Ecuador...

[deezpalms]

A friend of mine just came back from Ecuador where she worked in an orphanage in the Andes mountains in the city of Conocoto. There are many images on Parajubaea cocoides and other palms. I hope you all enjoy!

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The middle of the Earth ~ The Equator!

[paulgila]

great shots!i didn't know ecuador was so "palmy".

thanks for posting these,dave!

[deezpalms]

No worries Paulito! My friend took as many pictures of palms as she could for me so I am very thankful! I only wish that I could have gone too!!

[osideterry]

A lot of my favorites growing there. I guess at the equator, at 8,000 ft in the Andes you are probably still in Zone 10a.

What's the tall, bushy fan palm in post 19? Sabal? Nice S. maurtiformis in post 6.

[philinsydney]

Are those big mountains either Cotopaxi or Chimborazo?

[gavilan1]

I'm a bit rusty, not having been there since 1988 (I used to guide there), but the volcano (image #3) in post 19 looks like Cayambe, and the next image looks like Peguche, a small village north of Otavalo (south of Ibarra).  Post 20 #3 could be Chimborazo, since at its feet is the very cold paramo, a cold, foggy region (but since much of it is hidden in the clouds, it could also be Cotopaxi).  #4 looks like Cayambe, shot from north of the town of the same name.  The lake in post 21 (image #2) looks like Lago San Pablo, south of Ibarra, in northern Ecuador (just off of the Panamerican Highway).  The lake in post 22 might be Lago Yaguarcocha ("Blood Lake"), but I'm not sure (could also be Cuicocha, since I don't see a race track - Yaguarcocha has a formula 1 track around the lake, and I met Alfiero Maserati and his wife there during a racing event in ~1977).  Post 23 #1 looks like it might be the Antisana, straddling the province Quito is in, and Napo province, in the Amazon jungle, way down near sea level to the east of town, and #2 and #3 are Cotopaxi.  Post 24 #1 is the monument called La Mitad del Mundo, where the equator crosses north of Quito.  The ridge behind the monument area is the rim of a volcanic caldera named Pululagua, which is immense (3km. wide), sunken, and contains a very nice farm.  Nice hike down to the farm for a recently arrived gringo, death march hike back up for a dumb just arrived gringo (me in 1975, one day off the plane).  The altitude and thin air kicked my butt on the way back up (~9,000' elev.).  Brings back good memories, though.  Thanks, Dave!  My wife and daughter are vacationing there right now...it's a great place.  They use the US dollar there as the official currency.  The president is a Chavez wannabe, but the people are very kind and friendly.  John Mendoza's roots are there.

[Gbarce]

I really enjoyed your pctures!!

[Kris]

Dear Dave  

lovely coverage of a beautiful land and as days progress your

travel accounts of the places you vist are indeed improving

and i think your coverage is as good as our AmazonDK(Don).

since even puts in eneromous effect to capture day to day

events of the places he visit.

great work and i loved your stills.

Thanks,

Kris  

[deezpalms]

Doug ~ Thank you for the insight. I did not go to Ecuador and I can`t remember everything my friend had told me as she showed me the pictures the first time.

Kris ~ I can not take credit for the pictures as my friend went and not myself.  :: I will take credit for lightening up and retouching the images as a lot of them were very dark or out of focus. I spent a lot of time working on the pictures in order to post them here.

I'm glad you all enjoy the photos as much as I do. I especially love all of the Parajubaea pictures. It's nice to see such large specimens!!

[freekypalmguy]

Eyegasm. That is one beautifull place. Thanks Dave

[Kris]

(deezpalms @ Aug. 11 2007,13:44)

QUOTE

Kris ~ I can not take credit for the pictures as my friend went and not myself.  :: I will take credit for lightening up and retouching the images as a lot of them were very dark or out of focus. I spent a lot of time working on the pictures in order to post them here.

I'm glad you all enjoy the photos as much as I do.

Dear Dave  

In that case my appriciation to your friend also.and i think we

must praise you too for doing the presentation and uploading.

thanks & Love,

Kris  

[Davidl]

All the more reason I want to have a home in Ecuador. I hope to have one in the near future so I can visit all these places. There are so many beautiful places all around Ecuador and the people are very friendly. I must say I have not experienced that in some places I have visited in the world in the same way. Your pictures taken by your friend are very nice thanks for posting.

[BS Man about Palms]

Whoa.........................

[amazondk]

Thanks a lot for posting the pictures.  I have been to Ecuador quite a few times, but it has been a while.  One interesting experience is flying in and out of Quito.  Those are real big mountains and flying down into the valley, or out of it makes for an exciting trip.  The people are quite friendly and I was always treated well there.  It is a beautiful country with an incredible variation in environments as is all the Andes region.  I am gong to off to Bolivia for a few days this week.  But, not up into the mountains, just the low land forest of the east.  I should have some pictures to post upon my return.

dk

[deezpalms]

Thank you Don, I always look forward to your posts  

[ghar41]

Geez Dave, these are the most exceptional pics ive ever seen of Parajubaea cocoides.  Thanks so much for posting them.

These photos belong in the Palm books...they are the only ones ive seen that truly give one a view of this palm at it's full size.  

[Johnny]

Thanks for sharing the pics Dave. My parents both migrated here from Ecuador prior to my birth and I have visited a few times over the years. Ironically, I had not caught the palm bug before my last visit but I do recall seeing spectacular palms on my grandfathers coffee plantation in Manta. I caught the bug later that year!! Arg!! I have some friends in the rare plant nursery trade there and I receive Anthuriums, Philodendrons, etc. from them a couple of times per year. One of my most memorable culinary experiences took place in Quito. My wife and I enjoyed the best filet mignon we have ever ordered- ever! I wouldn't say that my wife and I have the most refined palettes in the world but we do fine dining very often. Not a single filet has matched our Ecuadorian experience. And the sweet 'humitas' - my mouth waters at the mere thought of them. Thanks for making me hungry for what I can't have right now, Dave.