Dec Walking -- Quito, Cuenca and Paute

Another fast and fun trip to Quito.

Flowers are in bloom there, too!

 

Some rain.

Christmas at the malls.

 

Fun Street art.

A Nativity scene.  Notice the napkin over the manger and Baby Jesus.  The cover will be removed on Christmas Eve!

 

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This is what our community in the Southern Andes looks like in December with our upside-down weather (opposite from the Northern Hemisphere ):

 

Flowers! Pictures taken in Cuenca and Paute.

 

No snow.

 

 

 

Christmas vendors and school girls in front of the New Cathedral.

 

Street art.

 

Shop with a great name!

 

Costume shop with Santa.

 

Nativity at the Mall.

 

 

 

 

These look like goats, but they are African Sheep.  (Bred for meat, not wool.)

 It's the season for babies!

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We are wishing friends and family a Very, Merry Holiday Season., full of Hope and Joy.

A Christmas Picnic in the Andes

We were invited to a special Christmas picnic in a small community in the high mountains outside of Cuenca. 

Lovely location, high up in the Andes, at a little above 10,000 feet.

 

 

 

 

150 hotdogs for lunch.  The 'kitchen' was busy and very organized.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There were also gift baggies of candy and school supplies and traditional Christmas bread.

 

 

3 legged races for the children.

 

 

It was an honor to be included in this special event.  It really got us in the holiday spirit!

The Kids' Christmas Party on the Coast

Our brother/sister-in-law, Bob and Roxanne, are hosting a huge Christmas Party for the children again this year.  This is an annual event that all the children in their Coastal Community look forward to all year long.  It's become a tradition!  Bob and Rox have hosted this event for several years now and it gets bigger each year.

You can read more at their blog:
http://bobnrox.squarespace.com/journal/2014/12/16/blastin-down-the-home-stretch-to-a-huge-kids-chirstmas-party.HTML

For pictures of all the happy kids at last year's party that will warm your heart! :
http://bobnrox.squarespace.com/journal/2013/12/22/the-kids-christmas-party-2013-was-fabulous.html

We love this event!!  It's well organized with lots of meticulous planning and involves the entire Community. 
Also,  EVERY dime contributed goes straight to the Children's Party, with no bureauocracy, confusión or middle people involved.   And, it's so easy to give, just a couple clicks.  (Details on their blog for Paypal.)

If you haven't already, please take a minute and send a few bucks to Bob and Rox.  These are the kinds of events that help keep communities together.  The Party is just a few days away and they are in the last minute stages.  And, stay tuned to their blog for the resulting pictures of all the happy, smiling children with Papa Noel!

Nov/Dec Walking -- Cuenca, Tarqui and Uzhupud

No matter where we are, we try to walk some each day.  More fun with a camera and friends.

Cuenca is getting ready for Christmas.  It still feels a little strange without the Northern Winter weather!

 

 

 

 

Upcoming event in Cuenca.

 

In a mall in Guayaquil.

 

Flowers are blooming everywhere! 

It's Springtime here, almost summer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Tarqui, outisde Cuenca.  We walked a friend's property as he plans to build.

 

 

We like to walk at the Uzhupud Hosteria in Paute, too.

 

A vertical garden in Cuenca.

 

 

 

In Guayaquil.

 

 

 

 

 
 

Walking in Buenos Aires.