Peru and Ecuador 2008 PicsPeru and Ecuador 2008 Pics Bob and Ann in Peru and Equador in 2008

  • October 13 - Quito

    Please visit October 13 slideshow



    Sinamune School

    Patricio met us in the hotel lobby after breakfast. We missed Zoe and Terry who stayed at the hotel today because Zoe was very sick last night.


    This was a very full day! First we bussed to the Sinamune School to hear Equador’s Disabled Children’s Orchestra. The performance had started already when we arrived, but we stood in the back and watched an amazing and moving performance. Three folk costumed girls danced while young disabled people sang and played their instruments for a variety of songs including jazz, folk and ending with selections with audience participation. The warm and sensitive teachers and tour guides introduced the numbers performed with gusto by all the students. By the end there were few dry eyes among us.



    Local market

    Back on the bus our next stop was at a local market for bananas. Pato described all of the fruits and vegetables that were being sold. Bob tried a fried cornbread roll stuffed with cheese that was being sold by one of the vendors! Then we drove to a Helado shop where we watched the owners make ices and sorbets in old fashioned brass pans nested in ice. Syrup is poured into the pan and beaten until firmly frozen. Pato bought us each our choice of a double scoop of the natural fruit treats. Bob had passion fruit and guanabana and Ann had cocoanut and guanabana. Delicious. We watched a berry sorbet being processed and sampled that tasty treat as well.



    Bob and Ann straddling the ecuator

    We drove on to the Center of the World Museum Park, the Mitad del Mundo where we visited equatorial exhibits, straddled the equator with one foot in the Northern and one in the Southern hemisphere, and for a dollar got a stamp in our passport and a postcard testifying to our visit. The center was built in the 1990’s to resemble a colorful world village with pastel buildings representing the nations that had contributed. This science began with the ancient sun worshippers of Equador who positioned the exact 00 degrees of longitude a thousand years before sophosticated engineering and technical tools measured the phenomenon. The creation of the metric system by the French was featured in a fascinating display of their tools and demos of their usefulness.



    Mom and Anna Marie - our hosts

    Our next short ride on the bus took us to another world Nan Museum run by the the family who hosted our home visit lunch. A short tour of the hands-on exhibits of this museum included proof of the effect where water draining in opposite directions on either side of the equartor and why an egg can be balanced on a nail head. (This link explains the experiments). Then we were served lunch cooked by the family. Daughter Anna Marie ate with us and with fluent English responded to our questions about the food and their family life. Our meal began with a passion fruit drink served with crunchy beans and salsa followd by by delicious potato soup. Then were each served a plate with portions of creamed chicken and mushrooms, red cabbage, creamed broccoli and carrots and creamy mashed potatoes. Dessert was ureed fruit with pineapple and perssimon chunks spiced with cinnamon and cloves. We had to be hauled away to board the bus and continue our tour.



    View of the main plaza

    Jesuit church of La Compania de Jesus

    Pato gave us a historical overview of how Quito began as we drove south to the old city. There we walked around the square while landmarks were pointed out. We visited two churches with spectacular gold leaf decoration. At the Jesuit Church we took shelter from a pelting rain. The cavernous interior was covered with intricate carving and lots of gilt. Gregorian chants playing in the background wrer a perfect touch for even nonCatholics to appreciate the motivation behind the splendor.


    Returning to the rainy streets we walked to the Church of San Francisco which was closed for rennovation, but its outer buildings housed a well-stocked and nicely displayed array of Fair Trade crafts made in Equador.


    We scooted across the plaza to board our bus to return to Reina Isobel Hotel by 4:30. We used slack time to journal and repack for the Amazon Basin.


    Pato treated us to a special cocktail before dinner which we had at the hotel cafe. The buffet was uninspired but Ann was too tired to eat much anyway.