Carnival, guitars and gigolos

Carnival is in full swing here in Ecuador everyone seems to be having a good time, parties go on all night with loud music and fire works and lots of water bombs and soap foam being a part of the festivities. I have heard different stories about the origins of Carnival the common factor being it is celebrated in the last few days before lent starts, strengthening the body with lots of food and drink before lent fasting begins and it is about honoring the god of planting and harvesting. Seems it originally was a pagan celebration but with the introduction of Christianity it has taken on a religious sense.

Yesterday I went to Quingeo a small town of indigenous people about an hours drive from Cuenca to witness 'El Taita Carnival'. On the way we stopped in a tiny village famous for being the home of several very good guitar makers. At one shop the owner was at work doing intricate inlay on a guitar face. The guitars are made out of different types of wood but the facade on the front is made from pine. He showed how he takes thin strips of wood dyed in different colors then glues them together to make one strand of many colors which he cuts into tiny pieces for the inlay work. The guitars were beautiful I would love to be able to take one home for each Nollie and Patrick, both guitar lovers.

Visiting Quingeo was so much fun. The people mix pagan beliefs with their Catholic faith, praying and giving tribute to both. El Taita is a mystical character through which the people seek to contact the god of good crops and harvest. They give tribute with a parade, carnival songs, water, cans of soap foam and small boxes of corn starch that gets dumped and sprayed on everyone. I got drenched and coated in foam and corn starch. Capulie's queen, who I think is another mystical character, is also chosen from among a group of lovely ladies. The cans of foam and squirt bottles for water were sold at dozens of stands. Armed with cans of foam and a water squirter I joined in the fun. Two little guys made me their target and we had a good time chasing each other or hiding trying for surprise attacks. It is their town they knew exactly where to hid and they would disappear and then suddenly come up behind me and douse me with water or foam. I got them pretty good a few times but they got the better. I went through the cans of foam pretty fast, a lot of it missing the mark. So much fun I felt like a kid again. I did not get many pictures, I kept my camera safely out of harms way, soap and water being bad for cameras. We ate the best spit roasted pork I have ever had, a huge serving along with tiny potatoes, corn and a salad was $3.00. Delicious.

The whole day was such fun and the food so good I think I may have to come back to Ecuador some day during Carnival and visit Quingeo again.

I have mentioned Senor Louis in a previous post, he owns the tienda across from the apartment building where I stay. I have not mentioned Hugo the building superintendent nor the Ital Deli's, next door to the building, guard, Juan. Really nice guys who I try to have short conversations with every day in order to practice Spanish. Juan a little flirty, Latino, but friendly. Hugo never fails to tell me if I have any problems to let him know and he will fix whatever is broken. Senor Louis is about 70, I would guess Hugo and Juan to be around 30. Today being a holiday the 3 of them are out front of the tienda drinking beer, drunk. I did not realize they were drunk until I went into the shop for a few things or I would not have gone in. Yikes I am now pretty sure they think I am a rich old gringa looking for a mate or a boy toy and they see an opportunity for some extra bucks. It never occured to me that maybe they think I am chatting them up because I talk to them every day. Senior Louis got right in my face with his boozy breath and told me 'mi la esposa esta muerto' my wife is dead, I replied ' Lo Siento Senor Louis' even though I am pretty sure his wife is alive and well. He then said 'me gustaria otro esposa' 'I would like another wife' I said in English 'good luck with that' and turned to leave when both Hugo and Juan tried to talk me having a beer with them, Juan being particularly silly in saying 'usted es una flor hermosa', 'you are a beautiful flower.' So much for practicing Spanish with these 3 goofy gigolos.