Ecuador, pronounced EHK whah door, is one of the smallest countries of South American. The nation sits on the west coast of the continent between Colombia to the north and Peru to the south. The equator crosses Ecuador and lends this country its name; Ecuador is Spanish for equator. Quito (Key toe), the capital, lies more than 9,000 feet above sea level on the Andean plateau. Quito is said to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities of South America.
The country has three regions:
1. The Coastal Lowland, which are flat plains along the Pacific coast,
2. The Andes Highland, often called the Sierra, makes up about one fourth of Ecuador, and
3. The Eastern Lowland, covering half the country in a region of thick tropical forests in the eastern foothills of the Andes east to the Amazon River Basin.
The Galapagos Islands, a group of islands about 600 miles off the coast, also belong to Ecuador. These islands, made famous by Charles Darwin and the H.M.S. Beagle, are known for their unusual and exotic animals and plants.
Much of what is now Ecuador once made up part of the great Inca Indian empire. Spanish conquerors overthrew the empire in 1534 and ruled the country for almost 300 years. In 1830 Ecuador gained its independence.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
The View From Inside el Panecillo
The Panecillo offers an exceptional view of Quito. The hill - like a small loaf of bread - on which the statue sits maintains a great view. If you are willing to pay a small fee for entrance to the statue - $1.00 and parking - also $1.00 - you can climb to the observation platform at the base of the statue. It is recommended that you should drive the winding road up to el Panecillo to avoid being mugged during the hike up the hill. Inside the statue itself are pictures of the construction as well as stained glass. On the platform, there is an unobstructed view of Quito, as well as a closer encounter with the aluminum statue. I hope you enjoy climbing the statue's narrow staircase to the viewing platform. You will not be disappointed.
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
In the middle of the road there stood a stone in the middle of the road there stood a stone in the middle of the road
Childhood
My father would ride his horse, he would go to the field.
My mother would sit down and sew.
My little brother would sleep.
A boy among mango trees, by myself
I would read the story of Robinson Crusoe,
a long story that never comes to an end.
In the white-lighted noon a voice that learned
to sing lullabies in the bygone slave quarters – and never forgot –
would call us for coffee.
Black coffee like the black old lady,
tasty coffee,
good coffee.
Childhood
My father would ride his horse, he would go to the field.
My mother would sit down and sew.
My little brother would sleep.
A boy among mango trees, by myself
I would read the story of Robinson Crusoe,
a long story that never comes to an end.
In the white-lighted noon a voice that learned
to sing lullabies in the bygone slave quarters – and never forgot –
would call us for coffee.
Black coffee like the black old lady,
tasty coffee,
good coffee.
tinha uma pedra no meio do caminho tinha uma pedra no meio do caminho
Infancia
Meu pai montava a cavalo, ia para o campo.
Minha mae ficava sentada cosendo.
Meu irmao pequeno dormia.
Eu sozinho menino entre mangueiras
lia a historia de Robinson Crusoé,
comprida historia que nao acaba mais.
No meio-dia branco de luz uma voz que aprendeu
a ninar nos longes da senzala – e nunca se esqueceu
chamava para a café.
Café preto que nem a preta velha
café gostoso
café bom.
Infancia
Meu pai montava a cavalo, ia para o campo.
Minha mae ficava sentada cosendo.
Meu irmao pequeno dormia.
Eu sozinho menino entre mangueiras
lia a historia de Robinson Crusoé,
comprida historia que nao acaba mais.
No meio-dia branco de luz uma voz que aprendeu
a ninar nos longes da senzala – e nunca se esqueceu
chamava para a café.
Café preto que nem a preta velha
café gostoso
café bom.
Friday, February 2, 2007
El Panecillo
This natural mound is named so because of its similarity to a small rounded loaf of bread. Erected in the middle of the city, it is a natural window through which to view the beautiful Andes Mountains.
The mound received its name from the Spanish conquerors, but is believed that its authentic name is "Shungoloma" that in Quichua means "hill of the heart." In the time of the Incas, there was a temple erected to Yavirac, the Sun God. This temple was destroyed by the Indian Rumiñahui while resisting the advance of Spanish troops.
At 3000 meters above sea level, the hill is a reference point for the citizens of Quito as it marks the division between the south and the center of the city. The Incan story is remembered because the Pot of the Roll is found on the site. The Pot is a type of cistern, eight meters in depth, which was used for the irrigation of the valley.
Years later, during the Spanish domination, the place served to collect rain water destined for the irrigation of the gardens of the Spanish mansion Bellavista and then was utilized as a place of defense of the colonial troops during the libertarian battle of Pichincha May 24, 1822.
In 1976, the Spanish artist Augustine of the Herrán Matorras carried out in aluminum the monument to the Virgin Mary that is found in the peak of the hill. It is composed of seven thousand pieces and is considered as the largest representation of aluminum of the world. The work is a replica of the sculpture of thirty centimeters carried out in the 18th century by the sculptor quiteño Bernardo of Legarda that rests in the baroque convent of the Church of San Francisco.
In the lower part of the monument to the Virgin, through the small square access window, the opening of the Pot can be seen. Also seen is part of the path that visitors to the monument utilize to view the city and its surroundings.
To visit the monument in a vehicle, visitors can travel the avenue Melchor Aymerich, the only way that connects it with the dome.
On the Roll, visitors can breathe in the Andean air that inspired illustrious poets while
The mound received its name from the Spanish conquerors, but is believed that its authentic name is "Shungoloma" that in Quichua means "hill of the heart." In the time of the Incas, there was a temple erected to Yavirac, the Sun God. This temple was destroyed by the Indian Rumiñahui while resisting the advance of Spanish troops.
At 3000 meters above sea level, the hill is a reference point for the citizens of Quito as it marks the division between the south and the center of the city. The Incan story is remembered because the Pot of the Roll is found on the site. The Pot is a type of cistern, eight meters in depth, which was used for the irrigation of the valley.
Years later, during the Spanish domination, the place served to collect rain water destined for the irrigation of the gardens of the Spanish mansion Bellavista and then was utilized as a place of defense of the colonial troops during the libertarian battle of Pichincha May 24, 1822.
In 1976, the Spanish artist Augustine of the Herrán Matorras carried out in aluminum the monument to the Virgin Mary that is found in the peak of the hill. It is composed of seven thousand pieces and is considered as the largest representation of aluminum of the world. The work is a replica of the sculpture of thirty centimeters carried out in the 18th century by the sculptor quiteño Bernardo of Legarda that rests in the baroque convent of the Church of San Francisco.
In the lower part of the monument to the Virgin, through the small square access window, the opening of the Pot can be seen. Also seen is part of the path that visitors to the monument utilize to view the city and its surroundings.
To visit the monument in a vehicle, visitors can travel the avenue Melchor Aymerich, the only way that connects it with the dome.
On the Roll, visitors can breathe in the Andean air that inspired illustrious poets while
El Panecillo
Esta elevación natural fue bautizada así por su parecido con un pan pequeño, se erige en medio de la ciudad como un mirador natural desde el cual se aprecia la belleza andina de la zona y la disposición urbana de la ciudad.
El montículo recibió su calificativo de los conquistadores españoles, pero se cree que su nombre auténtico es "Shungoloma" que en quichua significa "loma del corazón". En la época preincaica se erigió sobre él un templo dedicado al culto del dios Sol, llamado Yavirac, el cual fue destruido por el indio Rumiñahui mientras resistía con sus tropas al avance español.
La loma del Panecillo, con tres mil metros de altitud sobre el nivel del mar, es una referencia para los quiteños porque marca la división entre el sur y el centro de la ciudad y aún mantiene el legado de la época incaica porque allí se encuentra la Olla del Panecillo, una especie de cisterna circular de ocho metros de profundidad que fue utilizado para el riego de sembríos.
Años después, durante la dominación española, el lugar sirvió para recolectar agua lluvia destinada al riego de los jardines de la mansión española Bellavista y luego fue utilizado como sitio de defensa de las tropas coloniales durante la batalla libertaria de Pichincha el 24 de mayo de 1822.
En 1976, el artista español Agustín de la Herrán Matorras realizó en aluminio el monumento a la Virgen María que se encuentra en la cúspide del cerro. Está compuesto por siete mil piezas y es considerado como la mayor representación de aluminio del mundo. La obra, es una réplica de la escultura de treinta centímetros realizada en el siglo XVIII por el escultor quiteño Bernardo de Legarda, que reposa en el convento barroco de la Iglesia de San Francisco.
En la parte inferior del monumento a la Virgen, se puede apreciar el portal de la Olla que abre la plazoleta de acceso al mirador y que forma parte del sendero que utilizan los visitantes para apreciar la ciudad y su entorno.
Para subir hasta el mirador a pie, puede utilizar uno de los accesos más importantes que parte desde la calle García Moreno o, si se encuentra en un vehículo, puede avanzar utilizando la avenida Melchor Aymerich, única vía que lo conecta con la cúpula.
En el Panecillo, usted puede respirar el aire andino que inspiró a ilustres poetas y disfrutar de la vista de la plácida ciudad colonial que se pierde entre la complicada arquitectura moderna.
El montículo recibió su calificativo de los conquistadores españoles, pero se cree que su nombre auténtico es "Shungoloma" que en quichua significa "loma del corazón". En la época preincaica se erigió sobre él un templo dedicado al culto del dios Sol, llamado Yavirac, el cual fue destruido por el indio Rumiñahui mientras resistía con sus tropas al avance español.
La loma del Panecillo, con tres mil metros de altitud sobre el nivel del mar, es una referencia para los quiteños porque marca la división entre el sur y el centro de la ciudad y aún mantiene el legado de la época incaica porque allí se encuentra la Olla del Panecillo, una especie de cisterna circular de ocho metros de profundidad que fue utilizado para el riego de sembríos.
Años después, durante la dominación española, el lugar sirvió para recolectar agua lluvia destinada al riego de los jardines de la mansión española Bellavista y luego fue utilizado como sitio de defensa de las tropas coloniales durante la batalla libertaria de Pichincha el 24 de mayo de 1822.
En 1976, el artista español Agustín de la Herrán Matorras realizó en aluminio el monumento a la Virgen María que se encuentra en la cúspide del cerro. Está compuesto por siete mil piezas y es considerado como la mayor representación de aluminio del mundo. La obra, es una réplica de la escultura de treinta centímetros realizada en el siglo XVIII por el escultor quiteño Bernardo de Legarda, que reposa en el convento barroco de la Iglesia de San Francisco.
En la parte inferior del monumento a la Virgen, se puede apreciar el portal de la Olla que abre la plazoleta de acceso al mirador y que forma parte del sendero que utilizan los visitantes para apreciar la ciudad y su entorno.
Para subir hasta el mirador a pie, puede utilizar uno de los accesos más importantes que parte desde la calle García Moreno o, si se encuentra en un vehículo, puede avanzar utilizando la avenida Melchor Aymerich, única vía que lo conecta con la cúpula.
En el Panecillo, usted puede respirar el aire andino que inspiró a ilustres poetas y disfrutar de la vista de la plácida ciudad colonial que se pierde entre la complicada arquitectura moderna.
quito.gov.ec/turismo/f_t_entret_panecillo.htm
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