A Fairy-Tale Wedding Reception (Hacienda Guachala)

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Hacienda Guachala, jonathan hall wedding, Roses at wedding, Wedding Reception at Guachala, Weddings in Ecuador

Ready to go to a fairy-tale reception?

(Cayambe Ecuador) Climb aboard the wedding-party bus!  We’ll drive about three kilometers from the Mitad de Mundo site (of the wedding) to Hacienda Guachala, one of my favorite places in the Andes.

Elvis leads the way.. Have any of you ever been to Hacienda Guachala?

An injection of humor contributes to the BEST bus ride EVER!

Ahhh; I know where we are, and the entrance is a magical one!  Ladies and gentlemen, I proudly present to you, Hacienda Guachala!

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A Wedding on the Line of the Equator!

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Cayambe Ecuador, Ecuador Expat Journeys, Hacienda Guachala, jonathan hall wedding, Mitad del Mundo, wedding in ecuador

Several months ago, my friend, Jonathan Hall, invited me to attend his wedding and said that it would be at the Mitad del Mundo and Hacienda Guachala.

“Are you serious?” I replied, “That’s one of my favorite places in the country! I love Guachala!”

This past weekend, friends and I basked in the beauty of a unique wedding that we’ll never forget.  Equally memorable was the outpouring of love as we witnessed this beautiful event.  Because Jonathan has a travel agency and often works with tours, he provided a special bus for out-of-town guests. Our tour-director groom gave us several chuckles as we traveled from Quito to Cayambe.

This post will show the prelude to the actual wedding.   Climb aboard and join us as we await the arrival of the bride!

Flowers, flowers and more flowers… Why not, since this area of Ecuador produces a large percentage of the world s flowers!  (See:  Ecuador Trivia)

Details, details!

A Blurrrr of Smoke and Roses!

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Castillo Fireworks, Cayambe Ecuador, Daily Prompt Blur, Hacienda Guachala, Weddings in Ecuador

Worthy of a place in Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude, this ‘Castillo” provided a unique show of fireworks!

(Cayambe Ecuador) – This week’s Daily Prompt nudges us to “find beauty in a blur.”  There were many photos from Saturday night’s wedding reception that were a bit blurred, and I suspect that some of these might give you a smile!

Rabbit Rabbit Once More

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Hacienda Guachala, holy week in ecuador, nicaragua canal, rabbit rabbit, troubles with wordpress, wordpress new editor vs classic

(Ecuador) Otavalo Market – Rabbits

Late last night as I was painting, I remembered we were approaching another Rabbit-Rabbit Day, and I visualized writing a post with a picture of a rabbit.   (See Rabbit Rabbit May Day.)  

While guests were sleeping, I painted this ginger in the breakfast room of Hotel Andino in Quito. (No, I did not drink four bottles of wine!)

Because I painted late, and because I get weary arguing with the WordPress ‘Improved’ Write-New-Post options, I selected slumber over writing this post.

Timeout for Art: Learning to See

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Agaves, Cayambe Ecuador, Hacienda Guachala, Timeout for Art Learning to See

“Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing.” Camille Pissarro

Hacienda Guachala, the oldest hacienda in Ecuador, provides endless subject matter, especially when the early-morning sun warms the gardens.  Although dramatic shadows showcased the architecture of the two churches, my attention wavered to the subtle voice of the agaves.

Agave Study – Watercolor – Copyright Lisa Brunetti

Walk with me through the gardens, and hopefully you’ll agree with my choice for this (above) watercolor study.

I is for Iglesia – Church

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Churches, Cuenca Churches, Frizztext Story Challenge I, Guaranda, Hacienda Guachala, Iglesias of Ecuador, Ingapirca, old churches Ecuador

Extra announcement cards for the Mola Series opened doors as we traveled!

A few lovely Ecuadorian iglesias move into the spotlight for Frizztext’s story alphabet this week.   In Guayaquil, this petite chapel shares a sweeping view with a lighthouse on Santa Ana Hill near the Malecon 2000 on the Guayas River.  Let’s take a look!

Story Alphabet “R, S & T”

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ceibo trees, Commercial Rose Production, Frizztexts Story Challenge T, Hacienda Guachala, spotted skunk

Fashionably behind on Frizztext’s story challenges, I scanned my old posts and wondered how to catch up on the letters R, S and T.

One early post reflects a two for one for the letters S & T!  I am magically transported back to a Carl-Sagan night when I view images taken from Hank and Marie Groff’s home in Costa Rica.   We gawked skyward in awe as the moon changed moods from hour to hour.      The Solstice Eclipse pairs the eclipse images with qutoes from Thoreau.

Windows of Hacienda Guachala

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early morning light, Hacienda Guachala, Hacienda Guachala Ecuador, Thursday's Windows, Views from windows, views of windows

The ‘younger’ of two churches at Hacienda Guachala, Cayambe Ecuador

Window images have always fascinated me, and by participating in  “Thursday Windows,” I will be sharing some of my favorites!!  Take an early-morning walk with me and explore Hacienda Guachala, the oldest hacienda in Ecuador!

ESCAPE TO THE ANDES & THE MIDDLE OF THE WORLD!

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Escape Vacations, Hacienda Guachala, Hacienda Guachala Ecuador, Let's Be Wild Photo Challenge - Escape, Mitad del Mundo, Quinoa Farm, Rose Production for Export, The Equator

Resident llamas at Hacienda Guachala, Ecuador

My friends, Hank and Marie Groff, escaped their responsibilities in Costa Rica and flew to Ecuador this past week.  After two days and nights in the cosmopolitan city of Quito, we journeyed along the line of the equator to the oldest hacienda in the country.  Hacienda Guachala stole my heart years ago, and I was pleased to return with my friends.

The old chapel, built in 1580 on an ancient Incan temple, invites one to ponder what ghosts might still linger in the shadows.

One’s imagination easily wanders in these fairy-tale gardens, where one wonders what surprise awaits around the next bend.

“Q” is for a Quinoa Farm!

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Cayambe, Ecuador, Frizztext Story Challenge Q, Hacienda Guachala, Latitude 0, llamas, quinoa, Quinoa in fields, rose production

Trekking across quinoa fields near Cayambe Ecuador

While staying at Hacienda Guachala near latitude 0 in Ecuador’s Andes, Hank & Marie Groff and I toured a rose production center as well as a quinoa farm a few mornings ago.   The pastoral landscape soothed our senses as we journeyed through the Andean countryside, far off the beaten path.

How can one have a bad day when views like this soothe the senses?

Who forgot to close the gate?!

Disconnect from your worries and go with us!  We need someone to help with the gates!