The amazing lady responsible for my finger still being with us today. We all love her and think she is great and beautiful!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Marcha de Natalia Emme Bedoya
A young woman, Naty Emma Bedoya, a bit younger than I, was hit by a government vehicle carrying the wife of the attorney general of the state a few weeks ago. There is controversy of the horrific death of Naty, because witnesses of the crime claim that the wife of the attorney general was driving this car. The car was driving in the special lane designated for public transportation, so that in itself was an illegal act. After Naty was hit the woman switched with a body guard and claimed she was not driving the car. In police reports, whoever made the statement, I am a bit unclear of this, said they didn't think they hit a person, but claimed to have thought it was a dog they hit. She ended up being dragged 50 or so meters by the SUV, and was declared dead on the scene. Allegedly there is video surveillance that is being with held at this time, but the wife has already been cleared by the state. A march was held last week, the first of what appears to be several, to call for justice of the crime and to call for the resignation of the attorney general. It was also a plead to people everywhere that do not receive the justice they deserve due to governmental corruption. I have attached a few links, which can be translated in google translator, if you are interested in reading more about this.
Naty's sister (middle) at the march.
Naty's mother at the march.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Hey Slacker!!! Need a hand with that!?!
Hi all! I know I have not posted anything in quite sometime. You see I have a kind of good reason. As most of you know, on New Years eve at about 5:30/6 in the morning, I decided to try and blow my hand off with an intense local firework called a papa. It was about the equivalent of a quarter stick of dynamite, and it blew up close to me. I lit the fuse and threw it right away, and good thing I got rid of it before it exploded. Because of that, I got super lucky and kept all my digits and even better, my hand. When it happened, I was stoked to have all the time to catch up on photo work, but as the days flew by, all my motivation to do stuff flew alongside of them. Slowly but surely, as my hand healed, so did my laziness. This week I have been back in action, editing photos, backing things up, and I even went out and shot for the first time since the accident on Tuesday. Now that I am sufficiently caught up, I look forward to getting back out there and capturing more images of the world around me. Simultaneously, I got my last bandage off today, and begin physical therapy to work on bending my fingers in a week. The following images are from New Years and the day before the holiday. I consider Ecuadorian New Years to be a pleasant mixture of New Years (duh, obviously), Halloween, and the 4th of July. It combines all my favorite elements from each of these holidays in one tightly wrapped present. It contains the drunken camaraderie of New Years with the costumes of Halloween and throws a few explosives on top! This is also forgetting to mention the huge metal show held in the south of the city every New Years eve!!! All in all, a super celebration! Even if it ended up with me almost losing an appendage.
New Years ROCKS!
Fun little statues are found all around the city. They come in a form like these or more doll like or are homemade. They are called ano viejos, because at midnight they are burned to signify the burning of the old year and the welcoming of the new one.
Traditional masks like these are being sold everywhere the days leading up to the new year.
Another Ecuadorian new year tradition is eating 12 grapes and making 12 wishes for the upcoming 12 months just before midnight. Allegedly you are supposed to eat the 12 grapes in the last 12 seconds of the old year.... but that is so hard! You try eating 12 grapes in 12 seconds!!
An ano viejo on a car, a common sight close to the holiday.
I bought some fireworks from this lady. Not THE firework. I unfortunately don't have any images of either the firework or the lady who sold it to me.
Some brothers waiting for their father to get his shoes shined. The one kid was being shy and didn't want to be in the photo.
These kids snuck up on me and were really excited when I told them to get in the shot!
More ano viejos.
A super awesome firework kit! I wanted it. WAAAAAY out of my price range! Probably a good thing.
Cute vendor lady with a knife through her head!
How am I NOT supposed to blow my hand up!!! I got one of the ones on the left and it was pretty intense! Not anywhere as intense as the papa though!
New years eve! On the way to the METAL SHOW!
This guy was cool. I was taking pictures of just the ano viejo and he practically chased me to get me to take this photo! I was more than happy to oblige.
This was taken at La Concha, Or Al Sur Del Cielo, or South of Heaven, the annual ECUAMETAL show on New Years Eve.
La concha!
Getting into the New Years festivities, metal style!
I love this mask. I want two hanging on my wall. We overheard this kids nickname was Pollo!
Lightning bolt. Need I say more? I didn't think so.
Cutest family ever! The girl had a Black Sabbath shirt and the boy a Brujeria shirt! The dad was off getting beer, so unfortunately he is not pictured.
COLAPSO!
These kids had the cutest puppy. It is not looking at the camera. :(
Outside the show. Fiestaing on the street!
Goro dancing with a viuda, a widow of the old year.
Hey baby.
Costume on Amazonas, a huge street in Quito that gets closed down for a massive party showcasing huge floats and the sweetest costumes.
Freddy Kruger
This guy won my most amazing costume prize. Not too elaborate, but amazing nonetheless!!
Goro with the ano viejo we made and burned.
Burning 2009.
Rafa clown.
Denise's bad ass shoes!
This is how I ended my night/started my year. In the emergency room getting stitched up. You know how I wanted to buy all those fireworks? I am glad I didn't because I don't ever want to light anything more powerful than a sparkler for the rest of my life. I like my deformed fingers, and can't wait until they bend again. Love you all, and remember!!! FIREWORKS ARE DANGEROUS!!!
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