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Pichincha / Imbabura |
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Ibike Ecuador |
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Dispatch
6 - Cotacachi |
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This group of Inty Raymi merrymakers was marching
and dancing up the street about a half mile from the central square as we came
into Cotacachi. |
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On this evening the men were dancing in
the square (alcohol is involved.) Rumor has that occasionally things get
out of hand as rival contingents go after one another by trying to beat each
other over the head. The hats they were are actually very hard to protect
the head. Not accidentally, there was also a significant police presence
at each corner of the square. We heard that the night before they had used tear
gas to breakup a disturbance. Everything was peaceful |
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Left: Typical street in the center of
Cotacachi. It has mixed commercial and residential use. Right: Main square in
Cotoacachi. |
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Left: Matriz Cathedral at one end of the main
square, topped by a towering Jesus. Right: Statues of Modesto Peñaherrera
(educator) and Simon Bolivar (liberator) in front of city hall
at the other end of the main square. |
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Left: Typical street just outside of
the commercial center of Cotacachi. Right: Wall mural on ecology and
environmental protection. |
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Cotacachi has a pleasant health level
of bicycle traffic, especially in the morning when parents take there children
to school and friend porter friends around town by two-wheel transport. Below:
A man with limited mobility with his hand-powered tri-cycle. |
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Cotacachi was the winner of the
Participative Democracy, Dubai 2000 prize, which is given to a city that has:
“One of the most sound environmental, social and economic practices in its local
government.” And, the winner of 2002 UNESCO "City of Peace" award. City Budget:
37% goes towards environmental cleanup; 22%, towards education; and, 28%,
towards social development. |
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 Women's
day at the festival of Inty Raymi (San Pedro and San Juan) |
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It is not a festival without
food (fried bread, roasted pig, meat & potatoes, roasted corn, salad, parfait,
etc.). Fortunately, in the ratio of culture to food and
 other booths, culture
overwhelmingly dominated. And the food that was available tended to be more
nutritional than found at most North American fairs. |
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Women's
day at the festival of Inty Raymi (San Pedro and San Juan)
other booths, culture
overwhelmingly dominated. And the food that was available tended to be more
nutritional than found at most North American fairs.
