ecuador South America trip - may 2024
quito
Quito, Ecuador's capital, sits high in the Andean foothills at an altitude of 2,850m. Constructed on the foundations of an ancient Incan city, it’s known for its well-preserved colonial center, rich with 16th and 17th-century churches and other structures blending European, Moorish and indigenous styles. These include the cathedral, in the Plaza Grande square, and ultra-ornate Compañia de Jesús Jesuit church.
Quito's elevation of 2,850 m (9,350 ft) makes it either the highest or the second highest capital city in the world. This varied standing is because Bolivia is a country of many capitals; if La Paz is considered the Bolivian national capital, it tops the list of highest capitals, but if Sucre is specified as the capital, then it is the second highest, behind Quito.
Quito is located on the equator and is officially known as "The Middle of the World". There is a monument there that documents that status. The scientists who 350 years ago, using the existing technology of the sun, planets, and stars, calculated the location. However, back in the 1970's modern technology discovered that the initial calculation was 750 meters off. So the existing monument was moved and enhanced to its correct location.
The first picture below shows our tour group of 16 at the monument.
Quito's elevation of 2,850 m (9,350 ft) makes it either the highest or the second highest capital city in the world. This varied standing is because Bolivia is a country of many capitals; if La Paz is considered the Bolivian national capital, it tops the list of highest capitals, but if Sucre is specified as the capital, then it is the second highest, behind Quito.
Quito is located on the equator and is officially known as "The Middle of the World". There is a monument there that documents that status. The scientists who 350 years ago, using the existing technology of the sun, planets, and stars, calculated the location. However, back in the 1970's modern technology discovered that the initial calculation was 750 meters off. So the existing monument was moved and enhanced to its correct location.
The first picture below shows our tour group of 16 at the monument.
san cristobal galapagos
Your Club President, clinging to the orange life preserver, went "snorkeling with the sharks" and other marine life forms off of the coast of the Galapagos in the Pacific Ocean while your Webmaster "The Landlubber" safely took videos from the boat. The underwater videos were taken by the Tour Guide. The event was our 7 hour boat trip around the entire island of San Cristobal. The Galapagos Islands are most famous for Charles Darwin's research for his book The Origin of the Species. There is a statue of him along the waterfront.
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