Roses

Ecuador is one of the biggest exporters of roses in the world, and others are Colombia and Ethiopia. Cool air and sunshine are preferable for cultivating roses, and the area not far from Quito has the right conditions.

Highest In the World

Chimborazo, the famous Ecuadorian mountain, is featured on the Ecuadorian coat of arms. It was once thought to be the highest mountain in the world. Simon Bolívar, 1783–1830, the Venezuelan political leader and military, who played an instrumental role in the establishment of Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, and Colombia as sovereign states, was so inspired by the mountain that he wrote 1822 the famous poem Mi delirio sobre el Chimborazo – My Delirium on Chimborazo.

I came wrapped in the cloak of Iris, from where the mighty Orinoco pays tribute to the water gods. I had visited the enchanted springs of the Amazon, and I wanted to climb the Watchtower of the world. I looked out the tracks of la Condamine, of Humboldt. Boldly I followed, nothing would stand in my way. 

Humboldt In Ecuador

In February 1800, Humboldt and Bonpland, the famous botanist, traveled in South America to explore the course of the Orinoco River and its tributaries. They ascended the Magdalena River, crossed the Andes, and reached Quito on January 6, 1802, after a difficult journey.

During their stay in Ecuador, they made an ascent of Pichincha and an attempt on Chimborazo. The mountain was thought to be the highest peak in the world. Humboldt and his party reached an altitude of 5,878 m, a world record at the time. At the end of the journey, the expedition traveled to the sources of the Amazon river. One of Humboldt's many discoveries was the decrease in the intensity of Earth's magnetic field from the poles to the equator.

Guayasamin

We took a taxi, skipped the stairs, and arrived at a fantastic site with a spectacular view of Quito. It was a liberating feeling to stand there, high over the city. We entered first the Capilla del Hombre – The Chapel of Man. The construction work of the chapel started in 1996; unfortunately, the artist didn't live to see it completed and inaugurated in 2002. The chapel holds an eternal flame, symbolizing people's right to peace and human rights. The museum complex is a tribute to Oswaldo Guayasamín but also Guayasamín's tribute to his country and its people. 

In his house museum, you will find Pre-Columbian archaeological objects, artifacts of colonial times, and works by the artist. 

Panama Hats
Panama hats are to Ecuador what shoes are to Italy.

Cacao

Cacao comes from Ecuador. Proof was found at Zamora-Chincipe that cacao comes originally from Ecuador, not Mexico.