The current president, Rafael Correa (first elected in 2006) is the first chief executive to open the Presidential Palace to the public. He is currently proposing some controversial law changes, including an inheritance tax on legacies over $35,000, and there are ongoing pro and con demonstrations. These are taking place in the new part of town, so we only saw them on local television. We had an excellent tour of about an hour. We were the only English-speaking members of the group, and the guide took particular care to give us good explanations in English as the tour progressed. This president has chosen not to reside in the palace, but has his offices there. (He was in Brussels at the time we visited.)
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| Guards at the Entrance to the Palace |
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| One of the Courtyards, Where We All Had Our Pictures Taken, to Be Downloaded. "The President Would Like You to Have a Souvenir of Your Visit" - Good Politics! |
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| We Were Asked to Bow Before the Ecuadorean Flag. A Somewhat Recalcitrent Nick. |
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| Mural of Pizzaro's Brother Battling the Amazon Women, for Whom the River was Named. (I Didn't Know That) |
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| The Cabinet Room |
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| The State Dining Room |
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| It Was Pointed Out That the President Gives All Gifts He Receives to the "People" - a Gold and Precious Gems "Oasis" from the Sultan of Quatar |
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| Crystal Bowl from Hilary Clinton |
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| At the Podium Where the Presidential Press Conferences Are Held |
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| Rafael Correa. Looks Like a Politician, Doesn't He? |
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