Saturday, August 21, 2010

Welcome to my Quito

Jas gets ready for a ride through the streets of Quito with Alejandro Hallo.

RUMIPAMBA - Archaeology and Ecology Park In Quito

Rumipamba is a new 30 hector park in Quito with on-going archaeological and ecological studies of the environment and life in the inhabitants of the area before the arrival of the Incas
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Our visit through the park, lead by a guide, begins
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Archaeological excavation of an ancient foundry
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My friend Natalia in the small museum with a large reconstruction of a storage vessel found in the area
. Another dig showing the layers of volcanic ash from several eruptions of Pachincha and a marking where a human skull was found at the bottom.

A principal trail for moving produce to market, worn down several feet over the centures and covered with growth, providing a cool and dry path.

Home of a large tarantula.

Photo of Jas on the trail, taken with a flash

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Rumipamba Park is home to many ancient plants used by the indigeneous people for various medicinal purposes

. Another dig, exposing the ruins of an ancient house.

Rendering of what the ancient house looked like.

The views from the park are amazing. This is a view of the Volcano Cayambe

Jas rests with a view of the Volcano Ravendor

The Volcano Antisana

The Volcano Cotopoxi

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Sites around Quito, Ecuador

Modern office building near the La Carolina Park
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A fun way to travel around La Carolina park
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A public sculpture by world famous Ecuadorian artist Oswaldo Guayasamin
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Jas looks for a basket at the public market of Santa Clara
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Jas points to the apartment he had in 1964-65 while a US Peace Corps Volunteer. The terrace has since been enclosed.
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El Belen Church in Quito, built in 1787, marks the Northern boundry of Colonial Quito
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Reconstruction of pre-Incan lookout in La Alameda park
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Natalia climbs the pre-Incan lookout
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Northern view from the pre-Incan lookout
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View from the lookout towards the 'new' Basilica
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View of La Alameda Park from the pre-Incan outlook
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Game board constructed with a collage of candy bars in La Alameda park
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The Quito Astronomical Observatory in La Alameda Park was opened in 1864 and is the oldest on the continent
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Castro Street building, where I had an apartment in 1987.

The enterance to the Castro Street building, former home of the Hallo Foundation where I worked in 1987
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Natalia Hallo at the front door of Castro Street building
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Jas in the Central foyer of Castro Street building
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Natalia n the upper level in front of her father's (Wilson Hallo) office, and where I was purified by an Andean Witch Doctor before I began my work for the Foundation
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Natalia in the former office of her father, my dear friend since 1965, when I was a Peace Corps Volunteer assigned to OCEPA, Organization Central for Exportation of Products of Artisans
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Natalia upstairs, with the door to her Father's office behind her
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Jas in front of the door to his apartment, where his wife, Iris later joined him.
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View of the Foyer from second floor

Monday, August 16, 2010

A visit to the historic nieghborhood of Guápulo

The Sanctuary of El Guapulo and the statue of Francisco de Orellana
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Jas in front of the Sanctuary of El Guapulo
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The bells of the Sanctuary of El Guapulo
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Interior of the Sanctuary of El Guapulo
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Detail of the Sanctuary of El Guapulo
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Courtyard of the monastery of El Guapulo (now a University)
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Jas and the statue 0f Francisco de Orellana facing
the Amazion Region of Ecuador
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New buildings of Quito above Guapulo
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View of the valley below Guapulo with the eastern ridge of the Andes beyond
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Natalia walks the streets of old Guapulo
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Contemporary Guapulo doorway
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Contemporary street art in Guapulo
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