Ecuador - what would we see if we could go there?

Flag of Ecuador with the coat of arms.

 I have a couple of affluent honeymooners, mountain climbers or retired friends who have fulfilled their dreams of visiting the Galapagos islands. I read about the prison riots in Ecuador and the fighting between violent gangs and thought, that will not encourage the American tourists. What are those of stuck at home missing, but able to see by travelling on the internet? In London at the world travel market which was held every year when I went there before Covid-19 hit the travel industry, I used to be given pretty pictures of wildlife, especially on leaflets from the Ecuador tourist board. Or was that Costa Rica? South America is a bit of a mystery, a muddle, and it's time for me to sort it out for myself and you. One thing I am sure of, Ecuador means equator and Costa Rica means rich coast. Let's start with Ecuador, since that was in the news.

I asked a family member, what do you know about Ecuador. In Central America, he queried. No. South America.

On the equator, hot, so no wines, he said. Ecuador does have lots of alcoholic drinks you can buy on line. More about food and wine later. So, people who haven't been there don't know much and what they think they know might be wrong. So this post will be useful.

I shall look at the flag, the map, the capital, other cities, landmarks, museum, food, famous people, films (movies) and books. Finally, travelling there.Language. First the flag.

Ecuador and Costa Rica are both flags which incorporate a coat of arms, which is quite rare. Only about half a dozen out of about 150 countries features coats of arms on flags. The one on the Ecuador flag is educational as well as entertaining.

Ecuador's Flag

 

The flag's coat of arms shows the country's natural features. A condor (bird). A snow-capped volcano. Not as dormant as one might hope. I've seen pictures of it giving off what looks like smoke. The double-yellow, blue, and red, of the flag surround the coat of arms. 

Map

Ecuador

Capital

The capital is Quito. How will I remember? C for capital and Q for Quito are alliterative. Same sound. Don't quit Ecuador until you have seen Quito. You will adore it. The capital has more than 100 historic buildings, churches and cathedrals which are white on the outside and gold or gilded inside. 

Cities

Cuenca, like Quito, is a UNESCO world heritage site.

Quito Landmarks

The palace has many columns. The gold interior of the Iglesia de la Compania. The main Catholic cathedral where the man in charge years ago was murdered at the mass by poisoned wine.

Museums

The museum about the middle and the monument are my must see memorable places. Slightly outside Quito.

Food

What can you eat in Ecuador which you cannot eat in McDonalds at home? Grilled guinea pig.

Famous or Local People

You don't have to go to Ecuador to see something about the indigenous people. Here's a feathered mythological creature seen in an Israeli museum.

Who are the must meet, must photograph, must see or must know about people?

Countryside

Galapagos Islands. Penguins. Spectacled Bears. Hummingbirds. Blue-footed boobies.

Films

Language

The main international language has to be Spanish, like the whole of South America except for big Brazil. But you also have local languages.

A few words of Spanish:

Motto:  Dios, patria y libertad  (Spanish) Pro Deo, Patria et Libertate (Latin) "God, homeland and freedom"

Anthem: Salve, Oh Patria  (Spanish) (English: "Hail, Oh Homeland")

Shopping, Souvenirs, Exports

Panama hats. Coffee. Orchids and roses.

Useful Websites

Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecuador

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gal%C3%A1pagos_Islands

Official Tourist Board

https://vivecuador.com/html2/eng/home.htm

Pixabay

Tripadvisor

Wikicommons

Wikitravel

https://wikitravel.org/en/Ecuador

Wikivoyage

https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Ecuador

https://www.google.com/travel/things-to-do?g2lb=4401769%2C4617195%2C2502548%2C2503781%2C4258168%2C4371334%2C4306835%2C4515404%2C4605861%2C4629143

https://travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com/2018/08/ecuador-ten-quick-facts.html

I found a reference to the Ecuador embassy in London here

https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Ecuador

About the Author

British born, lived in Spain (winter home) and the USA, family has lived in or often visited the multi-racial USA, multi-language Singapore, Spain, and multi-language Switzerland, with long-term au pair girls from France, Germany, Spain and Italy. Wrote travel articles for numerous magazines and newspapers and spoke on radio and TV in the UK, USA and Australia.