Two Quito museums of special mention

There are several museums in Quito, Ecuador, but two that my wife, Barbara, and I visited in January ’06 deserve special mention.

The Museo de la Ciudad can be found in Old Town, through the arch at Moreno and Rocafuerte. This cleverly designed museum offers depictions of city life by century, starting with the 16th. Each century has its own room. Creative use of light and some simple props make a visit here an interesting way to spend an hour or two.

One of the great treasures of New Town is the Casa de la Cultura, in Parque El Arbolito on Patria between Av. 12 de Octubre and Av. 6 de Deciembre. It houses a couple of small theaters, a large theater and a magnificent archaeological museum sponsored by the Banco Central.

This is truly one of the best-designed archaeological museums you’re likely to find. In a couple of hours we gained a much better understanding of the ethnic diversity on this area of South America.

In one of the small theaters in the complex, we attended a nicely presented folkloric program; the theater was upstairs on the back (south) side of the building. It featured a large cast, live music and elaborate costumes. The 25-dollar ticket didn’t seem out of line, considering the complexity of the show.

This show runs fairly frequently on Wednesday evenings. Check with the tourist office at the corner of Olmedo and García Moreno (on the second floor), a block north and west of Plaza Independencia.

SAM KAMILOS

Carmichael, CA