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“Gato escaldodo del agua fria huye” (A scalded cat flees from cold water) meaning, ‘Once bitten, Twice Shy’.
-Ecuadorian proverb-
Ecuador is located on the equator on the northwestern side of South America. It borders the Pacific Ocean on the west, Colombia on the north and Peru on to the south. It was part of the northern Inca Empire until those bad boys from Spain seized control in 1533. Spain snatched up Latin America and the Philippines using the tried and trusted method of the ancient Romans, divide and conquer pitting one tribe or people against the other then knocking off the winner. Not one to let go, the Spanish held on for hundreds of years though the neo-colonialist mindset still dominates these once proud but conquered peoples. It took liberator Simon Bolivar to lead anti-colonialist forces that gave the Iberians the boot. Bolivar’s goal of a one country continent failed due to political infighting among liberation factions. After decades of corruption in high places Ecuador finally has some semblance of peace though there are serious signs to the contrary. For a more complete history of this fascinating country go on line to: ‘Ecuador History Ecuador, a brief history of Ecuador.’
The Galapagos Islands are a group of 18 volcanic islands in the Pacific Ocean that belong to Ecuador. They’re the country’s first national park. Because of the abundance and variety of wildlife, Charles Darwin chose one of these islands to field test his theory of evolution. That island is named after him. A popular tourist attraction is the outdoor Otavalo Craft Market located 66 miles north of Quito. Merchants begin setting up their stands at 5 a.m. and by 9 a.m. the market is in full swing. Shoppers may select from a large variety of animals, produce and craft items. Go to ‘Cuenca Ecuador-Video Results.’ After seeing these shorts you may never want to return to your country of origin once you visit Ecuador. These videos are totally comprehensive.
The capitol city is Quito. Ecuador has a total area of 283.561 Sq km, a population of 12,439,429 and an estimated GDP of $155.8 billion according to the CIA’S Factbook. It’s governed by President Rafael Correa Delgado who serves a four year term. Log in to the Ecuadorian government’s website for additional information. It’s a pretty country. The locals like most people are okay though a rudimentary knowledge of Spanish would be nice. English is spoken in places. There are many indigenous languages spoken by the large Amerindian population. .
For a small country, Ecuador has a disproportionate number of national/international luminaries. The majority of these notables are artists of various genres with a few sports heroes. The late President Gabriel Garcia Moreno in my opinion soars above the rest. From 1845 to 1860 his country was in a state of near anarchy. During their time of troubles a series of weak regimes misruled Ecuador. The nation’s treasury was empty, had a colossal foreign debt, no economy worth mentioning, political crooks siphoned off tax money for personal uses, and the people were on the brink of starvation. Moreno changed that. Within his two terms the man fired the crooks then replaced them with honest civil servants. Moreno built a national rail road, had the army retrained by East Prussia’s best, freed the slaves but paid former slavers insuring that neither party would lose out economically hence no hard feeling from former masters. He instituted a national public school system, helped the Amerindians, created a world class university and instituted universal suffrage and national reforms that seized the world’s attention and admiration. Despite his enormous contributions to Ecuadorian society, his devoutly Catholic mindset upset the wrong people at the wrong time (International Masonry and the U.S. government). Moreno was put on their hit list. He was brutally assassinated on Quito’s cathedral steps in 1875 days into his third presidential term. His was the classic case of ‘no good deed goes unpunished.’ Moreno is considered a national hero and up for beatification.
Art is a window through which society gain a greater understanding and appreciation for the ethos of a people’s pleasures, pains and their daily struggle for survival. When you tour Ecuador visit the art galleries and museums. The Colonial Art Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, Gallery of Antiques Josue, Pacific Bank Museum and the Las Conceptas Museum are all great treasures that combine art with history. For an alternative view of Ecuadorian religion the Nuestra Señora del Cisne Religious Art Museum is a must. When in Ecuador visit as many museums and art galleries as you can; you’ll get what you paid for and more. (www.equador.com/art-galeries) Ecuador is known for its varieties of potatoes and exotic fruits. Barbequed guinea pig is considered a delicacy.
Layla Pujol and her family live in Washington State. She and her husband are chefs specializing in Ecuadorian cuisine. Here’s two simple meals that don’t require a degree in culinary science and a mess of hard to find ingredients to cook. ‘Arroz con Menestra’ or Lentil Stew with Rice. Here’s what’s needed:
3 tbs. of canola oil
1 red onion (diced)
1 bell pepper (diced)
3 tomatoes (diced)
6 cloves of garlic (minced)
2 tsp. cumin
3 tsp. salt
1 tsp. achiote
4 tbs. chopped cilantro
7 cups of water
1 lb. lentils
First heat your oil at medium heat in a large sauce pan. Add the onion, bell pepper, tomato, garlic, cumin, salt, achiote and 2 tablespoons of cilantro to make a refrito for your stew. Next cook and stir occasionally until all your ingredients are soft for about 5 minutes. Add water, increase heat and bring to a boil. Add the lentils, reduce the heat to medium, cover partially and cook until the lentils are tender before stirring in the remaining 2 tablespoons of cilantro. Remove from heat. Serve with Ecuadorian style rice, carne asada o carne frita, that’s fried sliced beef steaks, fried ripe plantains or green plantains, a small salad or avocado slices and yummy! Dinner is served.
Another one of Lavlita’s delicious recipes ‘Menestra de Porotos’ or ‘Bean Stew.’ You need:
1 lbs. dry beans soaked overnight
2-3 tbs. canola oil
1 red onion (diced)
6 garlic cloves (crushed)
1 cup of peeled tomatoes (diced) and fresh/canned tomatoes (peeled)
½ tsp. achiote power
1 tsp. cumin seeds (whole)
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tbs. chili power
2-3 tbs. finely chopped cilantro or parsley
Salt and pepper to taste
Here’s how you make it; heat the oil over medium heat in a saucepan/pot. Add the onions and crushed garlic, cook for about 2-3 minutes, add diced tomatoes, achiote powder, cumin seeds, ground cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper. Cook for another 5 minutes stirring occasionally. Add 8 cups of water and bring to boil. Add the soaked beans and simmer about 2 hours. Mix in your chopped cilantro or parsley.
Serve with Ecuadorian style cooked rice, fried plantains, salad with tomato and onion curtido, fried or grilled meat or fish/poultry/egg, avocado slices and some good aji (Peruvian sauce) or hot sauce on the side. Reader for all you ever wanted to know/learn about Ecuadorian cooking/recipes log in to www.laylita.com and subscribe; I did! Layla will supply you FREE Ecuadorian meal ideas. For a listing of some of Ecuador’s finest restaurants go to: www.lonelyplanet.com/ecuador/restaurants.