As you know I am home now, but looking back on my recent trip I realized I never really said much about Quito, Ecuador, which I enjoyed and found quite interesting. I understand now that Ecuador is not exactly on everyone’s “must see” list and many folks can’t actually pinpoint it on the map.
Thank goodness for “My Weekly Reader!” Remember that little newspaper that we referred to in the 60’s for all the geography our elementary teachers thought we would ever need?? If you don’t, you just aren’t old enough or you weren’t paying attention in class.
One reason I am acutely aware of Ecuador’s lack of geographical prominence is from my conversation with the credit card representative. As always before a trip, I called to tell the company where I would be using my charge card, and the gentleman on the other end of the phone asked is that “Eq—–?” I quickly spelled the country and then there was a long pause. I knew that he was having trouble processing where this little country might be, so I added, “in South America.” “Oh, that Ecuador!” he replied.
My first order of business in the city was, of course, shopping, which is something I am quite astute at doing wherever I go. And bargain shopping at the markets is especially fun to me. Unfortunately, I think now that all the indigenous people in Latin America have gotten together and decided to make the same items. After being in a number of these markets in various countries, I found it difficult to find anything “new” to purchase, but nonetheless, I shopped until I managed to find a few souvenirs. These purchases of various sizes and degrees of fragility always seem like such a good idea until I start packing to return home!
The next day I took a city tour which included the colonial old town and other cultural highlights. In every Latin American city, this means churches (lots of churches), the Plaza of Independence, the Presidential Palace, often the catacombs as we saw here, and various museums. But the part I was most interested in seeing was the Mitad del Mundo, better known to us as the Middle of the World or where the equator marks the exact center of the earth at zero degrees latitude. Located about 16 miles north of Ecuador, the Middle of the World Monument/ Museum, is the most visited site in the country. Of course, everyone visiting that day, including me, had to have photos taken standing with one foot in the northern hemisphere and one in the southern.
Then, it was off to more shopping in the market around the monument and a short break at one of the open air cafes, popular because the weather in Ecuador, due to its proximity to the equator, is always mild and really very comfortable. Nights are cool, and day time temps quite pleasant. The sun, however, can sneak up on unassuming folks, so Panama hats are sold around every corner. Ecuadorians claim that authentic Panama hats are made here, but I never confirmed that, nor did I buy one. There were enough silly looking people wearing them without me joining them.
Seven hours after leaving the hotel, I returned for a long bubble bath, followed by a delicious tenderloin ( especially good after seeing some of the stuff they were selling on the streets) at the Hacienda, located in the Marriott where the members of the visiting accreditation team were staying. Since this was the real purpose of the trip, the next three days were comprised of work, evaluating the Academia Cotopaxi, named after the highest volcano in Ecuador, rising majestically in the Andes near Quito.
Although I say work, it is always a great experience because I have the opportunity to meet teachers who have taught in various places all over the world. The student population is also composed of interesting young people from diverse backgrounds and ethnicities, a high percentage being children of diplomats or international business executives. Others are local students who hope to attend universities in the States and then return to their native country.
And so another trip has ended, with a country added to my journal, new friends and acquaintances to correspond with on occasion, and more memories to carry with me. Maybe someday I can visit the other places where the equator “divides the world,” but for right now, I’m content with this one.