Today we managed to see three museums and not a single church (I lie). They were all interesting, but the first two were really quite superb.
The first was the Casa Museo Maria Augusta Urratia, a philanthropist of the first order. Her family was very well off and she was the sole inheritor, when her parents died. Instead of throwing her money away she began to offer the poor children of Quito food to help them as well as providing education. She was very well educated herself and spoke three languages, Spanish, French and English. She entertained Presidents and high society but she did everything she could for the poor. When she died she left her entire estate to her foundation and the city. A very large park is another of her bequests still enjoyed by today's Quiteños. I could not take pictures inside her home which has many luxuries including gorgeous chandeliers but we were certainly impressed with her huge home and her legacy.
Just a few of the utilitarian objects used in food prep.
The courtyard was lovely and the well supplied water for the neighbourhood.
Our next remarkable museum was the Museo de la Ciudad, another very large place over two floors and two buildings.
Here is the central courtyard.
And I guess you could say we were in a church - we were able to view the chapel attached to the building via the choir loft.
The museum attempted to show some aspects of daily life in the country. This was the interior of a thatched roof hut - full sized.
A great graphic showing the building of the main church - the first one we toured yesterday.
And this remarkable marquetry floor, a map of old Quito.
Loved this turtle seat.
And this oddity, a display of candle snuffers embedded in candle wax.
This was a small display - the woman is perhaps five inches tall. I just liked the attitude of the llama.
There was a great mirador from which we had an excellent view of the winged Virgn Mary. She stands high on a hill , a proud symbol of the city, and we were told that she is used to orient oneself. If you can see her face, you are looking south, if her back then you are looking north. A very lovely small version of this winged Virgin was in the first museum we toured.
Some public art and a patio from the viewpoint.
And for my crafting friends, a cabinet of supplies.
The second half of the museum is the remains of a hospital that was in continuous use from the mid-1500's to 1974!
This mural on the back wall of one of the hospital wards shows the walled beds and also the religious nature of the hospital which was run by both male and female religious groups.
Here's a mock-up of one of he patient niches.
And a few surgical instruments - something of a matched set.
The large patio outside the hospital served as the laundry area. There was also a crypt over where Geordie is walking. He was disappointed to find it closed.
Attached at the back of the hospital was a very modern addition with this large scale sculpted head. There was also a pleasant coffee shop.
And this view to the east.
Along a narrow street below.
Our third museum was the home of one of Ecuador's greatest heroes, the Mariscal Antonio Sucre who was a leader in the fight for independence. Before the dollar was made the official currency, one used sucres as the monetary unit.
The great hero himself.
Another gorgeous patoi.
In this room we were surprised to see some unusual wall construction. The lattice work at the top is cane set in the plaster walls. It likely helped to keep the rooms cool and well aired.
Oh, we did stop in at the cultural centre which also houses the municipal library. These bronze sculptures of printers at their presses was in the corridor.
Ok, we didn't get to see the inside, but we did walk up to this church, La Merced, which held out the promise of interior paintings showing volcanoes erupting but it wasn't open so we had to be content with an outside view.
Which included this bell tower which legend says is the work of the devil! It's the tallest church tower in Quito apparently but has been locked for years.
No pictures, but tonight we went to the Hilton Colon where we met our friend Marje from Calgary, fresh from her visit to a cloud forest after 10 days in the Galapagos. Tomorrow she's off for a jungle adventure. We will meet her again in a few days and we will hang out together in a somewhat lower end hotel than the Hilton, but a little upscale from our Hotel Liz. We enjoyed some local food at a nearby restaurant. I'm sorry I didn't think to take photos, but my Seco de Chivo - a lamb stew was delicious.
On another note - we took a taxi back to our hotel, but our taxi driver couldn't figure out how to get to it with the plethora of one way and blocked streets. He finally had to let us off to walk two blocks to our place. I don't think the taxi drivers at the Hilton often get to drive to our part of town.
We are off to Baños next - to take the waters. Till then...
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