Today as I was out and about in different parts of the city, I saw three different school parades. Girls were dressed up in the flounced, flowy coastal skirts in Guayaquil colors, and boys were dressed as Juan Pueblo.
Last year when I asked who Juan Pueblo was, all I understood was he's something of a mascot for the city. Kinda like this little guy for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.
The difference being that Juan Pueblo, unlike Izzy, is recognizably human. (I pledge to investigate Juan Pueblo further for your future enlightenment.)
Why all the fuss today? Because the 25th of July 1547 (or 1535, depending on who you ask) was the day Guayaquil was founded. And in true Ecuadorian style, ya gotta party all month leading up to the celebration date. It seems like every school and high school in the city had a parade today. One elementary school parade even had a cadre of young guerrilla warriors decked out in camo.
The high school behind my house put together a somewhat tamer presentation featuring a marching band.
I could hear them the whole time as they completed the circuit of side streets near the school, playing marching tunes and yelling "Que viva Guayaquil!"
Welcome to July.
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