Trip with the Parental Units. Part 1.

I asked my dad to guest blog on their trip here to Ecuador so that another person´s views of the country could be included. We had a great time...here goes his take!

We promised Maura we would make a contribution to her blog following our trip to Ecuador to see her. So here goes.
Late into the night of June 3 we arrived at the Marcel airport in Quito, Ecuador. After slowly moving through the immigration processing line we were removed and placed in a line for parents with young children, the disabled, and senior citizens. This lessened our wait for processing and would come into play at different sites we would visit in Ecuador over the next ten days. Senior citizens get breaks for the price of tickets.
By late morning the next day we were on our way to Old Town Quito to see the city as the conquerors built it. The conquerors are the Spanish who came to the new world in search of gold to replenish the treasury in Madrid. They arrived in the 16th and 17th centuries with military, artisans and clergy. Once the indigenous peoples were rounded up and taught the various building skills, a church, a president's place, a house for the bishop, and a government building were built around a town square, the plaza. It appears much as one would expect to see in Europe today.
On this first day, we visited several churches. They were beautiful in their baroque style borrowed from the European churches. The Jesuit church was modeled after the two Jesuit churches in Rome, the Gesu and St. Ignatius.
Along the way walking in the Old Town of Quito we stopped, at our guide's recommendation, to sample a warm flavored drink called Mora or blackberry. Mora became the flavor of the trip.
Our guide was Maria, a very gracious and knowledgeable woman about Ecuador. She and her family live in an area called Tumbaco, or what we may consider a suburb of the core city. They were most welcoming and warm to all of us.
From the old town of Quito the city grew into the second largest city and the capital of Ecuador. It is very impressive in its location in the valley surrounded by the Andes, or Sierra, mountains.
The next day we went to the north of Quito, to the market cities, but first we had to stop to see another church and of course make the wish which if granted required our return to Quito and to this very church as thanksgiving. Before arriving at Otavalo we stopped at a volcanic lake, Cuicocha Lake. It has no fish nor any other living matter in its water. We were told the lake bottom emits a taxic gas thus killing any sea life. On to Otavalo but with a short stop at the bizcochos store for some biscuits and Mora preserves. Otavalo is a place of the indigenous people who sell their hand crafted goods at the largest open market in Ecuador. There is room for some bargaining as no price tag appears on the goods for sale. The people were helpful and anxious to sell their goods. With a little discount the prices seem very fair. Two other locations a short distance away sold the hand crafted goods each is known for---leather goods and wood crafts. If you are interested in either of these things the items for sale are quite beautiful.
At San Antonio, the wood town we ran into the annual parade to celebrate the choosing of the fairest maiden of the town.
On Sunday we went to mass at Sacred heart of Mary church. The people actively particiate in the mass and so the entire experience was comfortable and warm although we did not understand the homily. Next stop was the middle of the world. Right there on the equator. Interesting because the guide there showed us a variety of experiments that could only work at the center of the world. For example the downward flow of water in a sink was straight down; personal strength was effected by standing at the equator; and an egg was balanced on the head of a nail, about an 8d. size. From here we took a ride on a cable car to the top of the Teleferico, about 12,000 ft. above sea level. The view was impressive as we looked over the city of Quito from afar. It was also cold up there.
On Monday we flew to Cuenca. Stay tuned.