[NOTE: Late Addendum] It is now just after 1AM, and the fireworks have started! I can see them over the tops of the houses in 2 different directions. Nobody we talked to knew when or where, but we apparently gave up many hours too soon. They were all over in about 5 minutes, but they did exist.
———— Now back to the post I wrote a few hours ago… 🙂
Today is the official Independence Day for Cuenca. The various local festivities continued, with concerts in many parks. We had read that Park Calderon would have Noche de la Cuenca with fireworks starting at 7PM. Since we were not really interested in seeing the craft shows again, we took a lazy day at home, and didn’t head out until 4PM.
There was a military parade on the other side of town (near the cemetery we went to yesterday) at 10AM, but we decided not to get up early for that. President Correa was supposedly there, and we did hear the military jets flying overhead until around noon, so they were likely providing air protection for him.
Our afternoon goal was to head back to Park San Blas and have a large cuy for dinner. Unfortunately, we got there about 4:30 and the vendors were tearing everything down. The only cuy left was a scrawny thing on a spit that did not look at all appetizing. Instead, we went over to Tuddo Freddo for a milkshake… 🙂
When we saw fireworks on our trip here in February, they had blocked off a street from car traffic, and erected a wooden frame they call a castle. We looked around Park Calderon and found nothing that looked like any fireworks preparation. We asked 5 different people (police and locals) and literally got 5 different and conflicting answers. Around 7:30 we asked a gringo that had moved to Cuenca permanently, and she said the fireworks would be at midnight.
We gave up and walked until we found Mediterrano, a new Italian restaurant. We have now added it to our list of Top Restaurants to return to — details will follow in a later post covering several of our favorites.
Most of today’s photographic opportunities were around Park Calderon, where there was a constant flux of impromptu performers, artists and vendors.
As the sun set, colors come out in the sky and the park area takes on a beautifully eerie appearance.
There were several mimes around. This one was interesting, as he was suspended in air wth no visible means of support. You could walk directly under him and put your hands anywhere around him, and there were no wires or support visible. He stayed up there for the two hours we were in the area.
This was another mime. Totally motionless until someone put a coin in the box at her feet. She would then touch the giver with a magic wand, do a slow twirl and return to motionlessness.
This “Tin Man” mime had less success than the others in attracting a crowd, but this boy did put a coin in his box, and got his picture taken by his mom.
The band platform was taken over by a group of kids doing break-dancing.
There were a couple street artists in the area. This one of the better ones.
The “spray paint artist” was back again. Fascinating to watch him work, with completed samples around him. Unfortunately I never saw him make a sale, though his work was stunning and the method of creation completely unique.
This is one the “spray paint artist” completed works that was laying next to him, while he was working.