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Sunday March 2, 2014
My language buddy, Juan, gave me an hour’s notice to join his
family for a Carnaval celebration, so off I went.
The location for all this fun was high in the hills to the north
where Grandpa Noel has several 5-6 storey homes on a hillside with a great
unobstructed view.
Carnaval tradition in
Ecuador
generally means getting everyone else soaked and eventually I also had to give
in, once I got some replacement clothes from Juan. It is also deemed fun to rub pig grease,
soot, meat, flour, and even vegetables and anything else that might be handy, on
anyone’s faces. Regardless, everyone
knows it is going to happen to them so everyone is good-natured about it. Some poor souls had many trips to the wading
pool and were dripping wet all day, and a late day rain did not help them
much.
The water was actually welcomed under the blazing equatorial sun
which is almost directly overhead at this time of year.
Little Juan was instrumental in dragging many victims to the
wading pool but, more often than not, he was the one who ended up in the drink, but he always came out fiesty and splashing back.
Lots of different forms of liquor were passed around to numb the brain to the initial blasts of cold
water.
A complete pig was roasted and not too many items are thrown
away. Even fried intestines are a
delicacy. The white corn called Mote was
the main staple along with the pork.
The ladies even chopped up vegetables very fine and later made
sausages. Even though I rarely
understand what is said, certain anatomical references were easy to make out.
Eventually the rain drove us inside and the music was always
on. They danced throughout the time I
was there and Juan certainly proved that he can boogie.
A shower was first on the agenda once I made it home to get the
sticky dessert out of my hair. A big
thank you to Juan and his family for such an enjoyable day!
Sorry that I have so few names.
Hope you enjoy the photos. That was the day's excitement, Cheers, Al
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| This is all Grandpa Noel's land where the family gathered |
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| From this hillside there are tremendous views |
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| Carnaval means soaking each other at will |
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| Juan is applying sunscreen to his favourite nephew Alejandro |
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| Blowtorching the pigskin |
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| Getting the intestines ready for frying |
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| No parts of the pig are spared |
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| All these 5-6 storey homes are owned by Grandpa |
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| Water guns are a favourite of the kids |
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| A water hose adds to the fun |
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| No-one is immune to getting wet |
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| The white corn called Mote is the main veggie |
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| Everyone is enjoying the crispy pig skin |
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| Almost all the skin is gone |
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| Why does he look happy? |
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| Juan with Alejandro |
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| Some of the kids posing |
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| Kids and water... |
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| Love the laugh on the little guy in blue |
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| Pig legs for dissecting later. It is quite the process. |
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| This one cried a lot when I looked at her |
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| The kids are so well-behaved. |
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| Off comes the head |
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| Using an axe to cut the ribs |
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| Juan getting soaked |
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| and soaked |
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| Juan's Mom washing off the meat |
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| then using the hose on someone |
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| Some pork is being cooked |
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| The wading pool is popular under the equatorial sun |
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| The children are well looked after |
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| No fights ever |
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| Juan stirring the cauldron |
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| Juan's Dad with one of the grandkids |
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| Juan's Mom getting soaked |
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| One young guy tries to use a chair for protection |
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| Yet another soaking going on |
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| This is an all-day pastime |
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| This supposedly washes the body and the soul |
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| Definitely lots of bodies got washed |
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| over and over again |
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| Note the pig grease smeared on Alfonso's face |
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| Control of the water hose caused lots of tug-of-wars |
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| Then revenge attacks began |
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| It is all in good-natured fun |
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| Ganging up was common |
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| Struggles for control |
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| Drying out a soggy cel phone |
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| Getting a face rub with a slab of pork |
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| Anything goes |
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| The pork is cooked in many ways |
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| First water down the pants |
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| then water down the back |
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| then back to work cutting veggies |
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| Girls posing again |
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| Not Siamese twins, just sharing a big pullover |
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| Drying clothes on the fence |
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| A lull in the action |
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| The pork and the peas are on the boil |
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| Juan is applying more sunscreen to the kids |
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| Hiding only delayed the inevitable |
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| Even Grandpa Noel gets a soaking |
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| The guy got pulled out of hiding |
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| and gets the day's reward |
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| Two Grandpas |
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| Lunch time |
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| Juan's Dad is headed for the pool |
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| First he gets the dunking |
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| Then everybody splashes him for good measure |
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| He's a good sport about it |
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| Someone else gets it. Note the darkening sky. |
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| Then it is my turn |
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| First the dunking |
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| then lots of splashing |
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| and more splashing |
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| and my duty was done |
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| They got a big kick out of soaking "Mister" |
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| Time to get back into my clothes... |
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| Then they turn on someone else |
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| Then they decide to dance to the music |
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| A salsa dance breaks out often |
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| This guy had a walking cast so was spared the water |
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| but we couldn't escape the pig grease and soot |
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| Alfonso was the main attacker always |
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| Dancing with Juan's Mom |
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| Juan gets a dunking |
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| but he comes out splashing back |
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| This was just one of many dunking for Juan |
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| The ladies begin making sausages |
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| Crude anatomical references get a laugh |
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| Alfonso is relentless |
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| Even in the rain, the water hose is in action |
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| A person can never be too soaked during Carnaval |
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| Grandpa Noel and Grandma |
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| Juan helps dunk another |
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| then Juan gets dunked again |
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| and again he comes out fighting back |
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| Then the flour attacks began |
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| Pig grease and flour, what a great combination |
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| Trying to dry off by the fire, in the rain |
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| More ladies help with the sausage making |
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| Cute new baby |
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| Another one is blissful to all the action |
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| This little gal couldn't push the foam bomb |
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| Another flour attack, revenge on Alfonso |
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| Alfonso gave more than he got |
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| Juan initiating another attack |
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| and ends up in the drink too |
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| Every man for himself |
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| Ganging up is common |
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| Juan is in the thick of it again |
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| and again |
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| Then it is back to the fire |
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| Two more in the drink |
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| and a sneak attack on top of it |
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| This isn't over yet |
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| Getting wet yet again |
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| Coming out fighting |
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| All the women are soaked too |
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| A very soggy trio |
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| Then Juan warrants a mud bath... |
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| The place is a quagmire |
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| We finally retire inside |
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| The music is on and the dancing continues |
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| Juan is showing us his big moves |
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| Juan and Alejandro |
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| Two grannies |
