Invasion in Banos

Hi All
For the last several days (what seems like weeks), the schools of Banos have been practicing for the Disfilo. This is where all the local schools show off their fab music skills and have their groups march down the street in parade formation in their school uniform finest and drum sousa-ing till some of the drums actually do break. Rob, the dogs and I went up the mountain to the city's own personal stair climber (over 600 steps straight up to the Virgin Monument) and listened to the sounds of Banos. This time the sound of the local schools proudly stoicly marching down the streets were the sounds of Banos. Banos is built into the mountain a bit much like a bowl and the sound is perfect up there. Which is both good and bad. Good if you like that kind of music, but bad if you don't and the dogs well....... don't. Neither do I for that matter and I just turned up the volume on my shuffle, no problem. It seems when ever I use that thing when going up the mountain it perfectly plays music to inspire my fear of heights. This time Another One Bites the Dust came on. I think it is my shuffle trying to remind me to laugh through the stress alittle.
I have to say though that compared to these people my attire is sadly lacking, but then again I was comfortable to climb the stairs and the rest of the people were looking very uncomfortable like they were going to a funeral, instead of a parade.
This week is a big week for Banos. This week there was the celebration of the anniversary of The Virgin Maria de Agua being here and it is Banos's Anniversary, also called Banos Independance day, tonight. I expect it will be much like last year, where there will be lots of music, dancing in the streets downtown and of course fireworks. It will be another night where the dogs are trying to either hide in the bathroom or under my bed making it very difficult to read with all the shaking.
For us also this week, little Acamaro, the 8 year old son of my friend living in Puyo, will be coming over tomorrow for his birthday. Rob is making him a disgusting cake that only an 8 turning 9 yr old would really enjoy. Rob is making a chocolate carmel marshmallow cake. Doesn't it make your teeth want to voluntarily jump out of your face to avoid the cavities, each one crying and screaming " I give up now". I can already hear my pancrease crying for a super cleanse and a month of bland no sugar foods. But when it is an 8 turning 9 year old you are willing to put up with alot. In celebration of turning 9 Dane with respect to his friends sweet tooth made him a mini marshmallow pvc gun. With luck, Dane could shoot those little mallows directly onto Acamaro's teeth and pummel the teeth into submission with sugar.
Well, on to something completely different, Ecuador is truely an amazing country. I, who have a black rotting thumb, who can't get to grow or care if they grow, garden have only killed 3 plants in Rob's garden, no really, I have pictures to prove it. Most everything that you plant lives. While Rob and I went to the local market on Sunday for the weekly fresh groceries, there was a lady selling my most favorite flower in the world in plant form, not cut flower. It is the yellow fresia. The perfume of this flower is fantastic. Often the purple or white variety have a peppery smell but the yellow is devine. So now I have one living in the garden making it smell devine for only $4. I always have hated buying cut flowers but love them in the house, I always feel that I am committing a murder. But while we were at the market we bought 2 dozen long stemmed roses for $2. I just couldn't help but buy these flowers....... I will give them a nice burial after they have done with living. But anyway, now I have this fabulous fresia flowery celebration of perfume and beauty living in my garden. Sigh.......
How ever speaking of gardens, I think I have carried on and off in the past about the various bugs that live there, from the 6 in long and 1 1/2 in wide caterpillers, and non dangerous but painful if stung scorpions to the beetles which dong when you defend yourself against them with a shovel but now Rob has found another friend. This friend is the size of a 3 year olds fist. This snail is about 4 or more inches around and if it takes one false move to my fresia it will become escargot for 4 with garlic butter. Beleive me that think is a complete meal for those who like their food somewhat slimey and chewy. I used to maintain such a Buddistic philosophy, almost 2 years living here and look at me, I am committing flower murders and using a shovel to protect myself against the bugs. I am not even going to get started on the bugs that they keep telling me about on the coast, Mosca Muerte, yuck and yikes.
Well, I have to say that my family and I are often inspired by what we see on the movie screen, especially when it comes to food. Sooooo, this means we were inspired by the movie Julie, Julia a truely fab movie. So French cooking is now on the table more often. The other day we declared it French dinner night, and the family had to cook dishes only of French recipes. Thank heaven for the internet, you can find recipes of all sorts. It was a success. I was on meat, and dessert, Dane on potatoes and Rachelle on vegies and Rob at the wine and eating. I think we will have to watch Sabrina again, they had Morocan food on that movie.......hmmmm... With all the different foods and spices available here, I still can't quite understand why the typical Ecuadorian fare is soooo bland or boring. Either they use alot of sugar, salt or pig fat or it is not served. I guess that is why when my family calls for inviting people to come for dinner, they are banging on the door waiting.
Ok, on to another topic. We will be going to the coast for Xmas to Mompiche. It is a quiet little beach town that still has its surrounding tropical forest and atmosphere (bugs, yikes mosca muerte!!!!!). I think that will be changing very soon as a developer just bought up a whack of land and is putting a huge developement in. I guess you just can't stop change, or progress. I hope that it will stay small for quite a while yet, or we will just have to travel to other countries looking for wonderful tropical beaches, oh damn. Hopefully, the other countries will have more interesting food.
Talk with you all later enjoy your day and look for a french recipe to perk up your day.
Robin