Pase Del Ninos 12-24-10 Cuenca Ecuador

Here is a youtube link for a slide show video of the Pase Del Ninos parade and procession that is held on Christmas Eve.  It was started in 1961 and is the largest procession of its kind in Ecuador.  The floats which vary in size from just a car to big flat bed trucks are done by mostly local citizens with whatever that have and can afford to do.  But the children all dressed up in their clothes (as we used to say going to church clothes) and costumes is what it is all about.  It starts about 10 AM and goes all day until early evening.  It normally doesnt rain this time of year but it has every day this December,  but Mother Nature held off and the rain did not start until the procession was almost over.

Here is the link.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoOfNph2m7c

BTW the music is one of my original compositions

Enjoy!!!

Christmas at The Delorace Flores Flores School Near Cuenca Ecuador

Giving to others especially those less fortunate then most of us any time, always brings a warm feeling to your heart.  Giving at Christmas is especially rewarding.  However sometimes one has an experience that transcends all of this and is something that you will always remember for your whole life. I had such an experience yesterday.

It all began about 6 weeks ago when some friends of ours became aware of a school near Cuenca way up in the mountains accessible only by dirt roads,  that was having problems with their water supply.  Upon investigating our friends found that the outflow pipe from their cistern which is high on a hill that supplied water for cooking and for toilets was blocked so no water flowed.  So they decided to see what could be done to repair the blocked pipe. A plumber was found who upon inspecting the problem said he could fix it for $480.  At a Thanksgiving dinner at the California Kitchen a local restaurant run by Americans over $700 was raised mostly by "gringos" as we are called.  When a question was raised about what to do with the extra money, we found out that neither the parents of the children of the school or the school (about 120 kids in grades up to 7th) did not have any funds to give them any kind of Christmas party.  So a plan was conceived to give each child a sack of candy and also some school supplies likes pencils etc and some jump ropes and a soccer ball at a Christmas party. So a date was set was set to get the plumbing fixed and then take the candy etc to the school and give it to the children.  We did not expect it to be any big deal but we were in for a surprise.

Since yesterday was the last Sunday before Christmas many churches big and small have colorful processions celebrating the birth of Jesus on this Sunday.

So early yesterday morning we went by bus and a truck called a mixto which is used for hauling things to a town called El Valle.  There we met some people associated with the school and we rented another truck and proceeded up a one lane pot hole filled road to the school.  The sky was blue the air was fresh as we climbed about 1500 feet above Cuenca to almost 10,000 feet.  The scenery along the way was breath taking and reminded us of being in the Swiss Alps.

After about 20 minutes we came upon a group of people who as it turned out were from the school and had walked over 2 miles to meet us and escort us back to the school.  Many people were in costume especially the children and we found out that this was to be the Christmas procession to the church which was also on the school grounds and they wanted us to be a part of it. We were not in the least expecting such a warm reception and felt honored and humbled that they wanted us to be a part of their cultural tradition.

So the procession got organized which included Mary on a horse a truck leading it with Christmas music playing, and we walked behind it down the hill stopping occasionally for other vehicles to pass.  A man occasionally would set off fireworks to announce our journey.  It was a joyous, heart warming and humbling experience to walk with these simple people through the beautiful land they lived in and lived on.  We saw crops they cultivated, animals the raised and fed and many very humble dwellings which they called home.  Since it rains a lot this time of year a sudden down pour would have surely put a damper on this procession but they sky remained blue with only a few clouds.

Upon arriving at the school which was set upon a hill nothing fancy just classrooms, a cocina (kitchen) and big plaza which served as a gathering place and also for volley ball and soccer.  At one end of the plaza was a small church higher upon a hill.

We went first to see the repaired cistern which the people proudly showed us and also how the water was flowing to the cocina and the bathrooms.

Then it was announced that before we handed out the candy and school supplies the children wanted to perform for us.  Over the next 20 minutes they had sack races and and two musical chair races one boys and one girls.  We laughed and cheered with all the parents and others watching the ninos.  There was music provided by some young men who brought in sound equipment and played all kinds of upbeat music including some rap and hip hop as well as traditional western Christmas music and Latin music like Feliz Navidad.

Then the children were all gathered hand in hand in a circle and they began to dance and go around and around, and to the delight of those watching and those of us who had quickly become children again ourselves, we joined in and has more fun then we probable have had for years.

Then we passed out the treats.  We did not have the children come to us.  We went to each one and gave them their sacks.  Each one sometimes shyly would thank us and give us those sweet smiles with those big black eyes that melted our hearts.

Then it was time for them to feed us.  We sat at the tables the children eat at and were served  a traditional Ecuadorian fare of chicken rice potatoes lettuce and surprise! roast guinea pig.  For drink we had good ole Coca Cola.

Of course the whole scene was some what unorganized and chaotic but it didnt matter.  What mattered was the love fellowship kindness and caring that we were surrounded with.

We wished we could stay and be kids again forever but we had to become adults again and do adult things, but for a few short hours we had an incredible experience which we will never forget.

Pictures of Our New Digs in Cuenca

This is the name of the street we have moved to.  It is centrally located one block south of the Tomebamba Rio.  This tile is on the wall of our compound.

The tile featured in the above photo is at the upper right corner of our wall.  The is the front view off the street.

This is the front yard, which Bill has big plans for.  He will make it bloom!

                                                        The front door.  Still have some moving items in the portico.

Looking straight in the front door.  You can see the little Christmas tree and part of the Angel Choir I do every Christmas.

This is the living room.  Notice the ornate ceiling.  It looks like the old 20th century tin ceiling, but it is made of plaster.  They still produce them today and use them liberally.

                                           Another view of the Living Room.

                                           Back of the living room looking toward the kitchen.

Staircase to the second floor, we have not hung any art in the staircase yet, it will require a ladder which we will have to borrow or acquire.   Below left is a view to the left of the staircase into the half bath on the first floor.

Just inside the kitchen at the back of the living room, looking into the dining room.

Galley kitchen which is my favorite, since the Adlon kitchen.  Some of you will remember that kitchen.

                                              Looking into the dining room from the kitchen. 

                          Dining Room looking toward the front of the house and the portico.  As
you can see my sewing machine is up and doing duty.  Thankful that I brought it.  I was doing curtains for the bedrooms.  Actually cutting some down that hung at Kennett Place, fabric I had bought in Paris.

Add caption

  On the left is the  Ella Mae Krozt Memorial Buffet, as we call it.   Ella Mae was a friend of Bill's mom  Catherine.  When she passed to her next adventure she left the buffet to us.     

Section of the rear terrace, we are completely compounded.  No back gate.

Another view of the back terrace.  The doorway leads to a separate servants quarters that I have appropriated for my art studio.

Reverse end of the terrace, just off the kitchen.

Ditto

Back door into kitchen.

Some of Bill's plants.