Cuenca

The mission clinic was closed during the week between Christmas and New Year's, so we took the opportunity to venture out and see the city of Cuenca.  Cuenca is about 7 hours from Guadalupe by bus (we broke up the trip into a couple of days), and is famous for its Spanish Colonial architecture. Like Quito, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site because of all the historic buildings and ruins.  The altitude is about 8,400 feet -- so it is high, and much drier and cooler than Guadalupe.  It really is a beautiful city.

Traditional Spanish colonial architecture 

 The light blue domes of the "New Cathedral" (built in 1800s) that are visible throughout much of the city

The raw brick facade of the New Cathedral.  The bell towers are short because of the design flaw that would have made it impossible for the building to support heavier towers 

Inside the cathedral -- beautiful arches, proportions and light 

Christmas lights over the river 

Flower market  

I love the way this old house is painted

There was a double decker tour bus, and the kids were super excited to get on -- we were not expecting their first double decker bus ride in Ecuador!

View of the city from a lookout point up in the hills

Some old Incan ruins in the center of town

They think this site was used to house Incan soldiers

On New Year's Eve, there is a tradition in all of Ecuador that people make some kind of a doll out of cardboard and paper.  Often the doll is holding a funny sign that talks about what has happened that year.  At midnight everyone burns their dolls in the street, as a way of letting go of the old year and welcoming better luck in the next.  The ladies at the hotel/apartments where we stayed made this doll that was supposed to be a likeness of their boss, Javier.  We burned him at 8pm!

Happy New Year to everyone!

Christmas Day in Guadalupe

Christmas Day in Guadalupe mostly felt like any other Sunday.    People seemed surprised when I said, "Feliz Navidad".   Other than the Saraguros performing a traditional ceremony outside Church after Mass, everyone seemed to go about their usual business after Mass and it didn't seem to be a climax of the holiday season like it is at home.  Although I would say that the presence of the Wikis outside of Church before and after Mass was a bit of a cultural disconnect for us.    Padre Jorge celebrated some Baptisms during Mass and we were invited to the family home of Mercedes's daughter (Kate and Annalise's beading teacher) to celebrate her granddaughter's Baptism.    We had some chicken, rice and cuy (cooked guinea pig).  

Two Wikis and a band played traditional Saraguro music 

Children performing a traditional Saraguro pole dance 

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Santa brought Annalise a traditional Saraguro outfit for her American Girl doll (handmade locally)

Emmett and his new Rubic's cube.   He usually wears a Rosary, not uncommon for teenage boys in Guadalupe 

Annalise with a new purse and earrings 

Christmas Eve with Padre Jorge and the Sisters

We had Christmas Eve dinner with Father Jorge, the Sisters and the medical clinic dental team from Germany

Emmett and Annalise posing in front of the Manger decoration at the Sisters's house

Annalise carrying the Baby Jesus to place on the Manger scene as we began singing Latin American Christmas carols

Father Jorge with Annalise looking at the Manger

Emmett received some silly glasses from Sister Julia

Emmett and Annalise with Sister Julia

Christmas celebration at Emmett and Annalise's school

Emmett and Annalise's school had a Christmas celebration on the Thursday before Christmas.   The celebration started with a procession leading to school.   Emmett and Annalise did not dress in costume as there was a communication snafu from school (which is not unusual).   Father Jorge celebrated Mass at school and John took some pictures of some of the children in front of the manger scene to share with other parents.  

procession leading to school 

teacher Berta wearing the traditional Saraguro hat starting the day's events

Angeles and Juan Diego

Nadalyn, Alondra and Angeles

Luz and Juan Diego

Javier and Klebe

Fr. Jorge preparing for Mass

traditional dancing

Emmett and Jose practicing for three-legged race

Luz and Annalise practicing

Kate and the children waiting for lunch to be served

Annalise, Alondra and Angeles climbing onto their classroom window ledge

Yudie, Luz, Juan Diego and their little sister

Christmas pictures

On Christmas Eve day there was a procession leading into town where children dressed as Nativity figures.  Some adult women carried figures of Jesus and some girls carried dolls in blankets strapped on their chest.  

One of the houses on the route to town with Christmas decoration. 

the house where the procession started had an elaborate manger scene in front of their door 

girl with a doll representing Jesus in front of a woman carrying a figure of baby Jesus

wooden house on the way leading to town, typical of many of the homes in Guadalupe