National Geographic gives recommendations on where to stay, where to eat, and what to do and see in various cities in Ecuador.
A mural with Pikachu in the Historic Center of Quito, by the Spanish artist Okuda San Miguel, in May 2022.
National Geographic magazine, which reports on nature, travel, history, adventure, and culture, published a special on Ecuador.
It did so in its UK edition, April 2023, entitled: Ecuador, natural wonders and ancient culture.
In 50 pages, National Geographic says that Ecuador stands out for its natural landscapes. Also for its culinary renaissance, which seeks to highlight local products, and for the preservation of their heritage.
All this is detailed in articles about the gastronomic development of Guayaquil and Manta, the handicrafts of the province of Imbabura and five local festivals, one of them being La Diablada de Píllaro.
There are also reports that address the transformation of Cuenca and the bohemian style of Quito.
Memorable mural
National Geographic gives recommendations on where to stay, where to eat, and what to do and see in various cities across the country.
In Quito, the street art stands out, which is mostly found in the traditional neighborhood of La Floresta.
Although he points out that “one of the most memorable murals in the city is on Avenida 24 de Mayo, between the Historic Center and the San Sebastián neighborhood,” says National Geographic.
The magazine refers to the colorful mural by Spanish artist Okuda San Miguel. The work was presented in May 2022, as part of the CaminArte project, with which the Municipality of Quito sought to promote the recovery of the urban heritage of the Historic Center.
The mural shows three embroiderers from the Llano Grande parish, with a Pikachu hat, a creature from the Pokemon animation.
The release of the image caused controversy among a part of the Ecuadorian population. Because the mural was presented within the framework of the Bicentennial of the Independence of Ecuador.
That made people mistakenly believe that Okuda’s mural alludes to that historical moment.
The story of the mural
The Metropolitan Institute of Heritage of Quito explained in a statement that Okuda’s mural, “like all the works he does around the world, has a load of color, pop modernism, multicultural content and messages of peace in a globalized world. “
The Spanish artist also represented in the mural the traditional embroideries made by the women of Llano Grande. In addition, he embodied some of the beliefs of the artisans, such as the visit of a deceased relative in the form of a hummingbird.
The Pikachu mural is located in a heritage house where the Avenida Theater operated. It was a cinema that for decades was part of the theater circuit that was concentrated in the Historic Center of Quito.
