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Expat Life: Sunday Surprises in Cuenca, Ecuador

It's never a surprise anymore that unexpected things happen around here. The surprise is finding out what's next. Case in point: this morning we look out the window and see a race happening down our street.

There was another race a few weeks ago so no big deal for us. But gotta ask...how often do races go by your window?

Then during brunch we hear music in the direction of a park across the street from our building. Not salsa or hip-hop for a change. Religious sounding music. H-m-mlet's go investigate.

Sure enough, there's a big stage set up

and the park is packed.

You may be wondering, "What's up with all the coats and puffy jackets?" Remember, it's winter here (although for us North Americans it only feels a little chilly). 

This turns out to be a full-on Catholic service with even communion being taken.

So maybe there was a tie-in with the earlier race. "Jogging for Jesus?" Now you language purists may be thinking, "That can't be right. The J in Spanish is pronounced like the H in English." OK, then how about "Hogging for Hey-Soos!"

Yep, this shindig is going on all day (and probably into the night), the congregation's gotta eat, and the locals love their pork!  The menu also includes a different kind of pig. Guinea pig, "cuy" in Spanishan Ecuadorian delicacy.

Or as Edd calls it"pet on a stick." YIKES! A little grim but we're guests here and can't get all judgy. To keep the little ones busy there are two bouncy houses

and a makeshift video arcade for the older kids.

Honestly, how cool and interesting is stuff like this? All part of the fun of living in a foreign country!

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