up to the water. The warm ocean is teeming with over 500 species of fish and marine mammals, including many endemic species.

Ecuador becahes offer almost any type of activity you can think of: surfing, sailing, fishins, and scuba-diving to name a few. Explore this site and you'll find the best beaches for pursuing your passion. We invite you to blog about your experiences in Ecuador and share Ecuador beach travel tips.

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Mindo is a world-renowned destination considered to be one of the most heavily visited locations in Ecuador. The demand for tourism in Mindo is enormous, Every year, nearly 200,000 tourists visit the area to enjoy activi ucture, Mindo offers a well-established system of private reserves and lodges famous for their enchanted montane forests, waterfalls and unique cloud forest biodiversity. If not privately protected, much of the land (exactly 85.96 km2) falls within the Bosque Protector Mindo-Nambillo.

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Built on a carpet of ancient Incan ruins, Ecuador's bustling capital was the first city to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Broad Ecuadorean smiles, racy salsa music and big bowls of hearty stews Quito's thin air, snowy mountainous backdrop and rumbling volcanoes. In historic Old Town, superbly preserved baroque churches and monasteries exemplify the fusion of Spanish, Italian, Moorish, Flemish and indigenous influences.

Modern Quito is alive in the city's sleek, contemporary art museums and thrillingly modernTelefĂŠriqo cable car experience.

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The Sanctuary of Guápulo is well known for being one of the oldest religious sanctuaries in the country and it is probably the oldest in Quito. Since its construction many centuries ago the Guápulo sanctuary has seen countless visitors who visit in search of religious fulfillment. In 1596 Bishop Luis Solís had a church built on the site and dedicated it to the Virgin of Guadalupe.

The building of the Guápulo Sanctuary that we see today only took place in 1649 and the building was built over the church that originally occupied the site. Brother Antonio Rodriguez was responsible for its construction.

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Rumipamba de las Rosas Lodge is located in the town of Salcedo, a city about an hour away from Quito.It is a lodge that was built on an old ranch and was transformed in a singular hotel where today you can enjoy of all commodities and modern comfort in a unique country environment. Nearby you can find Indian markets and handy crafts ferias, and great Andean landscapes. Nearby you may explore the Cotopaxi volcano, Yambo, Quilotoa, and Anteojos lakes. Also the cities of Ambato and BaĂąos will fill your stay with diverse activities.

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It used to be a bordello strip, seedy and unpleasant, but now the tight pedestrian alley at the edge of the center is a fun burst of music, dance, food, hat shops and joy. Just wander and look for the right sound. Back alleys lead to two-floor bars with local bands enjoyed by full families in late hours. It’s perfectly safe to be there late at night, but it’s advised to take a taxi to from La Ronda.

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Photography: Pamela Barba

Design: Pamela Barba

Text: www.fromers.com www.lonelyplanet.com www.travelguide.com QUICK INTRO • 47

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