A Day at the Races

We joined some friends for a day in the park.  We were looking forward to  Burrow Races, Go Cart races and a Soccer game,

"Clowns vs. Indigenous Women".

The Burrow races were scheduled to start at 10:30. 

Well, it is Ecuador, so at 11:00, when there wasn't a single Burrow in sight,  we strolled through the park.  It is the largest park in Cuenca, Parque El Paraiso. 

We pulled up a bench for a rest.

The flora is beautiful

This little girl adored Seamus and wanted to walk him, she kept telling him to "Caminar" (spanish for walk), and when he would stop to sniff or look around she would demand that he "Vamos".   Too funny.

At one point when everyone was watching the little girl in the white dress walking Seamus, her older sister, in the pink dress, wandered off.  The Mom was pretty panicked, our friend Wally and the Mom fanned out, they both noticed her at the same time.  She had gone off to go play on a slide. 

The Burrows finally showed up.

These guys were having fun taking turns getting on the burrows and having their pictures taken.  Smiles everywhere.

The Go-Cart race went off first.  One guy steered and one guy pushed.  The track is pretty big so about half way around when the guy pushing got tired, they swapped positions.

 This team didn't even have a steering wheel for their Cart. 

He just held on for dear life. 

These blow up toys are sold at every parade and event.

Vendors were selling balloons, munchies, and toys.

"AND THEY'RE OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

The Burrow Races finally started at 12:30.  It was HYSTERICAL.  The burrows were definitely the ones in charge.  They were going every which way, if they didn't feel like going straight, they didn't!!! 

This burrow just slammed to a halt.  He wasn't going any further and

the poor rider was exhausted.  The race was several laps long!!

Notice the vendor guy, everyone was laughing like crazy, including the rider!!!

This guy gave up riding the beast, and just walked him.

El Diablo riding a burrow!!

As you can see from the pictures, the sky was really clouding up and we were in for a downpour, so we decided to head home.  We were bummed that we would miss the Clowns v. Indigenous Ladies.  Just as we got home, the skies opened up and it rained like crazy.  We are pretty sure the soccer game was canceled.  We keep looking through the paper hoping for a mention of the rescheduling of the match!!   So far, no luck.

Cuenca's version of the Kentucky Derby!!