The first
order of business in preparing for New Years in Salinas ( or anywhere else in
Ecuador) is the buying of effigies (or monigotes or munecos in Spanish) which
are to be burned at midnight on New
Year’s Eve. The link below explains some of the beliefs.
My friend
Lauri and I set out to find suitable ones for our New Year’s party. Along the
main road leading into Salinas, there were many many for sale.
There were
small ones
And tall
ones
And very
interesting ones
We finally
settled on ours.
While taking
the local bus home with our effigies, many people on the bus shook our hands
and were so happy that these two gringas were joining in their traditional
custom.
New Year’s
Eve day was bright and sunny. The beach in the morning was relatively empty but
many carpas and umbrellas were ready and waiting for the hordes of people
coming to party in Salinas.
This little
beach town of 50,000 people was expecting over 500,000 visitors for New Years! Here
is a photo of what the main malecon looked like on New years Eve.
This year we
were going with a group of friends to Lars & Lauri’s condo two floors up
from ours and overlooking Chipipe Beach plus with a great view of the main
beach on the malecon.
Lots of good
friends
And effigies
waiting to burn
The
fireworks were amazing- starting around 8AM and all along Chipipe Beach, the
main beach and as far away as la Libertad- we could see it all, and it went on
for hours!
Shortly
after midnight, Uwe carried our effigy downstairs in order to throw it on the
bonfire already lit and burning many
others.
The huge
bonfire
Celebrating
a successful throw
Our condo building
seen from the beach with everyone watching from their balconies
We watched
the fireworks for several more hours finally going back to our apartment around
3AM and passing out. The festivities went on until the morning- even ear plugs
could not drown out the noise!
The party
goers in the condo next door were still dancing to loud music at 9AM in the
morning.
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