Yesterday was Culture/History and City Tour Day for the glimpsers and it was my first time being leader of the day. In the morning the Global Glimpse team traveled on a unique bus here in Ecuador. We traveled up a moutain in Cacha to be able to reach the town of Pucaratambo where the native Puruha people live.  In Pucaratambo, the Puruha people speak Spanish and their native language of Kichwa. And some are learning to speak English, too.

When we arrived at Pucaratambo, we met our tour guide Segundo. Segundo is one of the native Puruha people that live in Pucaratambo. We started our tour by entering a giant cement doorway called “Puerta del Sol”. We were very fortunate enough that we were also able to see the inti-rymi, which is a traditonal celebration that the Puruha do to give thanks to the sun. During the inti-rymi, the Puruha people would speak in their native language of Kichwa, play sounds through cow horns, sing, and then the people would place barley which the Puruha grow themselves as an offering to the sun. After watching the inti-rymi for a few minutes, Segundo took us to see the museum they have in Pucaratambo. In the museum Segundo talked about the harsh and abusive history that the Indigenous people had to face because of the government. As Segundo was talking about the Puruha people’s history, he introduced two very important people: Manuela Leon and Archbishop Fernando. These two people are very important to the independence and freedom of the Indigenous people. Maunela’s story is very interesting as she was the first woman to go against the government by attacking the tax collector that was abusing her and the other women in the town. Manuela poked the two eyeballs of the tax collector and then the rest of the women in the town beat the tax collector to death with sticks. Archbishop Fernando was the person that helped organize all of the Indigenous tribes in Ecuador. Archbishop Fernando was targeted by the government and even had a bounty on his head. Before his death he said a famous quote that gave the Indigenous peoole hope and is still a symbolic phrase to this day. The quote he said was “Tomorrow is our day”.

After touring the musem, Segundo and his family set up a Pambamesa for us, which is a type of meal in the Puruha culture. In this Pambamesa, students, GGLs, and PCs were able to try the local native food which consists of corn, potatoes, tomato and pepper mix, sweet corn, cheese, and cuy (guinea pig). The food was delicious and after eating, the glimpsers got back on the bus for a tour around the center of Riobamba.

*With Segundo in Pucaratambo

Interesting fact about Riobamba is that the current city wasn’t the original city. Due to an earthquake that happened in the 1700s, the people of Riobamba had to relocate to a new home, which is the current site of Riobamba today. In Riobamba the houses are beautiful and unique with each building having its own color and style. The roads are made of stones which give the city a nice and original style. In the city tour, the group visted four plazas. One plaza had a train station, one had a Neptune statue (the statue symbolizes Riobamba’s accomplishment of having running water), one was a main location for a food market and buying souvenirs, and the last one had a big statue and the main cathedral.

Today was a very fun and great learing experience for the whole group and we all had our fair share of fun. We can’t wait to see what is in store for us in the future!

Yupaychany (Thank you)!