Here We Go 22

 Well Christmas and New years have slipped into the "remember when?" file and we have put on our "Well, 2022 will be better" hats. For all our sakes I hope that proves to be the case. I'm sure it's only me who is just a tiny bit tired of the pandemic but I attribute that to the fact that I am old, weak and impatient. After all, I have less time left than most of you. As Bob Dylan would say "It's not dark yet, but it's gettin' there". Gotta keep making that hay. 

 I thought I would put up a few pics in case Sharon hadn't covered everything and to reassure you that I am still treading the boards.

    Christmas here is a big family thing, as it is everywhere. We did have some people over for dinner who, like us, had no other immediate family here, but on the whole it was very laid back. One of the joys is that we have someone in a local bakery who cooks our turkey for us, since we don't have an oven. They do a fantastic job and it makes Christmas dinner much less of a chore. 

    We, (read Sharon), decided to exchange experiences instead of things, so my gift to Sharon was 5 dinners out at a different brew pub every night. She loves beer so score one for me. There are a surprising number of craft beer makers here so there is lots to choose from. So far we have only done three, so the gift keeps on giving.

      And all during the Christmas holiday we could look down from our apartment on a brightly lit circus tent that had been set up near the main market. It was advertising an ice show. Sort of a one ring Disney on ice which we, of course, had to check out.

A group of seven performers, Russian and Mexican, performing an ice show, in Ecuador, in a one ring circus tent! All topped off by acrobatics done on a trapeze ring, with skates on!!

Remember, in 1964 I worked with The Moscow Circus pushing tigers and bears around in a one ring circus touring Australia. This was the most unusual act I've seen since then. Just when you think you've seen it all!

Now we move to downtown Saraguro, which you are looking at here. A lovely little town about an hours bus ride from Loja. A little more indigenous with lots of handmade crafts for sale.

We are here to pick up my Christmas present. A surprise from Sharon which turned out to be dinner (in our case lunch) in the only Michelin starred restaurant in Ecuador.

And this is it, overlooking the main square. We are about to enjoy a fabulous meal.

Sunny day, fabulous food with a gorgeous dinner companion, and not a sign of ice, snow, or rain anywhere. Does life get any better?

Since it was my Christmas present I thought a picture of me might be in order. The beer was locally brewed and very good.

Each course was beautifully presented!

These are tasters, little appetizers that arrived unexpectedly. Crispy chifle (fried platano) with atun (tuna) and other creamed salsas (sauces).

A bolon. A well known and traditional 'bocadillo' (like a snack) that you saw in an earlier post. This is prepared with a green platano and stuffed with cheeses. 

Six courses, each one better than the last. My main course was 'cuy', guinea pig. A traditional dish in Ecuador, but a first for me. Sharon had a lovely delicious lamb meal. A memorable afternoon.

Finally, here are some pictures of our lovely little city on a random Sunday. Every Sunday between 10 am and 4 pm, the downtown part of Loja is blocked off to vehicular traffic so people can just wander without traffic. Very relaxing and a chance to browse at your leisure.

Lots of churches with lovely Plazas in which to relax.

Sometimes you have to look up to see the details. Just like life.

Always a little cafe open to stop for great Lojano coffee and cakes.

Not in the city, but close by in the  Podocarpus national park. I was dragged, kicking and screaming, for a hike with friends. I actually had a good time although when the trail began to go straight up I immediately abandoned my former friends, and went straight down. One of the joys of old age is knowing your limits and being able to, without shame, acknowledge them.

And that's it for this round. Hope you enjoyed the pictures. And buckle up for the last (hopefully) round of Covid. Omicron is just starting here so we are girding our loins for a couple of months of being careful ...again! We are both triple vaxed so we should be OK. Still having a good time!

      Finally, here are 

 

Nuestra Segunda Navidad y Dia de --- Nuevo

 

Our 'Segunda' Navidad in Loja, Ecuador

Our first Christmas with Nicolas and Nora. No low hanging balls on the Christmas tree this year. But the tree did remain upright for 3 weeks! 

We had two parties. (This was at the time when very few covid cases existed in Loja. Like under 50. No kissing or hugging, and everyone was double or tripled vaccinated.) One very international party with teachers from France, Columbia, Ecuador and Canada. Another 'drop-in' get-together ('At Home' with the Taylors) with our local friends to celebrate the new year (año nuevo .... careful with the pronunciation 😆) It is not expensive to hold a party in Ecuador: 7 bottles of Chilean wine ($27) and 8 bottles of various local craft beer ($13) totaling $40 ... What?! Sort of invites more drinking, si?                                                                        

On December 31st the street markets were bustling with lots of new years eve paraphernalia. One must eat 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight within one minute, I think, and make 12 wishes for the upcoming year. If you want more love in your life, wear red underwear. If you desire more money, wear yellow underwear.  These paper-mache heads are known as 'monigotes' when a body is added, like a scarecrow. These are burned at midnight to rid oneself of bad omens, negative feelings or whatever one wishes to forget from the previous year (I think).

I say "I think" because everyone has their own interpretation and, you must remember dear readers, the explanations are all in Spanish. So, it's my interpretation too! New Years is also a time for men to dress up like women. (I don't know how this tradition came about) and if you wish for future far away adventures in the next year one is to pull a suitcase around the block at midnight to ensure future travels. Whole families do this. I was asked what Canadians do at the stroke of midnight and all I could come up with is 'kissing' (through a mask at 2 meters away?), making lots of noise with noise bangers and singing the dullest song of the year 'Auld Lang Syne'.

We went to the circus. 'Magia Sobre Hielo' literally means 'Magic about Ice' so I interpreted this as a grand magic show using ice. Nope. This circus was on ice. Yes, like the Ice Capades. What?! In Ecuador? This was Ken's first ice skating show (again, What?!) and all I heard from him throughout the show was, "I can't believe I am in Loja". It was a grand show. Very entertaining with lots of acrobatics. The circus company is quite famous in Mexico and Latin America. The skaters were from Russia and Mexico. Yes, the ice surface was very small but it truly was on ice and something not normally seen in this country.

I have found my 'Loja Grind' and enjoy hiking the numerous trails at least once a week in this protected park (Sendero Universitario / Parque Francisco Vivar) with spectacular views of the city and surrounding mountains and valleys. This butterfly is one of many translucent butterflies and moths that exist in this area, as you have seen in our previous blogs.

What?! No, your eyes are not deceiving you! That is Ken hiking upward at the front of the pack. What?! Is Ken's new year's goal to hike up mountains? Stay tuned. Perhaps you will learn more in the upcoming blogs.

Hasta luego mis amigos. Y Feliz AÑO Nuevo!