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Published: December 19th 2006
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We have had many strange and wonderful insites into Ecuadorian life, these are a few of the more bizarre ones whch we´ve chuckled at.
1. Ecuadorian Dogs and Gringos
Ecuadorian dogs seem to be street hobo´s they generally travel in flea bitten packs looking the worse for wear slightly mad look in their eyes. They will become a gringos best friend instantly. Keri and i attract lost looking dogs, we then generally adopt them by calling them Buster the third, Rufus the 2nd they also recognise flea bag, which they respond effectionately to. When giving these dogs a piece of time love and attention. In return they show us around their neighbourhood. Most our friendly, Keri has only been attacked at one time where the rabied dog started grabbling with her skirt. Most seem to be loyal companions but we discovered that they have a fickle nature towards Gringos and in fact what they like is that Gringos show them attention and compassion,they might also get a little extra and get some scraps thrown in. We have discovered that Ecuadorian dogs do not know the theory of throw and catch stick, this is very disappointing ad horrifying because they
generally think your going to hit them with the stick as they cower away.
2. Superman taking a Pee
In Puerto Lopez we saw Superman running around trying to stop none existant crime in the sleepy laidback dust streets. I remember when Superman was released on film as a child , at school there was great interest and curiosity as to how exactly Superman pees, he has tights and then wears his pants over these. Well it was with great fortune that we saw a wee Superman needing a pee so bad. With all his super human strength and no criptonite in site he grabbed his tights with his pants down below his knee´s and let the pressure off on a bus tyre. We can now sleep more siliently at night knowing Superman has his pant tight problem covered and can fight crime with less urgency as to have a full bladder.
3. Sellers on Ecuadorian buses and badily dubbed films wih ex rap stars.
Were using the great Ecuadorian bus service to get everywhere it is so efficient and cheap, generally costing $1 an hour to travel. The roads on the other
hand are hardcore literally and it is best to sit at the front or middle of the bus otherwise much sickness will be awakened and on a 10 hour journey its not that fun.
There is much amusement on bus rides though, one great amusement is of the numerous sellers that make there way on your bus by jumping on at any given moment on your journey and then hoping off when they have completed there business. This procedure and sales trip can take 5mins to 30mins at all times the seller will give an award winning speech to the passengers on the bus, ´¨the captivated audience¨, Well there is not much choice in this unless you pretend to go to sleèp but it is generally to fasinating not to be hypnotised by the sales techniques.
With so much passion and gusto the seller will sell you at one time yoghurty sweets, fruit salad, pirate dvds,plantane chips, trinkits and the most ineresting herbal medicinal shamanic remedies for lebido, flatulance bus sickeness. You do really get drawn into their sale and feel that they are talking about their long lost brother who has been shipwrecked and recently found and reunited with
all family members. When they have finished their award winning speech they will hand out what ever they are selling for you to examine and then it is up to you whether you buy the coca cola bottle medallion or glass globule. We bought four yogurty sweets and were happy with how they were sold to us, which lasted approximately 20 minutes!
In house bus movies which are forced on you and are all pirated its brilliant how Ecuadorians do what they want unfortunately these films are very distracting and addictively bad. They our badly dubbed, generally feature ex rapstars dressed as babies Sumo Wrestlers or women with beards. There is one thing about them they make you feel less bus sick and are so easy to understand because of the rubbish storyline that you don´t need to know what they are saying.
4.Panpipe musical greats
What can we say there were many occasion in Otavalo were we encounted Panpipe renditions. The Beatles were very popular and WetWetWet appeared ¨¨i feel it in my fingers i feel it in my tows¨hum this if you dare panpipe styley! One of our favourites was a little number orchestrated by Steve
Speilberg´s ET, go on imagine panpipes and then hum the ET theme in your head it will last for hours and last for the whole of Christmas, our little Christmas gift to you all!
5.Nativity scenes, explosive electrics, Kitsch Chirstmas Decorations and jingles.
There is lots Ecuadorian Kitsch Christmas decorations to delight us with. Our favourites our plastic Spruce trees with snow on them with a back drop of the Pacific Ocean and blazing sunshine it seems out of place, like seeing a slay and reindeers that you can sit on.
There are many nativity scenes on the side of dusty roads which we like. We amusingly discovered one with baby jesus the three Kings and a two headed dinosaur which was a nice touch. What you will find at these nativity scenes or anything else that is needing electricity is that it is somones job to get two pieces of hooked wire get on a ladder and hook these over the mains street cables, another brilliantly dangerous and unsafe thing to do as an Ecuadorian bodge it electrician.
6. Men with Guns
Many security forces and police have guns, it is always very strange seeing
spotty security guards holding a fat pump action shotgun, we wonder if they are ever used. They have security men always at banks and guarding cash points so you do feel kind of safe that you might not get robbed. Touch wood we have felt so safe everywhere in Ecuador and everyone is really friendly.Only onetime have i been pick pocketed and felt someone reach into my trouser pocket.
7. Maracuya manipulation
Finally Maracuya fruit manipulation, everyone has different techniques of getting the pippy sweet and sour fruit out of this fruit . It is of great fascination for us to see this in action. It seems that by the time you reach 60 you have found great technique and are a dab hand at manipulating your fruit by turning it around and around whilst giving a slow slurping and sucking action making your face contort with pleasure!
Lots of Christmas and NewYear tide to you all
Love Pete and Keri
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cazzie
non-member comment
hi pete and keri, I have not made a comment before. I wonder if you will get this?! Anyway I was just writing to say how lovely it is to hear and almost feel part of travels via this blog and of course to say MERRY CHRISMAS. lot and lots of love cazx