December 31, part 3

After arriving at the hacienda, a shower was the first order of business. Hor d'oerves weren’t til 6, then dinner at 10, with the countdown and puppet burning at midnight, along with some fireworks.

Lots of pre-drinking since there were a few free cocktails, and beers were $1.50. I had some drink I could never remember how to say, made with a local liquor. Hor d’oerves were a lot of bread and goat cheeses, as well as some meat on a stick (carne!).




Then I decided a nap was in order if I wanted to make it through the evening’s festivities. Woke up after an hour or so and dressed. Enjoyed a few glasses of wine, some dancing, and then our meal.

music


artistic pool shots




Ashley was brilliant and brought New Years tiaras


the table settings


party favors (which includes a bag of 12 grapes, that you are supposed to eat during the countdown, but which everyone practiced with beforehand, some technique where you bounce it off your hand and catch it in your mouth….so we never really got a chance to eat them on the countdown)


The meal started with smoked salmon.


then a turkey in ginger gravy, vegetables, and pork loin in another gravy.


we also passed around a bottle of some Peruvian liquor that Frank had picked up in his pre-travels, and everyone took shots of that


dessert also provided several choices, a flan, sorbet, and another custard type thing.


some people had their masks


there were a few toasts


a homemade bomb someone had bought earlier at the fireworks market




red and white vinos were available for our unlimited consumption. then we sorta started a dance party.


Margherita is a riot


this is mere seconds before my champagne glass was knocked out of my hand and crashed to the floor




we counted down (in spanish) to the vios anejos. then outside in the courtyard where our puppets had been set up for the flaming.







there was also a rather interesting scaffold contraption that was strapped with fireworks and put on a bit of a light show.










the puppet burning was, odd to say the least. but we doused with something (don't think it was gasoline, unless ecuadorian gasoline is really that weak) and kicked and prodded and lit our puppets.




a beautiful bonfire ensued.


then they brought out the homemade fireworks...some which managed not to go off, but we had a lot of fun anticipating explosions. So fun pictures.

Here’s a homemade bottle rocket launch


And then some pool playing and some dancing by the bar


About 12 of us decided to try out the hot tub. We had to ask them to open it for us. I must say, they’re very nice about accommodating people here. In the states you could never ask for the pool to be open later, or make someone get you beer from a closed bar. Ashley and I cut out early from the hot tub (around 3:30am) and as we were leaving the pool house, the security guard was carrying in a case of beer. We were in the courtyard when we heard the uproar brought on by its arrival. We think we’re going to be up for breakfast at 8am…but we’ll see. Read more!

December 31, part 2

Lunch at Crepes and Waffles. WAY better than I expected.




Shrimp and calamari salad which I didn’t eat, but of course photographed


a pepper steak crepe (my own)


other crepe options included ham and cheese with mushroom sauce…


Mexican crepe


Chocolate fondue dessert


Other dessert choices were a number of sorbet flavors, tiramisu, and banana splits.

Then on the way back to the hotel we bought puppets. These are the craziness. I explained some of this earlier, but my apologies to Freddy, my longtime Ecuadorian friend, if I happen to butcher his heritage. Basically they make these puppets (which would be more accurately described as dummies, as they have no real relation to what we consider puppets). They are typically stuffed with sawdust, and wear paper mache masks. They are supposed to represent the old year. And they get burned in a farewell to the old year. Most people also write up a will for these puppets, a list of things you are leaving to the old year (I bequeath that C in Econ, and the 15 extra lbs I’ve gained). The masks are often sold separately from the bodies, and represent a number of generic faces, but also a number of celebrities, most notably politicians.









this is mine! It has a spiderman/venom mask, and the body of a toddler.


they are selling these all over the place, in markets, and on the sides of the street



Then, after packing an overnight bag at the hotel, we drove out to hacienda San Jose.

Nice winding roads…that look over gorges.


The entrance, that our bus couldn’t fit through.


It’s a beautiful sprawling place.










They had all our puppets set up at the entrance, and the staff was making up stories about them






Courtyard was set up pretty for dinner


Next up are the crazy New Year’s Eve festivities. Read more!