Quito, Ecuador

One Day in Quito, Ecuador

Monday, March 5, 2012

Our first stop in Quito (elevation 9,200') was this school for the handicapped. 
They have about 60 students and they all participate in band--this is their performing band, they
dance and have alot of fun.

Then we went to the city center for the changing of the guard--happens every Monday at 11 a.m.
The vice president and then the president of Ecuador himself presented themselves, waved at the
crowd.  Our guide this day, Jorge, says the president is a socialist and didn't have anything good to say.  Changing
the guard was fun to see, there were horses and a band.

La Compañía de Jesús church is considered to be one of the best masterpieces in South America. The church’s construction itself took nearly 160 years to build from 1605 to 1765. The 7 tonne gold leaf covering the ceiling which has always been the highlight of the church is something to watch out for.  This extravagant and beautiful church is among the important religious architectures left back by the Spanish.



 And here we are at the Equator in Quito, each of us in
a different hemisphere!