Our Final Day...

6.4.2018 The Sinamune Disabled Children's Orchestra; Both Sides of the Equator; and TWO stops at Noe
In 1992, Maestro Palacio, along with his wife and daughter, founded the Sinamune Disabled Children's Orchestra, a national music system for special-needs children and adults. The hope is that they overcome mental and visual challenges by learning to play a musical instrument, and that they gain confidence as a result.

 Since 2004, the Grand Circle Foundation has helped refurbish this school's auditorium; purchase vehicles for transporting equipment and instruments to concerts; supply computers and musical instruments and offer scholarships. 

 Here are some truly heartwarming video clips from the concert they performed for us:

 https://youtu.be/RHPAOCsdId8  
(I loved watching these 2 characters interact with each other)

 https://youtu.be/56a_U7o64-k

 https://youtu.be/_gGgAe-eJ9E
(impressive choreography)

 https://youtu.be/20BV-3Hm_88
(had to learn the trumpet left handed due to disuse of his right hand)

Our next stop was the Itinan Museum with its exhibits of wonderful art from places on the equator and hands-on equator-related science experiments. 

 We tried to balance an egg on a nail; watched water swirl down the drain in different directions based upon which side of the equator line we were on; and tried to walk the line (with eyes closed, arms straight out, head up - and NO alcohol) without falling to one side or the other. As far as I know, Beth was the only one successful with the egg.




The Itinan Museum







Our guide shows us how to balance the egg on the top of a nail.


Not quite sure how the shrunken heads factored into the exhibit, 
but quite an interesting process anyway.
(Fake one above; real one encased below).

Finally made it back to our hotel in Quito in time for me to catch lunch at Noe, a sushi place Vicki recommended to me earlier in Quito.  It was absolutely delicious!  This was the second place where I enjoyed what seems to be everyone's favorite selection - Noe Especial (grilled original roll, stuffed with semi-picante prawns, cream cheese, covered with salmon, chives and gratin in a caviar sauce).


Thank goodness Kim and Tim were up for going there again for dinner with me. Another Noe Especial + Yokohama + Tsunami specialty rolls and our final Ecuador Pilsener beer.


 Back to our rooms and heading to the airport for our departures to the US.

Comments

  1. LorettaJune 13, 2018 at 8:37 AM

    From the "shrunken head to sushi. Wow. You did it all. What a great trip you had.

    ReplyDelete

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