© All
my work is COPYRIGHT
protected and may not be used in any way without purchase, or without my
permission.
Welcome…..
Please note that you may SUBSCRIBE below to this Blog.
NOTE that you may click on any photo for
an ENLARGED VIEW.
Monday November 2, 2015
Over these last 2 days I have been trying to show Cristina how the Ecuadorians know how to put on several good fiestas crammed into a few days all over the city. The city publishes a schedule in a lovely little booklet which is very difficult to get but they also publish it online so we could see what was planned. See https://issuu.com/municipiocuenca/docs/agenda_cuenca_eventos_2015/57?e=0
I chose my words carefully, because what was planned, and what we got, were two entirely different things. Yesterday we did some purchases and viewed a lot of artisanal booths from Otorongo to Huayna Capac. We had seen booths and sound stages being set up all along Huayna Capac earlier in the day so we came back around 5pm only to be told that festivities would not begin until 8pm, so we went back to Otorongo to make more purchases, then we petered out and crashed real early.
Today we left later, intending to see some games that were to occur at Parque de La Madre, but that was basically non-existent so we climbed the Escalinata and scoured El Centro for a bit. El Merced had lots of gastronomical booths and Borrero had artisanal tents right in the street.
The actual highlights of the day were the visits to both the new and old cathedrals. Everything else was old hat and the Glorieta only had breakdancers working out....
We had a quick break at home before walking over to Ciudadela Tomebamba for scheduled games at 4pm and folk dancing at 5pm... We watched a soccer school play a scrub match for a while and then I kicked a ball back and forth with a little tyke as we waited for something to happen. Finally I spotted the President of the Community and I asked him what was happening with the scheduled events... He explained that the entertainment is sent to them by some central committee and that Government funding cutbacks means that many programs were chopped... At least that explains the dearth of real action this year.
There were a couple more scheduled events this evening but we are pooped from walking so tonight will be another early night so we can try again tomorrow for the Independence Day celebrations.
I hope you enjoy the photos. That
was the day's excitement, Cheers, Al
 |
| Tent city of artisans at Otorongo Plaza |
 |
| A lovely day for strolling |
 |
| See Shawarma, must eat... |
 |
| Taking a break with my bitches |
 |
| Another church near Huayna Capac |
 |
| Lots of loose balloons this morning at Parque De La Madre |
 |
| 50c lets you take a photo with monsters |
 |
| Many many artisanal tents along the Tomebamba |
 |
| The Tomebamba is just bubbling along (see the lovers?) |
 |
| $45 would buy you a really neat stagecoach |
 |
| Both cathedrals to visit because not much else is happening |
 |
| Breakdancer showing strength moves |
 |
| The new cathedral had lots of visitors |
 |
| It was great to see some renovation work has been done |
 |
| We can actually see some relief work near the domes |
 |
| The altar is reminiscent of St Peter's in Rome |
 |
| Rear view of plumage of the pan flute players |
 |
| This bell in the old cathedral always beckons me |
 |
| The twelve apostles and Jesus in the altar area |
 |
| Cristina wanted this shot |
 |
| St John is in another room being restored |
 |
| The main entrance and the magnificent pipe organ |
 |
| A floral display in an anteroom |
 |
| Photo of the train that used to travel in front of my house! |
 |
| A side altar honoring St Joseph |
 |
| I never noticed this work before. Love it! |
 |
| And this one is on the opposing wall |
 |
| The Sacred Heart |
 |
| Parque Calderon and the new cathedral |
 |
| Intra-squad game of a soccer school at Ciudadela Tomebamba |
 |
| Two little girls in a tree.. couldn't resist... |
 |
| All the players got medals and a trophy.. |
 |
| This was my little soccer partner for a few minutes |
 |
| Caught this shot as we were leaving |
