Pigs in Ecuador--Smarter than Gringos
In 7 hours begins the wettest day of the year here in Cuenca, Ecuador...Carnival. How many times have I been water-ballooned the past 2 days? In the area of 40. I have yet to be nailed with a bucket of freezing cold water dropped from the roof of a five story building, but it is only a matter of time. I walk around in my rain jacket, and remain dryer than my female gringa companions.
I have been in Cuenca one week. Ex-roommate Brycis is "studying" here with Lewis & Clark, so we have been touring around town together. Today we went to the Cajas national park...terrible weather, but gorgeous country. Despite the rain, we stayed dryer than we would have in the city. Unfortunately, transportation was rather spotty, so we jumped in the back of a truck. There was our group: 5 gringos, 3 locals, and the 2 pigs for whom the truck was originally
intended, as evidenced by the large quantity of pig feces covering everything. Not exactly kosher. Luckily, we had several showers as the truck was uncovered, and a perfect target for the scores of Ecuadorians lining the highway, for exactly this kind of opportunity. Thus we were led, very much like pigs to the slaughter.
Other than that, nothing much of note...although travel luck finally ended as I encountered an attempt at bodily harm for the first time. I was not overly concerned, or aware (mistake!) at 11:30 in the morning, on a bright, grassy path following the river. I felt a tug on my pant leg, and turned around just as a little foot long dog leaped up and bit me in the thigh. Not knowing that no blood had been drawn, but well aware that my $60 travel pants were gashed, I almost drop kicked the little yapper to Peru, but decided against it for some odd reason. If it had been a cat or a teen-ager, I would have.
Another "danger" for anyone interested in Cuenca; the "Tomate y Tuna" ice cream is not as bad as you think.
Also, I went to a market in Gualaceo (45 minutes) last weekend. In the meat market (all live animals, no butchered or butchering) there were plenty of pigs, sheep, various birds, cows, and humans. All the non homo-sapien animals were very calm and quiet among the energy and confusion of the biggest Sunday market in Southern Ecuador. The pigs were the one exception. All of the porks were well aware that fate is a whore. They were screaming, and pulling at their leashes (2 or 3 people per pig) trying their best to escape, or at least prolong. It was somehow more affecting than a slaughterhouse.
Anyway, everyone enjoy dinner, and keep in touch.
Adam
Saturday, March 04, 2000 3:02 PM