Ecuador 7/1/2015 - 7/6/2015 |
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Sunday 7/5/2015 - Papa Francisco Visits EcuadorThe Dutch family was getting an early start this morning, so breakfast was at 7 a.m. We woke up at 6:45 and hurried to the dining room. We chatted with the Dutch familu. We had coffee, cantaloupe juice, fried eggs, hot dogs, bread, and fries.Antonio had gotten home at 1:00 a.m. from playing music, so he slept his late as he could. Once again, we filled in as translators for the Dutch family. They left at 8 a.m. and thanked us for our help, explanations, etc. Rosa left to harvest corn at a neighbor's house. It is a community obligation at harvest time for everyone to help one another. When the kids finally woke up, they ate some breakfast. Shina colored and we played Jenga with Yupanqui. The family had been short on bread because the local store had been out yesterday. We walked up to the store with the three kids to try to buy some this morning, but the store still had none. We came home and had some yogurt as a snack. The kids picked peaches from the trees in the yard. For the first time ever, Craig and I ventured down the ravine behind the house, towards the stream. It was a steep path to get down, but very green and flat at the bottom. It was peaceful down there and we saw many butterflies, including an iridescent blue one. There were many eucalyptus trees and the air smelled of them. There were agave plants as tall as me. We felt the high altitude as we climbed our way back up the steep slope to the cornfield. The kids called us for lunch: soup, fried eggs, rice, and broccoli. Yupanqui, Sisa, and Max the dog led us across a ravine in front of the house to meet up with Rosa at the neighbor's house. The community of Morochos is located on fingers of land which erode in the harsh mountain conditions. This results in "fingers" of land with ravines on either side. That means that getting around the village is much faster as the crow flies than going by dirt road. So the kids led us down a steep path and back up the other side to get to the neighbor's house. When we arrived, there, the entire courtyard was covered in corn cobs. We chatted with some of the community members. They asked how long we were staying, and we said that we would be heading home tomorrow. Several people looked concerned. They said that the Pope was arriving in Ecuador today, and that there is a rumor that the Mariscal Sucre airport will be closed tomorrow for the Pope to fly out. Sisa and Yupanqui were delighted with the prospect that we might be prevented from leaving, but Craig and I were a bit worried now. When we got back to the house, we did some research (hooray for internet access). The airport is closed for two hours today for the Pope's arrival. He then flies to Guayaquil tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. Our flight is not early in the morning, so it shouldn't impact us. Sorry, Sisa and Yupanqui, looks like we will be going home after all! We had planned to take showers, but there was no water. The kids watched a locally produced YouTube videos about a woman with an extra mouth on the back of her head who eats children. It was very creepy. Shina kept doing downward dogs throughout the day. It was really cute. We watched coverage of Pope Francis (or Papa Francisco as he is known in Latin America) on TV. Sisa sang along with the national anthem in Spanish and Kichwa. They showed his plane arrive, and when he stepped out the door, his hat flew away in the wind. He laughed. So down to earth for a Pope! After a welcome ceremony on the tarmac (where he gave a speech about the need for a more inclusive Catholic Church), the TV station covered the Papal motorcade on its way to Quito. The Popemobile (Papamovil, in Spanish) was a white Jeep. Papa Francisco's visit is a really big deal for a country whose population is 80% Catholic. There hasn't been a Papal visit to Ecuador since 1985. More than half a million people lined the streets to watch the Pope pass by. Many of them were wearing Otavalan traditional attire. The TV encouraged people to post to social media with the hashtag #franciscoinec. It felt like we were watching something historic.  Papa Francisco in his Papamovil We went two houses down to buy veggies. The man selling them kept rabbits, cuy (guinea pigs), cows, pigs, etc. He showed the kids his baby rabbits, and they were very excited. We went back to the house and played Jenga. Yupanqui was bothering Shina and she stood up for herself. He wasn't expecting that and didn't like it much. He responded by threatening to tell Papa Francisco (the Pope!) on her. It was hysterical. Antonio had been gone all day, first guiding tourists at Lake Cuicocha, and then playing music. He would not get home until late. We had spinach soup and popcorn as well as tostado, beans, rice, salad, and beef with onion strings for dinner. Unfortunately, Rosa's migraine was bothering her again. Tonight was our last night with the family, and we exchanged gifts. They gave Craig a grey scarf and they gave me a floral one, both of which were manufactured at Aida's place of employment. They also gave me a black scarf with lace trim that Aida made herself. We gave Aida and Rosa necklaces made by our artist friend Jen that depicted roosters. They were delighted and put them on. Rosa expressed her gratitude to us. Unlike other foreign godparents who never visit their compadres again, we always visit and stay in touch. We tried to express how much we appreciate being accepted into their family; how we feel like the lucky ones. At 9:15-ish we went to the room. We packed (leaving some things behind in our Rubbermaid for next time). I did a Facebook post, wrote in the journal, and we went to bed at 10:45. |
 Shina  Craig down in the ravine behind the house  Sisa, Shina, and Yupanqui  Yupanqui  Sisa See all photos from this day |
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