Kentucky Christian University's Young Library Summer Forever Virtual Vacation

Our first stop is in the South American country of Ecuador. Just south of the equatorial line is the capital city, Quito - known locally as "la mitad del mundo," or "the center of the world."

Here are some fun facts about Quito:

• There are 2 halves to this city. The "Old City" is the first to be declared a world heritage site by UNESCO and is thus preserved in its historical state.
• Despite being located near the equator, the weather is mild all year long, with average highs in the upper 60's and low 70's. This is due to the city's elevation which is over 9,300 feet above sea level (Pike's Peak is just over 14,000 feet, for reference).
• The city is built upon the eastern slope of an active stratovolcano, named Pichincha...scary!
• There are hiking trails which begin in the actual city, hundreds of ornate churches (such as La Compañía de Jesus, La Merced, and St. Francis - the city's oldest church), and over 50 museums (including Museo Nacional and Mindalae Museo) to visit!
• The city and the country are famous for their decadent chocolates, as well as their hand-crafted and beautifully patterned clothing and textiles.

A few things one must do while visiting Quito is travel a bit north to the Ciudad Mitad del Mundo. As mentioned above, this translates to "city of the middle of the world." Ironically, modern GPS technology shows it to be about 230 meters (approx. 700 feet) south of the true equatorial line. It is still well worth the visit, as is The Museo Solar Intiñan, which offers tours of Ecuadorian cultural oddities, such as real shrunken heads and preserved anacondas!!!

Below is a quick video of what to do in Quito:

Here is a longer video which gets into some of the particulars of Quito/Ecuadorian culture and history.

The Galapagos Islands are an archipelago of volcanic islands that extend west into the Pacific ocean from their mainland country of Ecuador.

These islands are famous for their biodiversity and as the inspiration of Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution. The name "Galapagos" comes from the Spanish word, "Galopegos," which means tortoise. The Galapagos islands translate literally into "islands of the tortoise," and it is the iconic Galapagos giant tortoises that call this archipelago home.

Visiting/touring the Galapagos islands is a pricy endeavor, easily the most expensive thing one can do while visiting Ecuador. However, should you get the chance...

If you're curious about the history of the Galapagos Islands, click here.

Unfortunately, the iconic rock formation, known as "Darwin's Arch," collapsed just recently due to erosion. Below is a picture of it in it's full splendor.

Regardless, the Galapagos Islands are a must-see when touring Ecuador.

Watch the quick video below to learn some more fun facts about "the enchanted islands":

Travelling without sampling the local cuisine is unconscionable! Therefore, let's take a look at two Ecuadorian staples you can try while in Quito. Click the name of the dish to link to its recipe!

Locro de Papa (Ecuadorian Potato Soup)

From curiouscuisiniere.com: "Locro de Papa is a Cheesy Ecuadorian potato soup that features a unique regional spice called annatto...Traditional locro de papa soup uses a local, starchy potato that breaks down well into a thick soup or stew. The potatoes are then blended with milk and local cheese to create a simple, yet flavorful soup. The soup is served with a number of garnishes...cilantro, cheese, avocado, and chili sauce are common toppings."

Llapingachos (Stuffed Potato Patties)

From Laylita.com: "Llapingachos are a traditional Ecuadorian dish of potato patties or thick potato pancakes stuffed with cheese and cooked on a hot griddle until crispy. Llapingachos make a great breakfast or brunch dish, and can be served on their own as an appetizer or even as a full meal accompanied by a tasty peanut sauce or salsa de mani, fried egg, chorizo style sausages, pickled onion and tomato salad, some lettuce, avocado slices and aji criollo hot sauce."