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.

Ecuador - ten quick facts from active volcanoes to eating guinea pigs

Map from Wikivoyage.

As you see it has borders with Colombia to the North and Peru to the South.

Problem
The colourful flag of Ecuador.

A friend of mine writes that's she is hiking in Ecuador. I know nothing about Ecuador. Maybe before I meet up with her for lunch later this year, I should learn something about it. What do I know?

Answer
1 The name Ecuador means Equator. In the capital, Quito, is this monument.

Photo by Author Hennelore Hopfe. Picture of the monument of the middle of the world on the equatorial line. Notice the big letter N, north, and S, south.

2 I know Ecuador has volcanoes because my friend is climbing volcanoes.

Active volcano Tungurahua above the town of Baños de Agua Santa, meaning baths of holy water. Photo by Author Hjvannes.




What is there to drink? Sugar cane juice. (Jugo de Caña - juice of cane), in Baños. User J Miers. Jtesla16 at wts wikivoyage.

Cable car, Manto del novia waterfall. (Manto means mantle) Author J Miers User. WT shared. Jtesla16 at wts wikivoyage.

The swing in Case del Arbol, Baños, Ecuador. From Wikivoyage, user Laurianv.

two hours to:
3 The capital is called Quito.
4 The language is Spanish.
5 The religion is probably Catholic, because of the Spanish language and names such as Santo Domingo.
6 The people eat sardines because they have a bay of sardines.
7 Two jobs in the present or past will be fishermen and priests.
8 The country has a coast on the Pacific Ocean.

Cuenca see the new cathedral with cupolas. Photo by Alex Proimos.














Also see Puyo to the east, for waterfall.

A few words of Spanish from the map of the country:

Spanish- English
viejo - old
rio - river
nueva  - new
de - of / from
sardinas - sardines
puerto - port
santo - holy
domingo - Sunday
cuenca - basin

English - Spanish
old - viejo
River - rio
new - nueva
from / of - de
sardines - sardinas
port - puerto
holy - santo
Sunday - domingo
basin - cuenca

The third largest city is Riobabmba, beside Chimborazo,

My friend writes:

We have finished two warm-up peaks now, climbing 3 volcanos and, yes, Chimborazo is one of them. 

Today heading to Cotopaxi. Good luck with the weather! 

Cayambe was bad - we had to turn back. However, hopefully we'll have time to head back again! 

Food includes skewered guinea pig.

Photo J. Miers - User: (WT-shared) Jtesla16 at wts wikivoyage. Guinea pig or Cuy. From a restaurant called Fogon de los Abuelos (stove of the grandparents) in Matus, Ecuador.

If that doesn't appeal, how about potatoes, avocado and cheese, a soup called Locro de Papa


User: (WT-shared) Jtesla16 at wts wikivoyage

Language and Etiquette
Wikipedia explains:

The common greetings are "buenos días", "buenas tardes" or "buenas noches", (Good morning, Good afternoon, and Good evening). It is usually complemented by a handshake, between men, and by a kiss on the cheek between women or between a man and a woman. "Hola" is the most common greeting between friends and acquaintances. As in most Latin American countries, it's considered normal and polite to stand quite close to the other person while talking.

If you speak Spanish with Ecuadorians, note the difference between the two forms for the pronoun "you": the informal "tú" and the formal "usted".  Address older people and people with whom you're not familiar with "usted". Ecuadorans are generally forgiving of non-native speakers, but use "usted" when in doubt. 

Among many other cultural idiosyncrasies, in the Sierra regions it is considered impolite to use a downward-facing palm as a reference for the height of a person. Instead, the hand is held on its side, and the measurement taken from the lower edge to the floor. Gesturing with the palm down is appropriate for animals only.

Just like Singapore:

When motioning for someone to "come here", it is impolite to motion your hand with the palm facing up. Instead, use a downward swipe of the hand with the palm facing down. 

Useful Websites

ecuador.com official website

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

Wikivoyage has warnings about dangers. Also see your government advice.

Ecuador and Galapagos islands simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecuador
Good pictures of Ecuador churches and the Galapagos tortoise, Galapos Penguin and Darwin's Arch.

Author

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Please share links to your favourite posts.