Saturday, May 15, 2010

WELCOME TO LOVING COUNTRY ECUADOR



cuador welcomes you

The official name is Republic of Ecuador.
Ecuador is the smallest country in South America but people here are very loving and friendly.

Ecuador has a population of over 15 millon inhabitants.
Composition of population groups:
Indian: 6.83 percent

Black (Afro-American): 2.23 percent
Mestizo: 77.42 percent
Mulato: 2.74 percent
White: 10.46 percent















Ecuador is in the northwest part of South America, bordered to the north by Colombia, east and south by Peru and west by the Pacific Ocean.



Ecuador is a multiecthnic country with a rich cultural, natural and archaeological sites, located in the equator at latitude zero. It owes its name to the imaginary line of Ecuador, which crosses the country and divides the earth into two hemispheres.







uito is the Capital city of Ecuador.














Quito is not the capital of Ecuador, but also is the Capital of Orchids in the world with at least 450 species.

















Quito is surrounded by mountains and volcanoes that several are still active.

Places to visit in our town


This is very popular city for visitors and tourists both internal and external.

There are sereval places of interest in Ecuador like the Galapagos Islands, Mitad del Mundo, the beachs of the coast, arquitectural churches, National Parks, museums etc.

Galapagos Island


The Galapagos Islands (including the Galapagos Islands and officially Colon Archipelago) is a Pacific Ocean archipelago located 972 km off the coast of Ecuador. It is composed of 13 large volcanic islands, 6 smaller islands and 107 rocks and islets, which are distributed around the earth line of Ecuador. Politically, the islands are a province of Ecuador, whose capital is Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, official terminology it is also called Isular Region of Ecuador.




The Galapagos archipelago is one of the world's most fascinating places for snorkeling and deep. Has been declared one of the seven underwater wonders of the world.




Mitad del Mundo

The Mitad del Mundo(Middle of the World) is 100% touristy and cheesy as well...but you came to Ecuador, so now you're obligated to see the actual 0 degree latitude line....or at least they say it is. Here we have a line painted on the ground where tourists stand on both sides and have their photos taken. There is also a monument, lots of shops, restaurants and the like...a regular theme park here.


In the monument is the Mitad del Mundo Ethnographic Museum, a museum on Indian ethnography of Ecuador.




Architectural Churches



Quito, Ecuador's capital, is located on a horizontal strip of land extending from north to south. This is a beautiful location between mountains, which were combined with the warmth of her people, and its attractions, churches, streets, parks and monuments. Historic Quito is the oldest and best maintained in the colonial sector of South America. Quito is flourished in the old city and is known for his unique style baroque. This style is reflected in the rich and profuse decoration of the interiors of many churches in the Old City. These European influences were combined with the inspiration of indigenous art to create a unique style Quiteño. "For your artwork, Quito has been called" Luz de America" (Light of America.)





The Aerial Tram



After a relaxed 10 minute ride up the mountain we reach an altitude of 4,050 meters, quite close to the summit of Pichincha volcano and the best location to see part of the Avenue of Volcanoes. We sit and enjoy the spectacular view of the city, its surrounding snow covered volcanoes: Cotopaxi, Antisana and Cayambe (over 5,750 meters); other volcanoes and mountains under 5,500 meters, as well as the fertile valleys with its agricultural fields between two Andean ranges. An impressive view complemented with restaurants, cafeterias, handcraft stores, and entertainment for everyone.

Museums

Museo del Banco Central del Ecuador

Ecuador. This 'sungod mask' is its most famous piece of the La Tolita culture of the Pacific coast which lasted from ca 600 BC to 400 AD. It is now the emblem of the Banco Central.




The culture of Ecuador has been perfectly preserved through centuries in various museums in the country. Most museums are located in the Historic Center of Quito, but others of great importance is equally distributed in major cities. The ruins of ancient temples of worship, have also been revamped to offer tourists a direct experience of the past.



This museum exhibits the work and the art collections of Oswaldo Guayasamin, one of the most famous artists of Ecuador.






Transport

In Ecuador you can transport by bus, by trolley and by road.


Lodging In Ecuador

In Ecuador you can at stay at hotels, motels, hostels. furnished apartments, corrages in major cities of the country such as Quito, Guayaquil y Cuenca.

Lodging in Quito

Hosteria San Jose
The Hoster a - Resort San José in the metropolitan district of Quito lies 30 few minutes from the commercial center of Quito and at 2,450 meters from sea level. The main building of the Hoster a is the result of a painstaking restoration project to recover the house of one of the Haciendas of great tradition in the Ecuadorian Andes. Our visitors will be able to enjoy its splendour, comfort and roomy parks and groundss which will allow them to get in contact with some of the history and natural world of the Ecuadorian Andes. There are 27 rooms and 4 suites, all which are elegant and relaxing, come with a view to our roomy groundss. A health club inclusively equipped with a gymnasium with robic exercise machines, free weights, swirl pool, sauna and steam bath is offered. We have 70 acres for hilking and walking and horseback riding among eucalyptus and fruit trees.

Hotel JW Marriott Quito

The JW Marriott Hotel Quito is located in city centre along the famous Avenida Amazonas within walking distance of the new and exclusive business and shopping district.Location:in the city centre - Av. Orellana 1172 y Av. Amazonas5 miles from the Airport QuitoRooms:257 rooms, 11 floorsall guest rooms and Suites have breathtaking views of either Pichincha volcano or the City of QuitoServices: Restaurant, Lobby Bar, Shopping Area, World-class Spa, Fitness Centre, Outdoor Pool, Jacuzzi, Massage. Sauna, High-speed Internet, Business Centre with Meeting Room and Ball Room, Best-in-class catering services, Parking

Lodging in Guayaquil
Hotel Oro Verde of Guayaquil
Hotel Oro Verde is the place where guests experience a winning combination of Swiss expertise and warm Ecuadorian hospitality. Located in the most modern commercial and banking area of Guayaquil, the largest and most dynamic city in Ecuador, this fine hotel provides excellent service in a friendly atmosphere and offers all the comfort of an international hotel of high standards.We offer 230 luxury rooms, three restaurants, bar, delicatessen, room service, a luxurious Club Floor, swimming pool, fitness and business center, casino and shops. Oro Verde Guayaquil is equipped with excellent event, convention and banquet facilities to cover social meetings up to 1.200 people. Oro Verde Hotel provides its guests and customers with a modern and private parking building with 24-hour security.Each of the newly refurbished rooms and suites features remote control international cable TV, direct-dial telephone, data jacks for PC and fax, minibar and hairdryer. Many suites contain a full kitchen
Rooms/212 Single
Location: Within City
Address: 9 de Octubre y Garcia Moreno
Telephone: (593 4) 232 7999
City: Guayaquil


Hotel Hilton Colón Guayaquil


Elegance, comfort, security and personalized service are just some of the characteristics that make Hilton Colón Guayaquil, a real five-star city resort hotel. The splendid building is located only five minutes away from José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport and dominates the city's new booming commercial and financial zone in Ecuador. The hotel is surrounded by the main shopping centers and offers easy access to the downtown district area. All members and guests will be booked on the Club Floor.

294 Rooms/ 404 Spaces
Location: Within City
Address: Av. Francisco de Orellana Mz. 111
Telephone: (593 4) 268 900

Hotel Crespo

Cuenca oldest develops its activities in a building dating from the late 1800s, it has had some assistance, maintaining the colonial architecture, located on one side in the most important City, "El Barranco" Tomebamba banks of the River and on the other, Calle Larga, which has the largest concentration of museums and nightlife of the city. SERVICES / FACILITIESThe Hotel has 39 rooms, restaurant, La Casona, bar The Pot Still, two rooms for events and conventions, laundry service, room service, business center, private parking and unlimited Internet in public areas and rooms. ROOM INFORMATIONWe have 39 rooms including single, double, twin and family all the comforts provided to satisfy the needs of the modern tourist, one of the most important features of the rooms in the hotel is that they are all different, some of them have a beautiful Barranco del Rio view Tomebamba, others completely remodeled the steps leading down to it and some with views of Long Street.
Address: Calle Larga 793, Cuenca Ecuador

Telephone: (07) 2842571.


Rugs for sale at a market in Otavalo are an example of indigenous craftsmanship



Visit to Ecuador and have fun with all the wonders you will find in our beautiful country, you will not regret visiting this natural paradise.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

REFLEXION ABOUT OUR FRIDAY CLASS




In my opinion the day Friday classes are very interesting because it helps develop our skills in the computation and also on the learning of English.
Anita our teacher is very patient with us, she participates with the group one by one. I enjoy these classes.In these classes I feel very happy to learn many things that I dis not know of computing, thanks to my classmates who also help me in this process of learning.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE TIPS



Living a healthy lifestyle doesn't have to be hard. It just takes the motivation to change our bad habits into good, healthy ones.



1. Eat a balanced diet. Eat more fruits and vegetables and get rid of the high sugar, processed foods. Along with eating better is getting the right nutrients in the system.



2. Take vitamins and minerals to help your body work properly.


3. Quit all those nasty unhealthy habits. Smoking, drinking, drugs, chewing tobacco, whatever your vice may be quit now. You are in charge of your health and living a healthier lifestyle means getting rid of the things that may kill you.


4. Do exercise. Exercise makes you feel good and can motivate you to get other things done as well.



5. Along with exercise, is making sure you see a doctor each year for an annual physical. This is more important in women, but men should be seeing a doctor every 2-3 years to make sure there are no big health concerns.



6. Surround yourself with a strong support network, or a group of people who will be there for you and participate in a healthy lifestyle as well.



7. Your family and friends can help you have fun and enjoy life.


8. Create a good balance between work and play.



The final two tips are to accept yourself for the unique individual you are and love what you do. If you can accept yourself, the good and the bad, it will show in all you do. Your job is something you will be doing for at least the next 20 years, so you should love it. If you don't keep looking until you find something you do love.
















Start with those healthy lifestyle choices and see how you feel in the next few weeks. You should feel more energized, motivated, and positive.



Friday, April 23, 2010

The ANZAC Day tradition



What is ANZAC Day?
ANZAC Day – 25 April – is probably Australia's most important national occasion. It marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War.

What does ANZAC stand for?
ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The soldiers in those forces quickly became known as ANZACs, and the pride they took in that name endures to this day.

Why is this day special to Australians?
When war broke out in 1914, Australia had been a federal commonwealth for only 13 years. The new national government was eager to establish its reputation among the nations of the world. In 1915 Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of the allied expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli peninsula in order to open the Dardanelles to the allied navies. The ultimate objective was to capture Constantinople (now Istanbul in Turkey), the capital of the Ottoman Empire, an ally of Germany.
The Australian and New Zealand forces landed on Gallipoli on 25 April, meeting fierce resistance from the Ottoman Turkish defenders. What had been planned as a bold stroke to knock Turkey out of the war quickly became a stalemate, and the campaign dragged on for eight months. At the end of 1915 the allied forces were evacuated, after both sides had suffered heavy casualties and endured great hardships. Over 8,000 Australian soldiers had been killed. News of the landing on Gallipoli had made a profound impact on Australians at home, and 25 April soon became the day on which Australians remembered the sacrifice of those who had died in the war.
Although the Gallipoli campaign failed in its military objectives, the Australian and New Zealand actions during the campaign left us all a powerful legacy. The creation of what became known as the “ANZAC legend” became an important part of the identity of both nations, shaping the ways they viewed both their past and their future.

Early commemorations
The 25th of April was officially named ANZAC Day in 1916. It was marked by a wide variety of ceremonies and services in Australia, a march through London, and a sports day in the Australian camp in Egypt. In London over 2,000 Australian and New Zealand troops marched through the streets. A London newspaper headline dubbed them “the knights of Gallipoli”. Marches were held all over Australia; in the Sydney march, convoys of cars carried wounded soldiers from Gallipoli attended by nurses. For the remaining years of the war, ANZAC Day was used as an occasion for patriotic rallies and recruiting campaigns, and parades of serving members of the AIF were held in most cities.
During the 1920s ANZAC Day became established as a national day of commemoration for the 60,000 Australians who had died during the war. In 1927, for the first time every state observed some form of public holiday on ANZAC Day. By the mid-1930s, all the rituals we now associate with the day – dawn vigils, marches, memorial services, reunions, two-up games – were firmly established as part of ANZAC Day culture.
With the coming of the Second World War, ANZAC Day also served to commemorate the lives of Australians who died in that war. In subsequent years the meaning of the day has been further broadened to include Australians killed in all the military operations in which Australia has been involved.
ANZAC Day was first commemorated at the Memorial in 1942. There were government orders prohibiting large public gatherings in case of a Japanese air attack, so it was a small occasion, with neither a march nor a memorial service. Since then, ANZAC Day has been commemorated at the Memorial every year.

What does it mean today?
Australians recognize 25 April as an occasion of national remembrance, which takes two forms. Commemorative services are held at dawn – the time of the original landing – across the nation. Later in the day, ex-servicemen and women meet to take part in marches through the major cities and in many smaller centers. Commemorative ceremonies are more formal and are held at war memorials around the country. In these ways, ANZAC Day is a time when Australians reflect on the many different meanings of war.

The Dawn Service
The Dawn Service observed on ANZAC Day has its origins in a military routine which is still followed by the Australian Army today. During battle, the half-light of dawn was one of the most favored times for an attack. Soldiers in defensive positions were woken in the dark before dawn, so by the time first light crept across the battlefield they were awake, alert, and manning their weapons; this is still known as the “stand-to”. As dusk is equally favorable for attacks, the stand-to was repeated at sunset.
After the First World War, returned soldiers sought the comradeship they had felt in those quiet, peaceful moments before dawn. A dawn stand-to, with its symbolic links to the dawn landing at Gallipoli, became a common form of ANZAC Day remembrance during the 1920s. The first official dawn service was held at the Sydney Cenotaph in 1927.
Today dawn services include the presence of a chaplain, but not the presence of dignitaries such as the governor general. They were originally very simple and followed the military routine. In many cases, attendance at the dawn service was restricted to veterans, while the daytime ceremony was for families and other well-wishers. Before dawn, the gathered veterans would be ordered to “stand to” and two minutes’ silence would follow. At the end of this time a lone bugler would play the Last Post and then conclude the service with Reveille, the bugler’s call to wake up.
In more recent times families and young people have been encouraged to take part in dawn services, and services in Australian capital cities have seen some of the largest turnouts ever. Reflecting this change, those services have become more elaborate, incorporating hymns, readings, pipers, and rifle volleys. Other services, though, have retained the simple format of the dawn stand-to, familiar to so many soldiers.

The ANZAC Day Ceremony
At the Australian War Memorial, the ceremony takes place at 10.15 am in the presence of people such as the prime minister and the governor general. Each year the ceremony follows a pattern that is familiar to generations of Australians. A typical ANZAC Day ceremony may include the following features: an introduction, hymn, prayer, an address, laying of wreaths, a recitation, the Last Post, a period of silence, either the Rouse or the Reveille, and the national anthem. After the Memorial’s ceremony, families often place red poppies beside the names of relatives on the Memorial’s Roll of Honor, as they also do after Remembrance Day services.