Carnaval

So I forgot to add something to yesterday´s post. I know I mentioned Carnaval but I guess I did not adequately explain what goes on here in Puerto Lopez. Well, the tradition is to soak unexpecting passersby with water. So every night there are little boys hiding behind bushes with buckets of water and water guns waiting to soak anyone who happens along the sidewalk. Last night, it was raining outside but that didn´t stop the little boys from standing by with their buckets. We were leaving a restaurant after dinner and walking back to the hostal. I noticed one boy call over to his buddy to alert him that three gringas were walking his way. I caught the kid in the act of being an accomplice to a soaking and he looked at me coyly and insisted that we continue on our path. Hallye jumped out into the street and attempted to make a run for it but three boys attacked her, one jumping on her and hitting her on the head while the other two got her with the buckets. I waited in the shelter of a food stand and watched with enjoyment. Then I thought I would try to be sneaky and make a run for it while they were preoccupied with Hallye but one kid was fast enough to make it to the water puddle and fill it up just in time to get me in the back with muddy water.

Tomorrow we are heading back to the highlands for the fruit and flower festival in Ambato. Then we will go to Cuenca, Vilcabamba, and then make our way to Peru.
Katie