Expat Life: Corpus Christi Festival in Cuenca, Ecuador

Cuenca’s annual Corpus Christi festival took place at the end of last month, but we’ve been so busy we’re just now getting around to telling you about it. Oh well, in “Ecuador time” we’re still early! 😉

When we say “annual” we mean annual. As in since 1557! Although Corpus Christi means “Body of Christ,” somehow over the years the sacramental bread transformed into candy.

LOTS of candy and other sweets. Like 117 booths with over 60 varieties. The booths were set up all around Parque Calderón in the historic center of Cuenca so we decided to stroll over and check it out.

We crossed the Tomebamba River that separates New Town where we live from El Centro. First we stopped for lunch at a great Mexican restaurant near the festivities.

Edd had the BIG burrito...

And Cynthia barely finished her chicken tacos. With all that food plus a side order of guacamole and lemonade the bill was about $16. Love it!

We walked through the recently renovated San Francisco Plaza on the way.

Here’s a sight you see all over town—hard-working indigenous locals selling delicious (and artistically stacked) fruit from wheelbarrows.

Cuenca’s famous flower market is right across the street from the New Cathedral which served as “Candy Central.”

And then there it all was. Row after row and booth after booth of every confection imaginable.

Melittologists (had to look that one up), scientists who study bees and are tracking a decline in the population, apparently aren’t aware that many of those little guys have retired to Ecuador. Looks like they’re living the good life here!

We didn’t stay for the evening shenanigans but want to close by sharing a few pics of fireworks that happen every night during the festival. Spectators are SO close it’s exciting and scary at the same time!