Even got to see Allie again (on my right)!!!!!!! Her indigenous women’s health research seems to be going very well with her host family in Otavalo. Everyone just got back from celebrating La Festival de Mama Negra in Latacunga, an hour South of Quito.
Mama Negra: occurs twice a year and is a mix between indigenous, Spanish, and African influence. People flock to city of Latacunga where streets are blocked for insane parades. People dress up in colorful renditions or cultural and historic figures and cleanse one another with herbs and alcoholic beverages which are essentially spit on you as they pass by. La Mamá Negra finally finishes the 5 hour parade (usually a cross dresser often in black face) riding on a horse and spraying the onlookers with milk. Parties continue on the streets throughout the night.
Beauties (Allie=left, Margot=right)