Tag: celebrations

From the Plaza through the “sweetest street”

 

 

 

 

 

Today was another mixture of pageantry and antiquity.  Every month a new Battalion comes to the presidential palace to serve as guards.  This is quite an event.  The old lancers march away from the place, new lancers take their place, bands play and horses carry the cavalry to some mysterious somewhere.  The band plays the National Anthem and a lot of John Phillip Sousa.  A good time was had by all.

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The President and Miss Quito applaud the changing of the Guard.

 

img_9641The band played as the lancers left and new one came on board.  Bet you can spot the secret service agent.  Marines in full attack gear were at the ready.

 

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The funny thing is that most of these officials were waving, blowing kisses and checking their cell phones.

 

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This market sells everything from coffee and ice cream to beautifully crafted clothing and linens.  All at a good price just for you lady.

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The Andean pan flute player depended on technology to sell his haunting melodies.  One of my favorite moments of the day.

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The Arca de Reina that leads to the Ronda the oldest street in the city.img_9674

Plaza San Francisco.  Part of really antique Quito.  The outside does not do justice to the interior of this church.

 

They gathered on the Square

Today was a perfect day for a celebration.  Clear blue skies, warm weather and shirtsleeves, no jackets necessary.  After a breakfast of fresh blackberry juice and toasted ham sandwiches we found a park bench to watch the sights.  Vendadores everywhere and the most popular was the sombrero saleslady.  Her hats sold quickly and the scarf lady did not get so many sales.  Fresh fruit, marshmallow cookies, toasted corn and beans what ever delicacy you wanted was available.  Formal guards stood outside the presidential palace and looked like Napoleonic soldiers in the beautiful red and blue uniforms.  But the most fun to watch was the children.  The played in the fountains, had sack races, ate ice cream and all with childish delight.  Teenagers are the same world wide.  They flirted, took selfies and rolled their eyes at their parents.  Being a poor musician did not seem to stop anyone from playing or their audience from enjoying the music.  My favorite was a violin and trombone duet.  Reminded me of Pat and John Davis.  Parents periodically doused their kiddos in a fountain furiously scrubbing a face and washing a thick head of hair. I made a new BBF.  One grandmother did not want her shoes shined and a young man kept pestering her.  I shooed him off with a wave of a hand and she giggled and mocked my hand motions.  We posed together for a picture and swore that we would be amigas forever.   We visited two of the seven churches in the governmental area.  One had a golden interior and had replicated some of the design in the Vatican.  It was a reminder of the extreme wealth the Spanish exploited from the early tribal people.  Tomorrow we are off to another part of the city called the Ronda famous for its artisans.

Viva Independencia

Ecuadorians are celebrating  their independence from Peru.  The celebration begins the last week of November and will end Tuesday.  The colonial city has taken on a festive air.  Public and private balconies are festooned with bunting, flags and bright mesh ribbons some threaded with tiny lights.  Some balconies have dressed dummies formal gowns and surrounded them with flowers.  All of the hotels feature bowls of red Ecuadorian roses in their lobbies and the city is filled with people either to celebrate or sell their wares.  Yesterday we say open trucks with about 30 or so people each driving through the streets honking the horn, blinking lights, blowing whistles and cheering for their country. Neighborhoods set off fireworks.  There were no arranged pyrotechnics just lots of Roman candles and skyrocket.   Small boys dressed in mini tuxedos and little girls wearing tiaras and gowns was the style of the day.  Old men and women in black fedoras and ponchos have set up stands for corn, candy and tamales.  One tried to see me baby boots and when I told her I had to babies to wear them she was sad for me.  Today the clouds have lifted and we are going back to the Grand Plaza to explore some more.  The Presidents greets    the citizens at eleven every morning.  We hope to see him.  Below are a few of the decorated balconies.