Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-01-06

Whether for local color or educa-
ton, to admire superb scenery or make
the acquaintance of gracious and hos
pitable people, Ecuador should be on
the itinerary of every discriminating
traveller in search of the unusual in
nature and human kind. In Ecuador
nature has done nothing on small
scale. Jungle and volcanoes, coast and
plains have been made to conform to
a prodigiouS pattern; the innate
modesty and charm of its inhabitants
and their characteristic friendship are
equally unsurpassed.
Its geographical situation on the
Equator gave origin to the name OF
this republic. but nobody should be
misled into believing that torrid heat
predominates, for nothing could be
further from the truth. In Ecuador
one may experience all the seasons and
climates between dawn and evening.
On the coast a temperature of 81
is considered the average. while in
Quito. the capital city, 9,375 feet high
on the Ardean Sierras, WOODEN clothes
and furs are worn the year around.
Until recently. Ecuador has been
comparatively isolated, which accounts
for the fact that it is entirely I'M
selfconsciouS and free from pose. 1t
has not changed its ways of life to
suit the whims of the average tourist,
and it has kept its most distinctive
characteristics while adopting all the
essentials of civilized living. Whatever
sophistication one discovers is that
which the Ecuadorians have found to
suit their peculiar needs. The tourist
of the garden variety, who is not hap
py unless he finds sort of extension
of his native state wherever he goes,
or is out for a succession of thrills
in the shape of night life and foot
ball games, will have no fun in
Ecuador.
No European Air.
Isolation has been a blessing in
disguise, at least from the point of
view of the traveller weary of seeing
feeble attempts at aping Paris and
New York. But today isolation is no
more, and one can easily reach Quay
aquil, its main port. This is splendid
city of 100000. listed in class A by
the sanitary authorities since the total
determination of yellow fever. Grace
Line steamers reach Ecuador every
week. Passengers from California ports
make connections at Panama either
with the Grace liners or with some
European boats on their way South.
The country is also easily accessible by
airplane, the Pan-American Always
having shortened the distances so
much that Guayaquil is only one day
from Lima, another short day from
Panama and only three from Miami
The exotic river life on the Guayas
makes a deep impression on the
traveller: Boats piled high with
papayas and mangos, pineappleS,
bananas, chirimoyas and a great
variety of other tropical fruits. move
in every direction and mingle with
ships, sail boats. barges. canoes-and
even housecrafts inhabited by whole
families.
Guayaquil offers many attractions.
ID has broad avenues flanked by solid
white buildings with fine arcadeS and
balconies: charming little plazas where
the travellers palm, shaped like a per-
feet fan, shields the benches on which
people sit in the evening to listen to
musical programs; sidewalk cafes serv-
ing delicious ices; market full OF the
exotic fruits of the region; hills from
which view of the city is feast to
the eyes: acres of cacao beans drying
on the streets and filling the air with
peculiar fragrance.
Feat of Engineering.
A progressive city is left behind
when, in the very early morning, one
ferries across the mile-wide Guayas
River on the way to Alfaro, the start
ing point of the trip to Quito. The
Guayaquil-Q Railway, which
makes possible the journey ahead, is
not only one of the greatest engineer
ing feats of the world, it is a monu-
ment to the far vision of Gen. Eloy
Alfaro, the progressive and wise Pres
= ident Gather of the present Ecudorean
Minister to Washington, Capt. Colon
Eloy Alfaro), who dreamed of this
road for many years and carried it to