Being an extremely Catholic country, Easter is not merely a day in Ecuador but rather an entire week.
There is a tradicional dish that literally EVERYONE in Ecuador eats during the week (but mostly on Good Friday) called Fanesca. mmmmm... it was good let me tell you. It actually has a really neat significance as well. In the dish, which takes forever to prepare, there are 12 different types of grain representing the 12 disciples of Christ and fish which symbolizes Jesus himself.
Good Friday there were no classes so my friend Theresa and I went around and explored all of the many cathedrales in the center of town. Catherdrales are literally the only places open during Good Friday and Easter... all else of the city shuts down. It was almost erier how quiet the normally noisey city streets were. It seems that there is mass all day long every day throughout ¨holy week¨. Each cathedral is packed up and down the aisles. Lines form in order to go up and touch the cross at the front the cathedral.
Saturday, which they called the Saturday of Glory, I was able to roam around the festivities... watch the parades of children from all the many different schools in Cuenca. Later that night, Theresa and I attempted to cook pizza for her host family. I say attempted because it ended up being consumed more like a casarole haha... Theresa and I kiiind of forgot to grease the pan. However, despite the fact that it was a disater, her family was very gracious and kept saying ¨que rico!¨... meaming how delicous...as they consumed the very little amount of pizza that was eatable (sp?)
Pascua (Easter) was awesome. Theresa and I went with her family to one of the few noncatholic churches in the town. It seems to be a rather new church .. started by missionaries i believe... and had an extremely passionate and lively congregation. and surprisingly, i could even understand the sermon haha. Afterwards, we all went to the country together to pick veggies for dinner.
chow!
