Futbol Pandemonium from Burt Johnson on Vimeo. Futbol fans really get into a frenzy, jumping around like kangaroos I have gotten into the habit of always carrying a small camera with me around Ecuador (for those interested, it is a Sony RX-100 MK II). I never know when I will turn a corner and […]
Viernes Santo
Today is Good Friday (“Viernes Santo” in Spanish) in the Christian religion, which commemorates the day on which Jesus was crucified on the cross. Many Catholic churches in town had small parades where a statue of Jesus on the cross was taken around the neighborhood. Iglesia La Merced is one such church, about a block from our […]
Semana Santa
Ecuador is a very Catholic nation, and Cuenca is a city with numerous free concerts and symphonies. It is therefore no surprise that there have been a series of symphony concerts all week, each at a different church. Tonight we attended one at “The Old Cathedral” on Parque Calderon. We arrived a little late and […]
Foundation Day
Cuencanas take any excuse to celebrate, and they don’t limit their holidays to just one day. This weekend is an example, commemorating Foundation Day. This is the day (celebrated for four days…) that marks the time 457 years ago that the Spanish declared Cuenca a city. As in North America, there are a few purists that […]
Mommy, Where Do Fireworks Come From?
We have been eating our way across Southern Florida the last few days, as well as stopping in art stores, office supply stores and others, buying stuff we can’t get in Ecuador. Today, we were driving along the Tamiami Trail, heading North out of Naples, and I saw a humongous fireworks store. I had never […]
I Could Feel The Soap Melting…
I could feel the soap melting in my ears, after the vicious attack of el diablillos (aka “the little devils”) as we wandered into an unexpected battle zone. Carnaval had begun! ☺ Evelyn had seen some barricades going up earlier today on Parque Calderon. After dinner at Cesar’s (a friend’s restaurant around the corner that […]
30 Days of Madness
The last night of election campaigning included several fireworks displays, including this one shot from our living room window. Ecuador has an interesting election cycle — I think the USA could learn something from their process. Nobody is allowed to campaign until 30 days before the election. All campaigning must stop 48 hours before the […]
Baptism Parade
Iglesia La Merced was the starting point for today’s parade celebrating the Baptism of Jesus Yet Another Parade is almost becoming a mantra around here. Seems every week (day?) we walk out the front door and find a parade under way or in the making. Today it happened again. After yesterday’s small parade and the […]
Fireworks and Parade – An Epiphany
Tonight I could see six separate fireworks shows going on at the same time from our condo office window. Though seeing fireworks is a common sight around this time of year, I think a record was set tonight! Sometimes walking around town, fireworks will suddenly erupt, as happened behind the Iglesia San Francisco Evelyn was […]
Evil Is Only Fantasy
The banner says “if there is love, evil is only fantasy” Yesterday was the annual Fiesta de los Inocentes, or “Party for the Innocents.” Originally it was meant to commemorate when Herod decreed that all male children under 2 years old should be killed, after he had heard of the birth of Jesus. Historically, the […]