Textures of Ecuador: A Pile of Bricks

I spotted this pile of bricks as we walked from the studio of Jose Cotacachi to Nanda Manachi, where we would learn to make traditional flutes.  Stacks of bricks were a pretty common sight in the Imbabura area, as were unfinished buildings made of cinder blocks.  I thought it would be cool to have Mr. Hunter pose on some bricks.   

Peguche, Ecuador

June 2011

In the Workshop of Master Weaver Jose Cotacachi

Mr. Hunter saw a master weaver at work when we visited the workshop of Jose Cotacachi.  Jose C, as he signs his tapestries, is well known in the area.  Check out this Christian Science Monitor article on one traveler's search for the real Jose Cotacachi.

We saw Jose C working on his loom... and I wished that we could purchase the hummingbird-themed tapestry he was weaving.  

Rest assured that we did not leave the showroom empty-handed.  I bought a small tapestry whose colors reminded me a bit of Paul Klee's work.  My mom and my brother each bought tapestries featuring the blue-footed booby birds that we'd be seeing in the Galapagos.  My nephew chose a penguin tapestry (penguins are also found in the Galapagos, by the way.)  And even though we were in close quarters, my brother even managed to plot with my mom to buy a scarf as a surprise for my sister-in-law.  

A Jose Cotacachi tapestry showing Galapagos creatures. 

Jose Cotacachi at work at his more modern loom.

Another weaver demonstrates
the older style of loom.

A much-coveted tapestry featuring Blue Footed Boobies.

Some of the items used to create the dyes for the wool.

Jose C

Here's a video of Jose Cotacachi at work:

I was tempted to get a hummingbird tapestry,
but the one I really wanted
was the one Jose C was still working on!

Mr. Hunter and another Galapagos-themed tapestry.

Somehow this tapestry's image reminded me of Paul Klee's art.

The Jose Cotacachi sign.

Studio of Jose Cotacachi

Peguche

Cotacachi, Ecuador

June 2011

A Bed of Corn

We stopped outside the workshop of master weaver Jose Cotacachi to learn about the many varieties of maize found in Ecuador.  Mr. Hunter felt that he belonged in this maize mix, too.

Our guide shows us how the purple corn
 has white flesh inside.

Cotacachi, Ecuador

June 2011

The Wooden Horse

Mr. Hunter stopped to make friends with this cute wooden horse

in the small central square of Peguche village.

One of my favorite photos from that day:
a kitten naps on a corrugated metal roof in Peguche.
This was after we'd walked from the village square to the path
up to the Peguche waterfall.  

Peguche, Ecuador

June 2011

The Peguche Waterfall

On the second day of our tour, we hiked up to the Peguche waterfall, 

an indigenous ceremonial site used for ritual baths before the Inti Raymi summer solstice festival.

We stopped to admire the view
as we hiked down to the Peguche village.

Walking on the muddy path near the waterfall.

Mr. Hunter poses in front of the higher bridge.

A video of the Peguche waterfall splashing down past the bridge:

                                                  

Cascada de Peguche

Peguche, Ecuador

June 2011

Two Heads in Ecuador

Mr. Hunter feels an affinity for other carved and sculpted heads.

Here's one -- the bust of a monk, presumably -- that he encountered at Hacienda Cusin.

Nice haircut!

Hacienda Cusin

Imbabura, Ecuador

June 2011

Molino San Juan

After visiting the equator, we drove further on the Pan American Highway to Molino San Juan, where we'd be having lunch.  Molino San Juan is an old grain mill in Cayambe.  

Mr.  Hunter introduces himself to some clay figures on a shelf at Molino San Juan. 

Mr. Hunter liked the colors on this door.

Sign as we drove up to Molino San Juan.

Before lunch, we were treated to a demonstration on how to make bizcochos, a biscuity, buttery sort of cookie that is quite popular in Cayambe.  Here's one traveler's blog post about bizcochos.

The bizcochos are served!

Molino San Juan's bizcochos recipe

Cutting the bizcochos

We saw many signs
advertising bizcochos in Cayambe.
This was my favorite one.

Some more places to find bizcochos...

Cute dog at Molino San Juan

Rooster and hens at Molino San Juan

Hacienda Molino San Juan

Cayambe, Ecuador

June 2011

People I Have Asked: Cristobal, The Equator Guy

Mr. Hunter in the hands of Cristobal, who gave us a presentation on the equator at the Quitsato Equatorial Sundial.

The world map
has been reoriented.

Here's a YouTube video showing a similar lecture by Cristobal on the Quitsato project.

Latitude 0°0’0”

Quitsato Equatorial Sundial

Cayambe, Ecuador

June 2011

In Balance on the Equator

Mr. Hunter found himself at the middle of the world 

when we visited the Quitsato sundial on the equator.

Mr. H wants to be the center of attention at the middle of the world.

Lotus pose on the equator.

Mr. Hunter aligns himself with the equator.

I'm standing in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

GPS proof that we're at 0°0’0”

Latitude 0°0’0”

Quitsato Equatorial Sundial

Cayambe, Ecuador

June 2011

Witness: Cotopaxi

On the short road from Hosteria La Cienega back to the Pan-American Highway, we came upon a lovely, wide view of the Cotopaxi volcano.  Throughout the day, Cotopaxi's snow-capped peak had been hidden mostly behind clouds, with occasional quick glimpses of the snow line.  

But the mountain still had such a presence for us.  It reminded me of Denise Levertov's wonderful poem, "Witness," which she wrote about another volcano: Mount Rainier in Washington.

Witness

Sometimes the mountain

is hidden from me in veils

of cloud, sometimes

I am hidden from the mountain

in veils of inattention, apathy, fatigue,

when I forget or refuse to go

down to the shore or a few yards

up the road, on a clear day,

to reconfirm

that witnessing presence.

Denise Levertov

The "witnessing presence" of Cotopaxi.

 Cotopaxi Volcano

Ecuador

June 2011