Brush in a Backpack

I am a painter/sculpture, who is in the process of travelling with my family, and painting on the way, for starts we are going to find out where "South" is, with the children navigating. Sounds adventureous, yeah I will be a cool experience and chaotic and fun.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Go carts, no kill bull fights, and rodeos and everthing

Hi all
Well it is December here in Ecuador and for the Ecuadorians that means fiesta de navidad, and for my family it means birthdays and navidad. As a true blue Sagitarian, I will give you the update of the day. It has been a busy little pueblo. There have been lots of fun to be had, especially if you like to observe people, which or course I do.
For starters, there was all the parade. Amazing, the engergy, life, dancing, and there excitement was amazing. But I thought that the fun that we had at the parade would be hard to top (by the way I think that a posting of mine was lost, It was about the parade. toooo bad it was a good one.) The short story of the long is that the parade went on for about 4 hours and over 70 floats or exhibitors, remember this is a small town smaller than SalmonArm.
My kids were involved with the Arte Del Mundo, where as a family we helped construct the elephant masks and costume for a big elephant and then the kids walked in the parade. Rachelle carried the banner and Dane was one of the elephants. Pobricito Dane. The poor kids gets soooo easily embarrassed, especially about girls. The people here, especially the girls like to show their appreciation of the opposite sex, and welllllll Dane is sprouting to be a handsome fellah, only to be noticed by the girls. While casually walking down the street and wearing his elephant mask, you know blending in with the crowd, one of the "observing girls" noticed that Danes caboose was kind of "hot" and deserved an appreciative pinching. Needless to say, Dane felt violated and did not wish to carry on as a walking "Sex object". He found Rob and I later only to enjoy the protection of his parents and his blushing embarassment. Rachelle however, loved all the attention. Rob, Richaard and I were enjoying the parade and had enthusiatic team of slightly "boracho" budding macho males directly behind us. I turned around and introduced myself and the mother of a young lady coming down the street and also Rob the "Fuerte" father. When she passed they were chanting my name then Robs and hooted out Rachelles. They were hilarious, and of course our alto Marilyn Monroe stood for photos. No blushing anything on that girl.
The parade was made heart and some of the floats were made of real flowers. An entire truck or car would be entirely covered and adorned or with flowere, fruit or vegies. There was even an old sailing ship covered and contructed of noodles. Everyone and I mean everyone comes out and supports it. I have to say I admire the energy of the dancers as they had to dance energeticly for about 4 km. and they did. Some as indigenous mountain dancers in their panchos and fedoras, or from the jungle in jaguar costumes and so on. The time it must have taken for all of it was fab. We were there in the street when everyone was prepareing the music, and creativity was awesome.
The special needs children and adults were not to be forgotten. In Ecuador, special needs are referred to as Angels, and their float was and angel float complete with wings and halos. It was sooooo sweet. But often in other spots on the parade there were special dancers with the other ones too. Here they are one with the community not to be avoided. This, I like very much.
On to the next event, the famous go cart races of Banos. Okey dokey, it is better now than in the past when it was prefered that there were no brakes but now they are a must. These fabulous daredevils for brief fame and a gold colored cup, travel from far and wide to climb the highest street in Banos and careen down the hill through throngs of observers (daring to be run over), to hit the bump in the road that can send them flying in the air, hopefully in control and carry on down to the finish. This year, the police tried to control the enthusiastic crowd. They also put up a barrier around the jump where they had had accidents before (anticipating is good). But believe me there was no stopping the people when the cars we coming down the road and they just move right in front of the oncoming car. NO KIDDING. They say it is peligroso but it really is only dangerous for the audience because they just stand in the middle of the street. It was mayhem and pandamonium, and quite unbelievable. It is great of an amature psychologist to observe, really. At the end of the races when they were receiving their rewards and happily spraying the crowd with champagn, the volume of people was wayyyyy uncomfortable, yuck. TOOOOO many people to feel safe.
Next on the list of events: the no-kill bull fight. I at least was very greatful for this policy in Ecuador. Although they still poked the colorful flagged darts into the bulls back, they didn't kill them. We all took a vote and felt we could have done without that. One of the weird things that the young men like to do here is jump in the ring with a cranky bull, or cow (we saw udders not you know whats) and play chicken with it. On several occasions the bull was cheered by us, the adoring fans. One fellah in this display of pure liquid macho had his pants riped from the front directly to the back and down his legs. It was too close for us to feel comfortable as these animals at least still have their very sharp and pointy horns on their very determined heads. Out also came a singer dressed in mariachi style clothes of black and gold. There was also this fellah who came out who it looked like had broken his back and was a former cowboy. He said that the purpose of him being there and performing was to show that disabled people are people too and can still do amazing things. Where he proceeded to dance with his crutches and do acrobatics. Way to go Dude. Then game of chicken continued on for quite a while and out paraded and beautifully dressed came the fighters. For those who care, one of them was a woman, go girl. There were no swords, just a kind of chicken game really. Which makes me wonder, "Whats the Delio".
The next day was a grand hike for the family while we showed some Aussie tourists the hike up to the Virgen monument then over the top to Luna Runtun and Down the bike trail that they used for the races a while ago. Now, you have to understand that as I describe the run, these whack a doodles used it to race on. The slope is narrow and if you go over you probably would go down at least 20 ft before hitting something of not go right down to the village wayyyyy down below. Then there is the narrowness where you wonder if their handle bars could have made it through. Then there is the rocks and more rocks and then again more rocks and drop offs. Then there is the side banks and so on. Yikes.
After this lovely hike, we found out the rodeo had started. Okey, Canadians know their rodeos, if you are in BC or Alberta you just learn by osmosis. That is life. So now, we do the bull/cow thing again playing "chicken" a big crowd pleaser. Then we do some bronc riding. The poor horse is trained through intimidation. It is afraid to move when it comes out the shute sometimes it gave a good ride but often not. After the cowboy came off then the horse really started to take off, I think that that was the real event. The caballeros/cowboys had been drinking Cana juice fermented (for a liquid shot of bravery) and were more than needed agressive with the animals. We all voted to get them off the island, it was a vote of no confidence for sure. The interesting thing though was the foot wear. The cowboys wore dress shoes, soccer shoes or bare feet. What was really shocking is that they strapped on spurrs directly to their bare feet, hopped on a cranky and wild eyed pony and let'er loose. The caballeros also were bare foot while bull fighting being chased down by a rapidly annoyed bull in a rock filled arena. Go figure????? I guess that cane juice has some anethesic properties. The cowboys we seriously proud of their group and of course wanted us "extranjeros" to join in their fun. I have to say I although pleasant (as I did try the hooch) it wasn't for me. The cowboys wanted us to go party with them all later, and we used the fact that our skill in the spanish language to decline and go home.
Tomorrow, I understand is the very formal parade of schools. We have been hearing the marching bands and drumming for a month now, so Rachelle and I will attend. Rob, Hank and Dane are going to the jungle for a tour their and probably howl at the moon. I have to go now and prepare for the evening.
Talk with you all soon and I hope this one gets posted
Robin, you happy sagitarius.

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