Celebrations All Round

The Deed is Done
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Met up with some of the guys for breakfast this morning and heard all about their Galapagos trip - really looking forward to going now as it sounds amazing.  Also gave all the handy hints about the Devil´s nose train ride as they were all heading down to Riobamba that day. Also learnt that the volcano in Baños had erupted the previous day and there were possibilities that the town would be evacuated - seems really crazy especially as I was only there in November.  Afterwards ran around town doing some admin bits and things for the wedding before meeting Julie for the afternoon.  Later that evening also met Jessica at a Thai restaurant for both their last nights in Quito.  They had also just come back from the Galapagos.  Seems here that lots of people do, well it`s so close, but I know that back home only a handful of people will ever get the chance to experience it. Afterwards we headed to Reina Victoria for a few drinks.

The Family
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Following morning I met Julie for breakfast before going back to the hotel and seeing here off and saying goodbye to Truman and James as well.  Afterwards headed to the Dann Carlton Hotel where I would be staying that night with Paula, first stopping by her office for Hen Party things.  Chilled in the hotel until Paula arrived over 1 hour late and headed straight out to the restaurant where we were meeting the others.  Really odd that the Ecuadorian didn`t show up, especially after they said they would.  Apparently that is a common thing here but seems very rude.  After the restaurant we headed to a few bars in town, and decorated Paula in a veil and got her to perform dares in the various bars - these included kissing a bald man´s head, dancing on the bar, getting free drinks and collecting souveniers from each bar and surrending her phone.  The last was the hardest one to perform for her.  Eventually got in about 3am.

The Girls
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Following morning started a little late and we had to head to the bank before going to the hairdressers and beauty saloon.  Paula had her hair put up and a manicure and pedicure whilst I had a pedicure and my hair cut.  After this we headed back and started to get ready and Katie and Michelle came over as well.  Patrica (Dennis´ mum) was due to turn up with the dress, train and veil at 2pm but actually didn´t arrive until 3.15pm, and we were due to leave 15 mins after that.  Everything went OK despite having to change rooms in the middle of all of this and we all piled in the limo at 3.40pm and headed to the Church.  This was interesting down some of the narrow bendy streets as the limo had to reverse to make the turns. When we arrived there were loads of people outside the church waiting for us and to take photos.  The procession was Paula`s mum and Dennis`s dad, Dennis mum, Dennis godparents, Paula´s godparent (her boss and wife) the children (Dennis son looking very cute in tails, his stepson John, who was carrying the rings and Saskia, (not sure who she belonged to) as the flower girl).  It was then Paula and her dad.  The wedding was all in Spanish so it was a little hard to follow but was a nice service.  Afterwards everyone left the church and outside there was a band playing and a woman handing out an alcohol green drink - really not sure what that was.  Afterwards we headed to the reception in a convoy of cars.  The welcome committee included the parents and Paula and Dennis and afterwards we all sat down - tables aren`t allocated here so it`s a bit of a mix and pot luck.  Just before Paula and Dennis took their seats, his dad welcomed everyone, performed the toasts and then their was music.  The couple then had their first dance, a waltz, followed by the parents and other couples.  This carried on for some time and then everyone sat around. In capacity of photographer (upgraded from guest on Wednesday) I took the opportunity to take the table photographs.  Eventually we got served with food although this wasn`t until over 90 mins after we first arrived.  After the food, there was a singer and more dancing, followed by another band and then two more bands, one pop, one rock.  A lot of different musicians throughout the day.  Around 11pm the cake was cut and the younger people stayed and partied.  I had a quick celebration of my birthday and then Michelle, Katie and I headed to La Mariscal and a few bars to celebrate my birthday properly.

Following morning was a little slow and after arriving back at the hostel I crashed for a while before phoning home to wish Kirk (my sister) a Happy Birthday also.  Then headed to Quicentro to get the photos developed before getting back to the hotel to pack and get ready for birthday meal (curry) and a few drink in the Turtle´s head.