PEOPLE WATCHING

President Rafael Correa visited Jama – August 09, 2014

Jama Ecuador (Manabi Province)

Last Saturday when I was running a new water line to the kitchen sink, a friend stopped by with a message, “Lisa, President Correa will be speaking in Jama at ten o’clock this morning.”   Abandoning my task, I focused on getting to town in time to witness the event!

A neighbor was harvesting a shrimp pond, and I pondered the opportunity to photograph the birds.As I continued my trek to town, the wood storks and President Correa’s helicopter rewarded me with a unique photo!

Five minutes later, the owner of the pond gave me a ride to town, and I took one grand total-immersion step into the crowd.

Click your heels together…

Those red shoes might steal the show from the President!

Step into the scene and join me in a people-watching session:

(In town, Pato calls me, ‘Hello-How-Are-You?”)

Surely this was a record-breaking turnout;  mixed into the sea of faces were many of my friends and peers.

Many know him as a fisherman from El Matal, but I call him, “Maestro,” as he is a very talented painter.

 

She said, “Lisa.. why don’t you go inside and sit with the officials? They have room for you there…” I smiled and thanked her and said that I was enjoying watching from many places…

Had I sat beneath the tent, I would have missed images like this! (Do you need a hat for your next outing?)

 

President Correa gave a 3-hour summary about positive improvements to different provinces throughout the country.  Photo presentations illustrated the high points of his speech, from continued improvements to schools, medical facilities, construction and festivals.   I did not hear him address the dilemma of the vanishing beaches/ potential loss of properties.  Hopefully he toured El Matal before leaving Jama.

 

My favorite photographer, who almost got in trouble for flirting with the gringa!

Those who were able to stay until the end were rewarded with a finale of candids…

I am using the very-slow USB internet, and we lost power about fifteen minutes ago, so I am going to hit “Publish” before the battery dies!

When the presentation was finished, the crowds quickly scattered, the police forces boarded their buses, and within fifteen minutes, the stage crew was dismantling and loading the portable auditorium onto the trucks.

Happy weekend, everyone!

Z