Nothing says "It's the end of the world!! (Just kidding)" like a display of fireworks. Well, I assume that's why there were fireworks tonight. But this is Tena, Ecuador. We have random firework shows about once a month. The last time it happened, we were on the way home from the main grocey store at about 8p.m. We stood frozen on the corner with our heavy shopping bags with the kids squealing each time one went really high and dazzly. The only reason we could come up with for a fireworks show was that it was a Thursday and the weather was nice. Today is Friday and the sky is nice and clear also. But today must be more special than that, because I ran into a couple of parades today and a brass band that set up a stage in the middle of a side-street diverting all traffic to the other street where the parades where happening.
Anyway, I really want this blog to be geared more towards foreigners who are wanting to move here, so I'll try to be as insightful as possible. First of all, those who have been keeping up with my restaurant list, you'll be pleased to know that Iguana is up and running again for business. They are located in Bella Vista bajo across from the park and now offer indoor seating as well. This is the best burger joint in town and also has a few other items apparently never heard of before in Tena, such as nachos.
Secondly, for those of you who celebrate Navidad, I should put in a few words here about how to have a proper non-white Christmas here in the jungle. Let's go over it step by step: If you are not wearing a santa hat 45 days in advance as you run your everyday errands, please back up and redo these steps. If you are determined to have a Christmas tree, better go cut one yourself from the jungle. A banana tree might do nicely. I have never seen a Christmas tree sold here in Tena. If you want your banana tree to be decorated, have your old ones shipped from your home-country. Decorations here are far and few between and expensive. Now the good part: gifts. Super Tia, our main grocery store, is the place to buy gifts for your loved ones. Forget oversized sweaters and Itunes gift cards. Head to Tia to buy (and I'm not joking here) a large 20 gallon tuperware filled to the brim with foodstuffs. Noodles, cans of tuna, cookies, cooking oil, instant coffee, jelly. You know, items you might need if it were, let's say, the end of the world. This will set you back about $19.99 and covers all ages, genders, and relationships. Christmas Eve in Tena should be spent in a karaoke bar that has the music up loud enough to drown out the firework blasts outside.
