Luxe Beat Magazine MAY 2015 | Page 10

The monument at the Equator She explained how she used significant works in the historic area as creative stimulation for her own projects. Her angel statues are stunning. We entered the house through a sunlight gallery that is often used for social gatherings but which currently displays pen-and-ink drawings by Pilar Bustos and a grand piano. Artists for the rotating gallery are selected by Sara based on their quality and expressive power. We then followed her out the back door into tiered flowering gardens bursting with plants endemic to the area: colorful shrubs and carob, walnut and fruit trees. As you stroll around the yard you encounter Sara’s statuary, ranging from formal to some humorous works. Her commentary provided an inside peek into her personality and artistic style. Following a snack we drove into the historic colonial quarter of Quito for Straddling the line at the Equator Cathedral inspiration Sitting room in my suite a walking tour. We had the exceptional honor of having Sara and her husband join us (though this is not typical). Quito is one of the most wellpreserved Spanish colonial cities in South America and should be an essential part of every Ecuador trip. The city was recognized in 1978 as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site and its narrow cobblestone streets lined with whitewashed walls and historic churches certainly made me understand why. First stop was the San Francisco Cathedral and Monastery, a huge Roman Catholic complex with an equally large plaza begun in 16th century. The property encompasses nearly seven and a half acres, including 13 cloisters, three churches and a large courtyard. The main church interior houses about 3,500 works, 10 including priceless paintings, sculptures, altars and chapels. We walked down the central nave with its high ceiling and transept supported by four main columns. We found chapels on either side, each laden with silver or gold candlesticks and beautiful altarpieces. We didn’t stay too long because of a tight schedule, but I could clearly see Sara’s inspiration for the Madonna statues she had shown us in her home. I felt privileged to gain an insightful connection between the past and present art works and Sara’s ongoing creativity. Next we stopped into La Compañía de Jesús, Ecuador’s most beautiful church, paying a nominal $4 entry fee. This UNESCO Heritage Site does not allow photography, which forced me to stand and pause in its breathtaking