Celebrating In Ecuador

Well, the Fourth of July just isn't the same down here in Ecuador, but we are doing our best to bring a little bit of USA into our dinner tonight with some hamburgers and french fries. We did, however, have the opportunity to celebrate yesterday after Spain's victory in the World Cup.

We decided last minute to go watch the game at our "favorite restaurant" which is a quaint little place run by a Spanish fellow and his Ecuadorian wife. The main reason it's our favorite restaurant is that they actually made an effort to give it some ambiance. As far as food goes here in Loja, we don't have a "favorite" place. This restaurant is unique is pub-style decor and good lighting. Most restaurants hang a bulb in the middle of the room and call it good. Not even a lamp shade. They actually have small lamps on each table. Well, the main reason we headed there yesterday was because we knew that they would have the game on and be rooting full tilt boogie for España.

The owner and her kids.

So we arrived at about 1:30 to find the entire family including their 18 month old son, wearing Spain jerseys, and the restaurant draped in Spanish flags. David was playing the Spanish fight song through his ridiculously loud stereo and blowing on some type of noise maker. We ate our always surprisingly cheap and filling $2 almuerzo (3 courses plus a drink) and watched the game from our table.

After the game. The picture is blurry for obvious reasons.

At half-time a group of Spain fans showed up and started buying beers. Then the game started getting crazy, and the owners started pouring drinks. Everytime something good happened David turned the fight song on so the whole neighborhood could hear. After Spain won, the dancing and flag waving began. We all downed shots of ouzo and chanted the fight song. Then, everytime we tried to leave, the fans at the other table would set another beer in front of us and make us toast. It was great fun and an excellent way to spend a Saturday afternoon.