UNESCO - Sangay National Park, Ecuador

 

Tungurahua is one of the three volcanos that dominate the landscape of Sangay National Park, also an active one which has been causing troubles for the inhabitants of the nearby town of Banos de Agua Santa for centuries, even in the last decade. The park illustrates the entire spectrum of ecosystems, raging from tropical forests to glaciers.

I have been to Baños and saw the volcano peeking behind the clouds, actually a bit intimidating when you know its power..!

Chimborazo, Ecuador

One of my fav postcards of Ecuador, as it shows many aspects of this beautiful country - the railway, the mountains, the fields and the people :)

Yasuni-Itt Postcards

 

Yasuni National Park in Ecuador, about 250 km from Quito, was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1989. It is within the claimed ancestral territory of the Huaorani indigenous people. It is arguably the most biologically diverse spot on Earth.

Yasuni-ITT Initiative is a proposal by the government of Ecuador to refrain indefinitely from exploiting the oil reserves of the Ishpingo-Tambococha-Tiputini (ITT) oil field within the Yasuni National Park, in exchange for 50% of the value of the reserves. The rationale is to conserve biodiversity, protect indigenous peoples living in voluntary isolation, and avoid CO₂ emissions.

These are some of the pre-paid postcard issued to support the ITT initiative, showing examples of that unique biodiversity. The Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) I already have in my collection and on the blog :) A newcomer to my lizard collection is the Tropical Thornytail Iguana or Amazon Thornytail Iguana (Uracentron flaviceps) an elusive species of medium sized arboreal lizard found in the tropical lowlands of the Amazon Rainforest. Cute :)

UNESCO - Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

Look at just how handsome these sunbathing fellas are! The marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) is found only on the Galápagos Islands and has the unique ability to live and forage in the sea, making it a marine reptile. The species has the 'vulnerable' status as its threatened by predation by introduced species such as cats and dogs, which prey particularly upon its young. Ah Darwin described them as disgusting clumsy Lizards. Boo.

The Pinta Island tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra abingdonii) was a subspecies of Galápagos tortoise native to Ecuador's Pinta Island. The fellow on the postcard was called Lonesome George and was the last known individual of the subspecies - he was born before 1912 and died in June 2012. Sadly, over the decades all attempts at mating Lonesome George had been unsuccessful...Its a sad story isnt it? :((

Saludos Desde Loja! Ecuador

 

The first time I was in Ecuador I havent been to the Loja area - the second time I went to Vilcabamba, a small town in a gorgeous setting. Alas I couldnt find a decent postcard of it, so I opted for this colourful illustration of cultural aspects of the regional centre Loja :)

The Hummingbird And The Donkey, Ecuador

Tracking back to Quito...so happy to find another donkey card :D Actually I've found several, just couldnt post them all...Was sold a set of self-adhesive stamps with awesome images of ecuador <3

UNESCO - City Of Quito, Ecuador

Four months had to pass until my update...not really an update, but since i'm away from home i've decided to at least show cards that i have stored in my netbook. Cards long overdue really! My trip to South America took place last winter, and these are the cards i've sent to my family :)

Gorgeous church, parts of which were restored at the time of visit. Very elaborate inside, which always causes dual emotions..! As part of Quito Old Town on Unesco list.

La Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús (The Church of the Society of Jesus) is a Jesuit church in the historic center of Quito, among the best-known ones because of its large central nave, which is profusely decorated with gold leaf, gilded plaster and wood carvings.

Ecuador is a country that i really enjoyed visiting, and because there is so much left to see i wish to go back one day..! uhm not only for seeing, but for buying too :D I loved the markets there, but there is only so much you can buy when on a serious budget travel, and carry when you travel for four months. The choice of postcards was really great; and although it took me a while to find the PO with philately, i was rewarded in the end with various stamps too :))

                            

                                                        

Colourful traditional clothes, always enjoy seeing those! Alas i havent seen these particular ones during my trip...but there were other colourful robes to compensate :D