Cuenca and Quito during the Holidays

During Christmas and New Years, we spent several days in the Andes between Quito in the north and Cuenca/Azogues in the south.  Both cities have preserved many of their 16^th Century buildings and many of the streets are narrow, cobble-stoned routes through the city. 

One of the most important events of the year in Cuenca is the 

procession of a statue of baby Jesus through the city on Christmas Eve day.  30,000 people participate in the parade that winds through the city during a 6 hour period.

People, big and small, dress in a variety of costumes for the event.

There is always an assortment of street vendor fare.  BBQ-ed chicken feet are a special treat!

Back in Azogues we had a holiday feast, featuring a dainty pork dish for 30!...8 Pessl-Wimberlys and almost every living member of the Jenny Cosgrove family in Ecuador, only a few of whom are pictured below.  John, Liese, Finn and Mom are now honorary members of that wonderful clan.

While in the northern Andes near Quito, we took a quick trip to Otavalo, a beautiful town near a mountain lake that is surrounded by huge smoking volcanoes.

On a walk to the Condor  Center, outside of Otavalo.

 

 The cherished, though slightly ugly, Andean Condor.

And finally, a pass through Quito for New Years Eve

Dinner out later that night...

           ...tuckered out the following day.

A highlight of our time in Quito was visiting Patricia's first grade teacher who taught at her elementary school in Walnut Creek, California, just a few years back!