Birds on hats

It's been quite a while since my last post. It's been a month and a half since dad died and I'm still getting used to the idea, and to this new city. I've been working and haven't been able to go birding, but I wanted to share with you a bit of the birds I actually saw.

June is a month of celebration in this city, starts with Corpus Christi and goes on and on until Inti Raymi (Festivital of the Sun) arrives.

This is a curious city, it mixes Christian/Catholic rites with Incan Festivities. It's a wild time with lots of people on the streets and groups of dancers performing for the crowd, the saints, the sun and God.

I loved these guys:


With white masks and whips (personifying the Spaniards that came to "colonize" centuries ago), but dressed up with all sorts of symbols from the Andean world (rainbow colours, nature representations embroderied on their hats called "monteras", Andean camelids, etc.)


They "fight", although it is more like a duel to show who's best with the whip.


They look proud and beautiful.

The Ukukus are also great. Ukuku means "bear" in Quechua, the language of the Incas. These Ukukus wear black masks and usually tease the dancers and the audiences, they are funny and get lot of cheering from the crowds. These ones were pulling a small truck while dancing freely on the streets.


Andean people respect nature, they represent it in many ways...


... like in these "montera", mountains, dolphins, sun...


... or this butterfly...


... others prefer birds...


... which helped with my need for birds!


Colourful parrots and patterns brightening up my day!!!


And even a Cock-of-the-rock to cheer me up :)


This is a new city (to me!), with traditions that I used to read about but never experienced myself...



... new experiences that make me smile (like these birdies here, or is it just me??)


I'm getting used to this city, letting the excitement and the colour invade my soul (at least until I can go birding for real birds!)


It's not easy, but it helps.


I plan to go birding this Sunday, wish me good luck!