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Vilcabamba Glimpse #28

Carnivale, The Equestrian Events

Carnivale in Vilcabamba, is a festival that runs nearly non-stop from about Thursday evening through Tuesday evening. Many people come to Vilcabamba for the festivities associated with Carnivale. All hotels (hosterias) are sold out.

There are many events associated with Carnivale as well as music and dancing in the streets into the wee hours of the morning.

One of the main events each year are the horse competitions. Horses are brought to Vilcabamba from all over Loja Province and beyond. The judges were from Peru.

This event is held in Vilcabamba's outdoor stadium (also used for fútbol, i.e., soccer). As an aside, there is also a gymnasium associated with this facility.

The equestrian events took place yesterday, Sunday, February 18, 2007. In the evening, after the conclusion of the equestrian events, more than 60 of the participants had a wonderful dinner at our ranch, Hacienda San Joaquin.

The attached photos will give you a flavor of the well-attended equestrian events. The white outfits the riders wear are traditional and are seen at all horse competitions (that I've been t to, i.e. three).

Photo 5315: Judges speaking to the riders in one category of competition.

Photo 5316: Riders putting their horses through their paces. The second horse, Rocky, is one of mine. Notice the attractive home in the background and the some of the beautiful hills that surround Vilcabamba.

Photo 5321: Another category of competition. Again, notice the attractive hills and mountains that surround the town.

Photo 5322: My friend, Wilson, riding Zamorano, one of my horses.

Photo 5324: Another view of the activities. The two small tents are for the judges and the Carnivale queen who awards the trophies.

The photos:

Best, Joe

Joe Simonetta
Owner/Architect
Hacienda San Joaquin
Vilcabamba, Ecuador


P.S. International Living named Ecuador "The Best Place in the World to Retire" http://www.haciendasanjoaquin.com/best_in_the_world.html