| (Continued from Part-2)
Each evening of B.I.T.E, participants were treated to
parties and local entertainment. Friday night was
the inauguration of the B.I.T.E conference, attended by
the President of Ecuador among others. Later that
evening, there was a party for B.I.T.E. buyers, sellers,
and organizers, held at an art and cultural museum in
Cuenca. (Pictures are not available for those
events.)
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| Saturday evening,
there was a party for everyone held off of Calle
Larga. We rode all
over town by bus to get there - only to discover
that we were a block from our hotel - the Crespo!
At left: Music was provided
by a local
band. |
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| The entertainment
was provided by local performers. There
was a local band that played traditional and
popular songs - including the 1974 U.S. hit, Eres
Tu (Touch The Wind.)
At right: Traditional dance performed by a
local group.
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| There were
traditional dances performed by a local troop,
set to traditional Ecuadorian music - some
showing strong Celtic influence.
At the end of the party,
fireworks, which were strung up overhead and
around the crowd, were set off. All
warnings about the fireworks were in Spanish, so
those of us who spoke only English were on our
own. There was also a fireworks tower,
with pinwheels and other spark emitting
devices. (See photo at bottom of page.)
While this was going on, at least a dozen small,
hot-air balloons were released, one-by one, to float over the
city of Cuenca.
At left: Another
photo of the dancers. |
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| Sunday evening,
there was an party to celebrate the successful
conclusion of the 2002 B.I.T.E.
conference. guests were treated to an
Ecuadorian-styled barbeque. Traditional
local delicacies were served. The food was
prepared and served outdoors, with dining indoors.
During dinner, Gladys Eljuri
de Alvarez (President of B.I.T.E.) gave a speech
officially concluding the
conference. The speech was made in
Spanish and in English. For those of us
who don't speak Spanish - Many
thanks!
At right: A local
woman weaves a hat. Cuenca is a large
producer of woven hats - including the famous Panama
hats. |
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| After dinner,
there were fireworks and music provided by a
another local group of musicians. One of
the local traditions is a tower, perhaps 25 or
more feet
tall, encrusted with fireworks. We saw one
of these at the street party, the night
before. The various pinwheels, sparklers,
and flame emitting devices were set off,
accompanied by music provided by a local band
performing nearby. The particular music
appears to be a part of the tradition, as it
seemed to be the same as was performed during the
previous evening's fireworks.
At left: A tower of
fireworks ignited. |
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