10 Strange and Fascinating Facts About Ecuadorian Society
10 Strange and Fascinating Facts About Ecuadorian Society
Ecuador, whose very name declares its position on the equatorial line, is a nation of overwhelming diversity and profound contradictions. Overshadowed easily by its larger neighbors, the compact country is a microcosm of South America, boasting Amazonian rainforests, Andean highlands, a Pacific coastline, and the enigmatic Galápagos Islands. Yet underlying its postcard-perfect landscapes lies a culture with its own idiosyncratic rituals, beliefs, and social norms that will appear strange, quaint, and deeply revealing to an outsider. To come to know Ecuador is to peel back the curtain on a society where the old and the new, the indigenous and the colonial, coexist in an uneasy and often surreal balance. Here are ten facts about Ecuadorian society that reflect its eccentric character.