sits at over 9,000 feet above sea level.

位於海拔 2700 公尺處。

Quito’s volcanic peaks straddle the equator,

基多的火山山峰

the invisible line around the center of the Earth

橫跨了圍繞地球中心的赤道， 這一條看不見的線，

after which this South American country was named.

也是厄瓜多這個國家 名稱的由來。

Located high in the Andes,

高聳的安地斯山脈

on the bulge of the equatorial line,

豎立在赤道之上，

Quito is the closest national capital to the sun.

而基多就座落在此， 是最接近太陽的國家首都。

Fitting for a place at the intersection of two hemispheres,

由於橫跨南北半球， 在這裡，

there is symmetry everywhere you look.

許多東西都是兩相對稱的。

As a meeting point between two equal halves,

身為南北半球的交會點，

Quito is all about balance.

基多是一個充滿了「平衡」的城市。

Just like the Earth,

就像地球一樣，

it's intersected by an imaginary line,

基多被一條看不見的線劃分成兩半，

separating the UNESCO-protected Old Town

一半是受聯合國教科文組織保護的舊城區，

from the trendy New Town,

另一半是時尚的新城區，

mirroring the past with the present.

分別代表個過去和現代，兩兩相望。

To see both halves at once,

如果想要一次飽覽兩邊的風景，

take the gondola up the Pichincha Volcano.

可以搭乘纜車登上皮欽查火山。

On these slopes,

1822 年時，

a historic battle took place that resulted in Quito’s liberation from Spain in 1822.

在這些山坡上發生的戰役， 將基多從西班牙手中解放。

Declaring victory was independence leader Antonio José de Sucre,

而當初帶領大家贏得勝利的 就是獨立領袖 - 安東尼奧‧何塞‧蘇克雷。

whose statue stands far below,

他的雕像就豎立在山坡下

in front of the Santo Domingo Church.

聖多明尼戈教堂的前面。

In the Metropolitan Cathedral,

在面向獨立廣場的

facing Independence Square,

大都會大教堂中，

you can visit Sucre’s tomb.

您可以參觀蘇克雷的陵墓。

Despite being one of the oldest cathedrals in South America,

除此之外，這間教堂更是 南美洲最最古老的大教堂，

the lofty building still impresses anyone who enters its cool interior.

而這座華麗的建築 依然令每個走進去的人感到驚艷。

Many artworks incorporate local interpretations of the Bible,

建築內的許多藝術作品， 都融入了當地對於聖經的詮釋，

such as the guinea pig served for The Last Supper.

例如在最後的晚餐中 提供豚鼠餐點。

The cathedral’s blend of indigenous,

大教堂內容合了原住民、

European and Arabic styles became known as the Quito School of Art

歐洲和阿拉伯風格的元素， 因此也被稱之為「基多藝術學校」。

and this style can also be found in the nearby Basilica de la Merced,

而這樣的風格也被運用在 鄰近的默塞德聖殿之中。

which, among other historic treasures,

聖殿本身就是一項珍貴的歷史寶物，

has an impressive cloister library.

並且擁有令人讚嘆的修道院圖書館。

Back on the Plaza de la Independencia,

回到獨立廣場，

a soaring monument shows the national emblem,

紀念碑上展示著厄瓜多的國徽，

the condor,

老鷹以及獅子。

symbolically breaking the chains of oppression from Spain, the lion.

而掙脫枷鎖的老鷹， 正是厄瓜多脫離西班牙統治的象徵。

This generous public space is also known as the Plaza Grande and,

這片區域也被稱之為「大廣場」， 是城市的心臟地區，

as the civic heart of the city, houses the Municipal Palace and the Presidential Palace.

也是市政廳 以及總統府的所在地。

In between stands the former Archbishop’s Palace,

位在市政廳和總統府中間的， 是昔日的大主教宮殿，

now a cultural center and restaurant.

如今則化身為文化中心和餐廳。

Take a seat on a patio balcony to sample authentic Ecuadorian food,

在露台上找個位子坐下來， 品嚐馬鈴薯湯

such as a hearty potato soup and deep-fried plantains with cheese.

以及酥炸起士芭蕉等 道地的厄瓜多佳餚。

After lunch, take a taxi to Itchimbia Park,

享用午餐之後，搭計程車

on a hill just to the east.

前往東邊山丘上的伊奇姆比亞公園。

Its contemporary Cultural Center is wonderful,

公園中現代化的文化中心固然非常值得一看，

but the main attraction here is the view.

但這裡的風景才是重頭戲。

Below, the Basilica of the National Vow,

一腳踏進國家誓言大教堂，

offers a peaceful haven to everyone who steps inside.

不論是誰， 都能找到心靈的平靜。

The sunlight filters in through the stained glass windows,

陽光透過彩繪玻璃 散落一地，

creating an ethereal space.

也照進了心裡。

Walk across the cathedral’s spine at roof level

爬上屋頂， 嚴著大教堂的屋脊行走，

to climb its highest tower for unforgettable views of Panecillo hill

然後爬上大教堂內最高的塔， 遠眺麵包山

and its winged statue of Mary.

以及聖母像。

The artwork was inspired by Quito’s Madonna,

保存在聖方濟廣場上

a precious statue kept safe in the church on the Plaza de San Francisco.

教堂內的基多聖母像， 正是這尊藝術品的啟發。

This square was an important market place in pre-Inca times

這個廣場在前印加時期 是重要的市集，

and in its underground passageways you can still buy local artifacts.

時至今日，您仍然可以在地道裡 購買當地的手工藝品。

To lure the sun-worshipping locals to their churches,

為了讓崇拜太陽的當地人 願意走進教堂，

the Spanish depicted sun motifs on the ceilings,

西班牙人在廣場南邊的

as is clearly visible in The Church of the Society of Jesus just to the south.

耶穌會教堂天花板上， 畫上太陽的圖案。

With its dazzling interior and volcanic stone façade,

耶穌會教堂有著金碧輝煌的內裝， 和石頭砌成的外牆，

this truly is one of the continent’s finest.

絕對稱得上是南美洲最美的教堂之一。

A good place to end your tour of the Old Town is the nearby ancient thoroughfare:

接著，前往附近的老街： 隆達街，

Calle La Ronda.

結束您的古城區之旅。

Transport yourself back to the 21st century in Quito’s New Town,

來到當地人稱「馬里斯卡爾」的 基多新城區，

known locally as La Mariscal.

讓您瞬間將時空拉回 21 世紀。

The area around Plaza del Quinde is an energetic jumble of colors and styles,

欽德廣場周邊， 以及鄰近的手工藝市集

and so is the nearby Craft Market.

充滿了活力和色彩。

Nearby, the bohemian Guápulo neighbourhood

旁邊充滿波西米亞風格的

clings to the mountain slopes, providing a glimpse of what lies beyond.

瓜普洛社區依山而建， 擁有美麗的山景。

Just to the north, in the Valley of Lulumbamba,

往北走，來到路朗班巴谷

you can stand in two hemispheres at the same time.

您可以一腳踏在北半球， 一腳踏在南半球上。

The carved stone heads leading up to the Mitad del Mundo Monument represent the French scientists who

而在赤道紀念碑前 成排的石雕頭像，

almost three centuries ago, declared this to be the Equator.

是為了紀念在三個世紀前， 宣稱這是赤道線的法國科學家。

Modern technology shows this is not the case,

雖然現代科技證明了此說法並不正確，

but it’s still a popular attraction.

但這仍然是一個非常熱門的景點。

The Intiñan Solar Museum, less than 800 feet away,

不到 250 公尺以外的英特南太陽能博物館，

lays claim to be on the real equatorial line.

就座落在真正的赤道線上。

The entertaining experiments aim to show a change in the pull of gravity,

各項有趣的實驗顯示出 地心引力的改變，

although in reality the effect is too minute to observe with the naked eye.

即使在真實生活中， 人們幾乎注意不到這些微小的改變。

The shrunken head on display here, however,

而這裡展示的縫製人頭吊飾，

is anything but a trick:

是敘阿族人參與戰爭的戰利品，

it’s a war relic of the tribal Shuar people.

可不是說笑的！

Many of Ecuador’s surviving indigenous people still live off the land.

許多厄瓜多的原住民 依然住在這裡。

This rural region may be poor,

這個偏遠地區雖然不富裕，

but it’s volcanic landscape is extremely fertile and rich in biodiversity.

但其火山地形造就了肥沃的土壤 以及豐富的生物多樣性。

A prime example is the Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve,

其中最成功的範例就是 普盧拉瓦植物保護區，

one of South America’s first national parks and one of the largest volcanic craters in the world.

這裡同時也是南美洲第一個國家公園， 以及世界上最大的火山口之一。

“Pululahua” is Quechua for “cloud of water” and the caldera is often shrouded in mist.

「普盧拉瓦」在克丘亞語中是「水霧」的意思， 而火山口也經常被薄霧籠罩。

Of similar mystical appeal is the Maquipucuna Cloud Forest Reserve,

另一個充滿神秘感的景點， 就是「普庫納雲霧森林保護區」，

a lush paradise for hummingbirds.

這個蔥鬱的森林也是蜂鳥棲息的地方。

Some of these tiny birds have adapted to the high-altitude prairie of the nearby Cotopaxi National Park,

一些體型嬌小的蜂鳥，已經適應了 科托帕希國家公園的高海拔氣候，

finding nectar on the cliffs of its highly active volcano.

可以在懸崖上採蜜， 活耀於火山地區。

Despite volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and power struggles,

儘管有火山爆發、地震， 以及能源供應的問題，

Quito has always recovered its equilibrium and,

基多總是能恢復平衡，

today, continues to shine.

繼續大放異彩。

In order to create harmony,

為了創造和諧，

we don’t always have to choose between tradition and progress,

我們不一定總是需要選邊站， 不管是在傳統與進步，

or spirituality and science.

或者迷信和科學之間。

Come take a journey to the ‘middle of the world’

來走訪一趟「世界的中心」

and find wonder...

美景

and wisdom...

和智慧

in Quito...

就在基多