for the brave
A treehouse on a reserve in the town of Banos became famous for the “end of the world swing”: a long rope swing at the edge of a canyon. It’s scary, but it has a phenomenal view of Mount Tungurahua.
protection is red
One of the most traditional superstitions is to tie a red thread or string around the wrist of newborns to protect them from evil spirits. On farms, animals also get this amulet, but around the neck.
the law is green
Ecuador was the first country to include the “Rights of Nature” in its Constitution, in 2008. It allows any citizen to open a judicial process if he feels that an ecosystem is being prevented from existing and prospering.
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– (Wikipedia/Strange World)
–a cutie
If you find children on the street with an ice cream that doesn’t seem to melt, don’t be surprised. It’s an espumilla: a meringue made from egg whites, sugar and guava pulp, decorated with sprinkles or served with gelatin. Delight!
Goodbye old year
On December 31, the “Año Viejo” is celebrated, burning a straw doll that represents everything bad that happened in that period. The custom began in 1895, when the country had an outbreak of yellow fever.
volleyball with an accent
Here there is a version of the sport itself, called ecuavolley, ecuabol, or “boly” for the intimate. The net is higher, the court is made of concrete, the team is only three people and you can hold the ball for a second.
The virgin versus the volcano
In September, the city of Latacunga celebrates the Festa da Mama Negra, in honor of the Virgin of Mercedes. It is said that this character, with traces of Spanish, indigenous and African culture, calmed the Cotopaxi volcano in 1742.
CURIOUS STATISTICS
300 different types of bananas are planted in the country
13 million cell phones in the country
104 paved runway airports
19.9% of the adult population is obese
SOURCES Websites Atlas Obscura, Culture Crossing, Insider Monkey, Bacon Is Magic, latin It is CIA The World Factbook