Resources from Pearl Linguistics

ECUADOREAN Facts & Figures

Size: 109,483 square miles

Population: 15,007,343

Capital: Quito

Currency: US Dollar

Weather / Climate:

There is great variety in the climate, largely determined by altitude. It is mild year-round in the mountain valleys; Humid Subtropical Climate incoastal and Rain Forests in lowlands. The Pacific coastal area has a tropical climate, with a severe rainy season. The climate in the Andean highlands is temperate and relatively dry; and the Amazon basin on the eastern side of the mountains shares the climate of other rain forest zones.

Because of its location at the equator, Ecuador experiences little variation in daylight hours during the course of a year. Both sunrise and sunset occur each day at the two six o'clock hours.

Taken from wikipedia

ECUADOREAN languages

The predominant and official language of Ecuador is Spanish, in addition to Northern Quechua and other pre-colonial American languages, which are spoken by 2,300,000 (Adelaar 1991). Ethnologue lists 24 languages of Ecuador:^[2]

· Achuar–Shiwiar

· Awa–Cuaiquer

· Cha'palaachi

· Cofán

· Colorado

· Ecuadorian Sign Language

· Emberá languages

· Media Lengua

· 9 varieties of Quichua

· Secoya

· Shuar

· Siona

· Tetete

· Waorani

· Záparo

Taken from:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Ecuador

ECUADOREAN culture

Ecuadoris a patchwork of indigenous communities, including people of colonial Spanish origins and the descendants of African slaves. Its capital, Quito, once a part of the Inca empire, has some of the best-preserved early colonial architecture on the continent.

Several tribes populated Ecuador at the time of the Inca conquest in the mid-15th century. The Spanish arrived from Peru in the 1530s, and Sebastián de Balacázar, governor of San Miguel de Piura (the first Spanish town built in Ecuador), soon undertook the conquest of the Inca kingdom. A year later, San Francisco de Quito was founded in a region known as the Sierra, the central part of the country. The early years under the Spanish were marked by civil strife between rival families contesting power. In 1739, the viceroyalty of New Grenada was created and Quito fell under its jurisdiction until independence.

In the following century, as the Department of the South, it joined New Grenada and Venezuela to form the Federation of Gran Colombia. Spanish rule lasted until the early 19th century; the Spaniards were finally overthrown in 1822, by a force backed by Simon Bolivar, fresh from victory in Colombia. In 1828, the country declared war on Peru, whose armies had invaded Gran Colombia. A year later, a peace treaty was signed and Ecuador's boundaries were permanently established. However, relations between Ecuador and Peru have been tense ever since. The period between 1925 and 1948 saw continual changes of government, and economic and administrative chaos.

The discovery of oil and the sharp increase in world oil prices in the late and mid 70s should have transformed Ecuador's economic fortunes. However, the windfall was largely squandered. Power swung between left and right in the late 1980s and 1990s. In 1998, Jamil Mahaud of the centre-right Popular Democracy Party took office; however, he proved unable to arrest Ecuador's deteriorating economic situation, and in January 2000, Mahaud was forced out under pressure from the military, led by General Gutierrez. He was replaced by his deputy, Gustavo Noboa Bejarano. Under strong international pressure Noboa introduced a highly unpopular austerity programme which, by the time of the 2002 presidential poll, had undermined his prospects for retaining office. He lost to Edwin Gutierrez Borbua of the 21 January Patriotic Movement. Luis Alfredo Palacio González took over the presidency from 2005 to early 2007. Current president Rafael Vicente Correa Delgado took office in January 2007.

Traditionally a farming country, Ecuador's economy was transformed after the 1960s by the growth of industry and the discovery of oil. There was rapid growth and progress in health, education and housing. But by the end of the 20th century a combination of factors, including falling oil prices and damage caused by the weather phenomenon El Nino, had driven the economy into recession. Inflation, which had become the highest in the region, led the government to replace the national currency with the US dollar in an effort to curtail it.

Not all Ecuadorans have benefited equally from oil revenues. The traditionally dominant Spanish-descended elite gained far more than indigenous peoples and those of mixed descent. Steps to stabilise the economy, such as austerity measures and privatisation, have generated widespread unrest, particularly among the indigenous poor.

For a small country, Ecuador has many faces. It is divided into three distinct geological regions - Sierra, Oriente and Costa. They include Andean peaks, tropical rainforests and - 1,000 km (600 miles) off the coast - the volcanic Galapagos Islands, home to the animals and birds whose evolutionary adaptations shaped Charles Darwin's theories. The Andes range runs through the centre of the country, with the highest peak towering well above 6,000m (19,685ft). The landscape is dominated by volcanoes, half of them active. Ecuador's main cities are located in the wide valley dubbed the Avenue of Volcanoes. East of the Sierra, this area of wet lowlands is covered by dense jungle and an intricate network of rivers, all of which carry water from the Andes into the Amazon River. This region is lauded for its extreme biodiversity.

Ecuador's Pacific coast is home to lush tropical forests, attractive beaches and the country's commercial capital, Guayaquil.

The dominant religion is Christianity, with 95% Roman Catholic.

Casual wear is widely acceptable, other than for business. Smart clothes are often required when visiting hotel dining rooms and better restaurants. Revealing clothes should not be worn in towns. A tip may be requested if you wish to take someone's photograph and it is better to seek permission first.

Holidays

· 01 January – New Year's Day

· 27 February – Civicism and National Unity Day

· April – Good Friday

· 01 May – Labour Day

· 24 May – Battle of Pichincha

· 10 August – Independence Day

· 09 October – Guayaquil Independence Day

· 02 November – All Souls’ Day

· 03 November – Cuenca Independence Day

· 25 December – Christmas Day

· 31 December – New Year’s Eve

Taken from:

www.bbc.co.uk

www.worldtravelguide.net

ECUADOREAN people

The Ethnography of Ecuador consists of a diverse collection of ethnic groups, almost all related to another group in one way or another. The great majority of Ecuadorans trace their origins to one or more of three geographical sources of Human migrations: the pre-Hispanic indigenous Amerindians who settled the region over 15,000 years ago, the Europeans (principally Spaniards) who arrived over 5 centuries ago, and ultimately the black sub-Saharan Africans whom they imported as slave labour during the same period. The mixing of two or more of these three groups established other mixed ethnic groups.

Mestizos, the multiracial group of mixed European and Amerindian ancestry, are by far the largest of all the ethnic groups, and comprise around 65 per cent of the current population. The second most numerous group are the indigenous Amerindians (in Spanish indígenas, amerindios, or more controversially, indios), who account for approximately 25% of the population. Whites (in Spanish blancos) are estimated at 7%, and consists largely of those of unmixed or predominant European descent. Most White Ecuadorans are of colonial era Spanish origin, also known as criollos (literally meaning "local[-born Spaniards]", as opposed to "Peninsulares", which were Spaniards born in the Iberian Peninsula in Spain). Criollos is one of many terms from the colonial era caste system. White Ecuadorans of European non-colonial non-Spanish origin are a minority within the White Ecuadoran group, and are simply termed white. They mainly include descendants of immigrants from Italy, Germany, and France, as well as other countries. Afro-Ecuadorans make up most of the balance of the percentage, and include mulattos (mixed European and sub-Saharan African) and zambos (mixed Amerindian and sub-Saharan African).

Besides the above-mentioned ethnic groups, there are also non-European Caucasians mostly of Levantine origine and East Asians, mostly Chinese and Japanese.

Taken from:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Ecuador

ECUADOREAN food

Ecuadorian cuisine is diverse, varying with altitude and associated agricultural conditions. Pork, chicken, beef, and cuy (guinea pig) are popular in the mountain regions and are served with a variety of carbohydrate-rich foods, especially rice, corn and potatoes. A popular street food in mountain regions is hornado, consisting of potatoes served with roasted pig. Some examples of Ecuadorian cuisine in general include patacones, unripe plantains fried in oil, mashed up and then refried, llapingachos, a pan seared potato ball, and seco de chivo, a type of stew made from goat. A wide variety of fresh fruit is available, particularly at lower altitudes, including granadilla, passionfruit, naranjilla, several types of bananas, uvilla, taxo, and tree tomato.

Regional differences

There are several Ecuadorian dishes that are typical to the various regions in the country. For example, costeños (people from the coast) preffer fish, beans and plantains (unripened banana like fruit), while serranos from the mountain regions prefer meat, potatoes, rice and white hominy (mote). Regional examples include ceviches from the Coast, which are prepared in many different ways but basically consist of seafood (fish, shrimp, etc) marinated in lime juice , as well as cassava (yuca) bread, plantains served with crushed peanuts or salprieta, and encebollado, a very popular dish in the Coast, that contains a marinade with large chunks of fish, onions and various regional seasonings.

Seafood is very popular at the coast, where fish, prawns, shrimp and crabs, clams, etc are key parts of the diet. Plantain- and peanut-based dishes are the basis of many coastal meals, which are usually served in two courses. The first course is caldo soup, which may be aguado (a thin soup, usually with meat) or caldo de leche, a cream vegetable soup. The second course might include rice, meat or fish with a menestra (lentil stew), and salad or vegetables. Patacones (fried green plantains with cheese) are popular side dishes with coastal meals. Some of the typical dishes in the coastal region are: ceviche, pan de almidón, corviche, guatita, papas con quero, encebollado and empanadas; in the mountain region: hornado, fritada, humitas, tamales, llapingachos, lomo saltado, and churrasco.

A food of the mountainous parts of Ecuador is guinea pig.

The food is somewhat different in the southern mountain area, featuring typical Loja food such as repe, a soup prepared with green bananas; cecina, roasted pork; and miel con quesillo or "cuajada" as dessert. In the rainforest, a dietary staple is the yuca, elsewhere called cassava. The starchy root is peeled and boiled, fried, or used in a variety of other dishes. Many fruits are available in this region, including bananas, tree grapes, and peach palms. It's also used as a bread and has spread throughout the nation, most notably, to Quito where a company sells the native pan de yuca in a new sense; different types sold with frozen yoghurt.

Typical meal

Ecuadorian cuisine traditionally consists of two dishes, a soup and a rice platter. For the most part, Ecuador is known not only for its bananas and all the dishes made from them, but for its starch consumption of products like potato, bread, rice, and yuca. Traditionally any of these factors can be found in either the soup or the rice platter that may be served. Most regions in Ecuador follow the traditional 3 course meal of sopa (soup) and segundo (second dish) which includes rice and a protein such as meat, poultry, pig or fish. Then dessert and a coffee are customary. Dinner is usually lighter and sometimes just coffee or agua de remedio (herbal tea) with bread.

Alcoholic beverages

Aguardiente, a sugar cane-based spirit, is probably the most popular national alcohol. Canelazo is a popular drink made from aguardiente. Drinkable yogurt, available in many fruit flavors, is popular and is often consumed with pan de yuca, a light bread filled with cheese and eaten warm.

Christian influence

Besides the regions, there are several typical Ecuadorian dishes consumed on special occasions. During Finados (November 2), there is the Colada Morada, which is prepared with black corn flour. During Easter, the Fanesca is traditionally served all over Ecuador. Fanesca, a fish soup including several types of beans, is often eaten during Lent and Easter. During the week before the commemoration of the deceased or día de los muertos, the fruit beverage Colada Morada is typical, accompanied by Guaguas de Pan, which is stuffed bread shaped like children.

Taken from wikipedia

Places to go in ECUADOR

Bargaining is acceptable in small shops and in markets, but prices are usually fixed in 'tourist stores'. A few stores around the major hotels have fixed prices. In the Province of Azuay, the cities of Cuenca and Gualaceo offer a wide variety of handicrafts at ferias or special market days. The top attractions are the ferias of Otavalo, Ambato, Latacunga, Saquisili and Riobamba, most held once a week. They offer the visitor excellent bargains for Indian crafts and silver. Principal silver stores are in Quito. Special purchases include native woodcarvings, varnished and painted ornaments made of bread dough, Indian tiles, woollen rugs, blankets, baskets, leather goods, shigras (shoulder bags) and hand-loomed textiles, indigenous art and native weapons.

There is little nightlife, except in Quito and Guayaquil where there are excellent restaurants and other attractions. In smaller towns, social life takes place in the home and in private clubs. The cinema is the most popular form of entertainment. Things liven up from Thursday to Saturday evenings. Bars are generally open between 2000-0200, with clubs staying on until about 0400.

The UNESCO World Heritage city of Quito, set at 2,850m (9,348ft), boasts one of the continent's best-preserved colonial downtowns. Its lavishly decorated 16th-century churches are full of exquisite religious art, while its plazas remember marching conquistadores, shackled slaves and Jesuits preaching to the Indians. Ecuador's capital city is also breathtaking - literally. With its central square set at 2,850m (9,350ft) above sea level, it is the second highest national capital and a place where even a little exercise can leave unacclimatised travellers out of breath. So slow down your pace before setting off to explore this former Inca site.

The historical part of the city, Old Town, where most attractions are located, is a relatively poor and charmingly unkempt neighbourhood. Wandering here, you'll mingle with indigenous Ecuadoreans whose multicoloured ponchos create a fascinating visual effect set against the backdrop of whitewashed colonial buildings. Beyond the neo-gothic tower of Basilica del Voto Nacional lies Mariscal district with its numerous backpacker hostels and great bars and restaurants.

The modern and orderly New Town begins further north. Its most fascinating sight is the rim of Guapolo valley flanked by high-rise hotels and villas, including that of the country's most renowned painter Oswaldo Guayasamín.

The huge granite monument marking the equator line is not far from Quito. Local guides will show how water swirls clockwise and anti-clockwise direction on both side of the line to prove its scientific significance.

A few tour agencies in Quito offer cycling trips that take in the high-altitude paramo at an altitude of 4,000m (13,123ft) down to the lush tropical forests at 1,000m (3,280ft), passing the numerous climatic zones in between.

Founded in 1577, Cuenca is perhaps the best example of a South American colonial city. You are likely to feel the ambience already when checking into your hotel, most of which are located in heritage buildings. The nearby Ingapirca site gives a glimpse of Ecuador's pre-colonial history.

The long riverside promenade in Ecuador's commercial capital is a masterpiece of modern architecture, with shady gardens and nice restaurants. Nearby, Barrio las Peñas is a former slum converted into a bohemian district, full of galleries, souvenir shops and bars.

Baños, this tourist resort is booming despite having been several times evacuated because of its violent neighbour - the permanently erupting Tungurahua volcano. At night, you can watch from a safe distance how the mountain exhales fumes and lava streaks.

Avenue of Volcanoes

Indigenous markets are an ethnologist's wonder, but also a cheap and efficient way to stock up on gifts for your friends and families. While the Otavalo market mostly caters for tourists, the market in Saqisili is authentically a local affair.

The narrow coastal belt has several attractive towns, such as Playas Posoria and Salinas, while Esmeraldas, one of the country's most important ports, is also known for its beautiful beaches. The relaxing island of Muisne is fast becoming a popular destination. The Pacific coast of Ecuador has sandy beaches that draw crowds of surfers. The village of Montañita has grown into a surfers' enclave with plenty of cheap accommodation and active nightlife.

Driving along the Panamericana on a sunny day, you'll find yourself surrounded by towering snow-capped volcanoes that invite for a hiking or climbing adventure. The most notable of them are volcanoes Cotopaxi and Chimborazo. High-altitude walks in the Cotopaxi and El Cajas national parks require some stamina due to the lack of oxygen, but this is your chance to see the stunning scenery of the grass-covered paramo plateaus, surrounded by volcanoes. Cotopaxi - the world's highest active volcano - is one of the best mountains to start your climbing career. The climb doesn't require previous experience, but you need to be very fit and accustomed to high altitude.

Devil's Nose - riding on the train's roof is not forbidden by the local tourist authorities in Ecuador - it's more encouraged. The famously precipitous 'Devil's Nose' train route takes you from Riobamba to the Alausi station, with most passengers opting to ride on top of the carriage.

The wet equatorial forest of the Oriente is teeming with wildlife. Some areas are dotted with eco-lodges from where travellers embark on canoe expeditions through the intricate network of rivers and creeks that form the Amazon basin.

Straddling the Equator 1000km (622 miles) off the coast of Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands are famous for being the inspiration for Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. There are 13 large islands and six small, which were formed by oceanic volcanoes some three to five million years ago. Visitors come to the islands to see the unparalleled variety of wildlife that flourishes due to the remote location and temperate climate. The most famous residents are the giant tortoises after whom the islands are named, although other common species include iguana, dolphins, boobies and cormorants. The animals are so used to human company visitors can even swim with penguins and sea lions. Snorkelling and sailing are also popular.

Taken from: www.worldtravelguide.net

Doing business in ECUADOR

Ecuador's economy has heavily depended on exporting resources such as petroleum, fish, shrimp, timber and gold. In addition, it has rich agriculture: bananas, flowers, coffee, cacao, guayusa, sugar, tropical fruits, palm oil, palm hearts, rice, roses, and corn.^[32] The country´s greatest national export is crude oil.^[33] Fluctuations in world market prices can have a substantial domestic impact. Industry is largely oriented to servicing the domestic market, with some exports to the Andean Community of Nations.

Deteriorating economic performance in 1997–98 culminated in a severe economic and financial crisis in 1999. The crisis was precipitated by the El Niño weather phenomenon in 1997, a sharp drop in global oil prices in 1997–98, and international emerging market instability in 1997–98. These factors resulted in a 7.3% contraction of GDP, annual year-on-year inflation of 52.2%, and a 65% devaluation of the national currency, the Sucre, in 1999, which helped precipitate a default on external loans later that year. In January 2000, President Jamil Mahuad announced a policy to adopt the U.S. dollar as the official currency of Ecuador, and although Mahuad was forced from office, his successor Gustavo Noboa continued with the plan, and also entered into negotiations with the IMF.

Ecuadorhas a network of national highways maintained by the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Comunicaciones (Ministry of Public Works and Communication). The Pan-American Highway connects the northern and southern portions of the country as well as connecting Ecuador with Colombia to the north and Peru to the south. The quality of roads, even on truck routes, is highly variable.

There is an extensive network of intercity buses that use these mountain roads and highways. The most modern Ecuadorian Highway connects Guayaquil with Salinas.

The Empresa de Ferrocarriles Ecuatorianos is the Ecuadorian national railway. The Interandean Railroad is essentially defunct; only the short "devil's nose" section is usable. Tourists usually board the train in Alausí, although some opt for a longer trip from Riobamba (if available).

Taken from wikipedia