Sunday, September 1, 2013

Ecuadorian things

Ecuador is different, from other Counties, not that we have been to many that will truly allow us to say that. For starters Ecuadorians obey the law - they even stop, religiously, on a yellow traffic light. They are pushy but polite when behind the wheel. That's an oxymoron I know but having watched more than a few drivers elbow their way into a traffic lane and then see the same guy stop to allow another into the traffic from a driveway???

The police are everywhere, it is though the President, who is immensely popular, has driven down unemployment by hiring more police. But they are conspicuous in their absence on weekends. Only the unarmed traffic Police are out in force on the weekends. Strange.

Quito is a City of over two million and it seemed as though all of them went shopping yesterday, the streets were packed and some small discount stores had swarms of people pushing, and I mean pushing, to get in to them. A few shopping malls here are multilevel and really small. The style in those Malls is only to have 'Cabinas'. That creates multilevels of small stores predominantly clothes and cellphone electrical stores. We looked at a six level model where the access to the stores was circular and ascending at the same time - imagine little stores abutting the Eaton Centre's circular parking ramp with little store fronting the ramp and you have the idea. Now put the Boxing Sales day throngs into it - controlled chaos. But kinda fun to see it.

Visiting the Presidential Palace yesterday we entered a world that few can see. This President believes in transparency and he has opened up the Palace and also said that all of the official gifts he receives from other Dignitaries are the "people's" belongings so he has them placed in glass display cases for all to see. Interesting how other Governments think. Russia's Putin gave a traditional pottery samovar and drinking cups, Hilary Clinton gave huge Chrystal bowl. And Hugo Chavez gave a gold display sword encrusted with diamonds. Just how much loot and swag the previous Presidents took home with them when they cleared out their desks is easy to imagine.

Quito is a clean but dowdy City without a sidewalk culture. It must be because of the rainy season but it is rare to see outdoor patios in any of the many many public squares in this City. That was was a surprise to us. Of course we confined ourselves mainly to the Historical District, but we did look at other parts of the City, so outside patios - no, indoor cubbyholes - yes. Homeless people do not congregate in groups, the Police must have cleared them out, but begging is a common sight.

English speakers are not as common as other Countries we have been to bu they pop-up in very strange places. For instance yesterday at the National Museum while we were getting lost following directions that had been obtained in Spanglish from a policeman we caame across a parking lot attendant who even showed us where to go. He like others had lived in the US as a child and now that things are better in Ecuador the parents had moved back.

Today is the day for another rip out of Town - pics to follow

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