Ecuador – The Power of Paint

One last week in Quito and now I am beginning to regret that we didn’t have just another 10 days here. Friendly taxi drivers are in disbelief when we tell them we haven’t been to Banos or even seen the volcanoes, and there’s so much to do just in Quito – wonderful museums, streets to explore and fun neighbourhoods. And I still havent been salsa dancing! How different this trip would have been without the kids!  This is a city I could definitely live in, so much on the doorstep, this little gem of a country.

Over the course of the week, we drag the children to a few museums, though when we get there they are as happy as Larry skipping around in excitement at their new found knowledge. The museum at the centre of the world, only ten years ago the French discovered with GPS, that the line of the equator, is actually 250 metres further south, and NOT where it was believed to have been for thousands of years, but here where this museum now stands.

It’s  a fun light hearted  museum with lots of interactive experiments,

Did you Know that…….

• Water really does go down the plug hole straight, whereas, in the Southern Hemisphere, the water swivels clockwise as it spirals down the plug hole, and in the Northern Hemisphere, the other way around.
• We learn all about the effects of Ecuador’s geographical position on the equator.
• How flowers here grow completely straight and tall, thus making them very desirable for the U.S. Market, 2/3 of all roses for Valentine’s Day are grown in Ecuador.
• We weigh 1 kg less on the equator.

All fascinating stuff.

We also read about some of the diverse tribes here in Ecuador and the Amazonian people, which Gabriel will tell about with great glee in his blog.

Next we go to the Museo del Ciudad to find about life in Ecuador, before and after the Spanish Conquistadores rampaged through the land  in the  name of God and their greed for gold, all beautifully demonstrated by great 3-D models and visually captivating…. Maybe not so boring after all.

This is interspersed with a trip to the Panecillo, at the top of the hill, right in the heart of Quito to get a glimpse of the two snow clad volcanoes Cotopaxi and Cayambe and fabulous views across Quito. At least now at last I can say I have seen them!

Very aptly our last stop before we leave is at the Guayasamin Museum. Situated high up on a hill, with Quito sprawled at its feet. This is a modern purpose built art gallery. I am embarrassed to admit I had never heard of him before coming here , but Guayasamin is/was Ecuador’s most famous artist.  These canvases are vast – they sit individually, on the walls in this beautiful museum, giving them greater impact. They must be 7 metres wide, taking up the entire wall and leave such an emotional impact on you. Guayasamin’ s paintings powerfully communicate the human condition, the suffering of the poor and the indigenous Ecuadorian people. Depicted  in dark ominous cubic shapes. They are  utterly compelling, though I’ve never seen Millie more bored in her entire life, even when plied with paper and pencils to keep her entertained! I am not a great lover of cubism, but it would be hard for anyone, not to be moved by these huge canvasses.

With the news of Nepal, there in the forefront of my mind, and  the impending farewell supper with Adela and her family, I am moved by these paintings. And then I read this sign, in huge bold 3-D letters and burst into tears. Our guide looks at me in great surprise.

On our way out, we stop in the museum shop to pick up some postcards and finger through some prints of the art work. I notice that each print , individually signed, is worth between $2000 – 5000 EACH!!!! And there must be 100s of them all stacked up together. Gabriel, reaching to get a better view of them, knocks the stand over. Several members of staff rush over to retrieve the pictures, strewn across the floor, not pausing to consider that the little crying boy might have hurt himself. We calculated the value of the stand was worth about $100 000!

We spend a lovely afternoon with Adela and her family, in her flat. Jemima and I teach Joshua to play Monopoly. In an effort to declutter we are giving him our travel game. It seems a bit bizarre teaching him the rules, Park Lane and The Angel Islington seem a far cry from this neighbourhood, but Joshua is delighted with his new set and clutches the red plastic box to his chest, meanwhile Ariana wants to watch the DVD of Paddington immediately and they settle down on the carpet to watch it.

Adela and I have reminisced alot about our inextricably interwoven lives in Mexico. She has an amazing memory.

I wonder if I will ever see Adela again?” Please take me to Mexico, she pleads, take me in your suitcase!?!!!”

Its a tearful goodbye.

We have had a wonderful time in this beautiful country, with its gentle people. A land of many diverse variations and so much more to see.