Fire and Bees

I can weave hats!

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With Corpus Cristi there are a couple of distinct threats - I discussed the fireworks in a previous post and it just keeps getting crazier.  Last night, we were all going out and there was literally fire falling from the sky.  I never thought something like that could look so cool, and be so strange and disturbing at the same time.  This morning, I was walking through the park and there were swarms of bees buzzing around all of the hundreds of tables of sweets.  They're attracted to the sugar, you know which makes sense, but it is a strange sight especially since no one seems to care about it but me.

I'm doing well... one week left in Cuenca.  Today I am taking it easy and tomorrow I'm going to a futbol game (Cuenca v. Quito) at the stadium with my friends from school.  Hopefully it will be fun and we can all learn some more bad words in spanish. ;)

Panama hats

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Otherwise, yesterday (Friday) I went to one of the Panama Hat factories here in Cuenca.  “Panama Hat” is a misnomer, as they are actually from Ecuador. It's one of the things that the tourist industry is trying hard to re-educate the public about.  So, they make the hats and call them "original panama hats made in ecuador" which obvs isn’t doing it.  They need some better PR messaging!

I'm working on arranging a short trip into the Oriente (rainforest), one of the kids from school may come with me.  I thought I wasn't going to be able to go, but everyone tells me how worth it and amazing it is, so we shall see.  I'll keep my fingers crossed so as not to contract yellow fever, malaria or the typhoid.  I had such a hard time getting all of my shots before I came here and I totally messed up in every way regarding medication, so hopefully it will all be ok.  I'm really not worried though.

These men look real, but they aren't

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Have a great weekend everyone!