Dinner and Dancing at Las Palmeras

When the spring health care volunteer group came through, they stayed at Las Palmeras, which is a beautiful nearby inn. On one of the last nights, Anna invited our whole family to come to dinner and to see Vicente's band play (Vicente is Anna's host father, and a wonderful person and asset to the foundation). Dinner was delicious, and the kids had a fun time at a fancy place with actual napkins and required table manners. 















Here is Vicente's band. They play a mix of traditional songs, some with lyrics and some without. I was pleasantly surprised at some of the great harmony they produced.















Along with the music came the dancing. Jorie was stoked and was one of the first to her feet. The typical dance at parties in Otavalo is a kind of shuffling around movement. Not really that technical or difficult. I'm not sure how it developed, but considering the amount of alcohol that is regularly consumed at parties around here (and the fact that they go on for days), I imagine it is just the most people can do after heavily inebriated.















Here is Vicente, having a great time. He is one of the most happy people we met down there. He simply enjoys life.