Day 2 in Quito: Getting to know Ecuador
It is now our second full day we have spent in Quito and we are all already in love with the city. After grabbing breakfast we venture out to the streets where we come across the interesting contrasts the city presents: rugged and worn out architecture that elicits an invigorating and colorful charm and the tumultuous urban life that manages to sprawl across an immense mountain chain.
Paula Ormaza gives a lecture about Ecuadorian biodiversity and demographics.
Today, we got to experience two exciting lectures on Ecuador. Paula Ormaza presented the first lecture on the diverse environment and people of the country. She informed us of the intense megadiversity that Ecuador possesses but also presented us with the challenges it faces as the country attempts to make economical gains by exploiting the oil present in the region. Furthermore, she discussed the unique indigenous people that populate the country along with their philosophical principles and mesmerizing way of thinking about the relationship between the world and themselves. Overall, Paula’s lecture focused on illustrating the contrasts so evident in the country: its richness in biodiversity and culture plagued by its poverty and struggle to develop.
The second lecture was given by Jose Julio Cisneros, a political scientist who teaches at the University of San Francisco. He contextualized the political climate of the country, discussing the intricate personality of former president Rafael Correa and his relation to the newly elected president Lenin Moreno. The lecture was engaging and eye-opening, as Jose revealed the influence that the United States has had on the development of Latin American countries and how this translated to the authoritarian governments present today.
After the lectures, the class split up for lunch; some of us enjoyed delicious steaks while others delved into traditional Ecuadorian cuisine which included beans, lentils, mote, avocado, tamales, and more. When we returned from lunch we were given our first sketchbook assignment: to sketch the portrait of a fellow-classmate. It seemed feasible except for the fact that the task must be completed in pen using our non-dominant hand. As a result, quite an eclectic amount of sketches were produced. Nevertheless, the assignment accentuated the balance between confidence and diffidence and illustrated the complex nature of observational sketching.
For dinner, the group grabbed authentic Mexican tacos from a little place called Frida. Following dinner, we all met up at a restaurant known as El Pobre Diablo, where we enjoyed an upbeat Marimba concert. The concert was incredible and introduced us to the remarkable atmosphere that is embodied by Ecuador and its people. It was a truly wonderful second day in the city of Quito, one that engendered in all of us not only curiosity but also an impassioned yearning to explore all that the the country has to offer.
Quito’s urban and natural appeal.