The Weekly Photo Challenge is Zig Zag.
Unexpected turns zig zagging through the city of Quito, Ecuador led us to a unique and surprising basilica. Also known as “La Basilica,” “Catedral Consagración de Jesús” or “The Basílica de San Juan,” it is the largest of the neo-gothic basilicas in the Americas.
Still unfinished, the residents of Quito believe that the day the basilica is completed, the world will end. The urban apocalyptic legend exemplifies the intrigue of this church, which comes from its neo-gothic architectural style and art display.
Zig zagging and meandering around every crevice and corner, armadillos, turtles, dragons, birds, iguanas, monkeys, and caymans, illustrate in a not so humble way, this apocalyptic legend.
Do these stone monkeys’ irregular stances seem to invite welcome in the passerby or ward off evil?
This bird seems to be deviously protecting her nest.
And what about this fire breathing dragon? Is something askew here?
Iguanas snake the facade of the basilica. They don’t look too friendly to me!
Do Anteaters lean toward Catholicism? Now, they’re kind of cute and not very scary.
But, this big fellow looks like he’s waiting for lunch! Look at those jagged teeth.
Happy, whimsical turtles flex their muscles. They don’t appear to be threatening.
Genuflecting penguins?
Osos… tilting bears. Lions, and tigers, and bears, OH MY!
So, you decide. Zig zagging around the basilica, do you think these Gothic creatures are welcoming our souls, or warning us of an impending apocolypse?
Wow that is quite a church! I have never ever seen gargoyles like that before…animals! How unusual. Did you like Ecuador? I would love to go there someday.
Nicole, we loved visiting Ecuador. It was so colorful and they cherish their traditions and customs. I still have quite a few posts I need to write about Ecuador. Ahhh..where does the time go?
Great! Can’t wait to read your posts!!!! Yes, time has a way of running away from us! I can’t believe we only have two weeks left before school starts! It makes me so sad. I love summer and this one flew by, especially since I was gone for a lot of June.
kewl stuff 🙂
Thanks, quarksire.
What an awesome, fantastic and fascinating basilica! Looks like you had a great time taking these photos! Thanks for the tour and I hope to see this amazing place when we visit Ecuador.
You HAVE to visit this basilica. It was one of the strangest places I have ever seen.
look at all those photos…brilliantly zigzaging me :)..TFS..
Thanks. 🙂
looks like they’re bringing up some messages here :)..great choices of photos..
Yep! But, I’m still curious as to what the messages are.
Those are strange creatures to be found outside a basilica. Especially the iguanas and the alligators.
Kan, strange indeed. I am thrilled that zig zagging through Quito, Ecuador, we stumbled upon this odd menagerie of stone gargoyles. Thanks for your comment.
Very clever use of the challenge!
Thanks, Tina. I tried to incorporate as many synonyms for zig zag as I could find.
Love this! Seems like these creatures are the real “zag” in the world of gargoyles.
Yep! Haha! They’re “zag.” Thanks Geeks.
I like this!
I’ve always been fascinated by Church buildings
Me, too la chica, but this was a very strange basilica. Thanks, la chica.
Some wonderful detailed shots to be seen here.
Thanks, Daniel. Glad you enjoyed the odd details of the gargoyles.
This would be a great place to spend a day or two visiting.
It was, MythRider. We loved Quito. We could see the basilica rising from the narrow valley of Quito from almost every viewpoint.
Debbie,
This is outstanding! Causes me to wonder what messages the church was conveying through the selection of animal icons. Truly incredible stone work.
Jane
I think that it is a warning of impending doom if they finish the basilica. Beware. lol
🙂
amazing photos and not very inviting to me
Have you visited the basilica? It is definitely worth a visit. The inside is just as amazing as the outside.
I lived in Ecuador for a year and I was in that beautiful Gothic church the highest one in all of Ecuador! See it and all of Quito in my amazing presentation…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4f0_m9otcvo Quito, Ecuador
Thanks Dean. It is an incredible place.
What a great collection. I don’t feel particularly spiritual looking at them, just glad they are stone and not real! They may be extending a welcoming paw, but I don’t see any smiles! 🙂
Well, I hope you’re right. A welcoming paw instead of an apocalyptic warning is better.
Agreed. Those were more serious times! 🙂
I’ve always enjoyed a few good gargoyles, too.
janet
It still seems like such an odd place for these gargoyles. Visiting this basilica confused me completely. I think it would make a great place for a Halloween party. 🙂
I LOVE gargoyles, and I try to take pictures of them any time I’m around a church.
Oh, wonderful. I’d like to see some of your pictures.
I never understood gargoyles. I love the architecture and the angles you have captured
I can’t say I understand them either, but they intrigue me. Thanks Moondust.
cool shots
Glad you enjoyed them.
Awesome!
Thanks, Cindi.
Quite a collection of gargoyles, Debbie. Whatever their purpose, it makes for an interesting legend which makes traveling to different cultures all the more intriguing.
That’s what I love the most about traveling…the legends and myths of the places we visit. I didn’t get photos of all the gargoyles, only a few. They were everywhere.
Awesome gargoyles!
Aren’t they incredible? I love the imagination of the stone cutters. Thanks, Cardinal.
I rather like the combination of ‘animistic’ features alongside those of Catholicism – hedging religious bets….?
Haha! That’s so funny. Maybe that’s what they are doing. 🙂