"HOW MUCH FURTHER" "Esperanza del Carmen Sánchez Cruz" "Registered as being born in Barcelona on May 11th 1979" "Daughter of Candid and Grace veterinary and telephone operator, both of Andalusian descent" "Weight at birth: 4 kilos" "Age of first period:" "Twelve years old" "Most relevant family pathologies:" "Maternal grandmother diabetic" "Father with chronic depression, suffered a fatal heart attack at age 61" "Best known among her friends as Espe" "Her grandparents used to call her "Baby" and her father "Carmensa"" " Hi!" " Hi!" "WELCOME TO ECUADOR" "These people are really something, aren't they?" "Well, yes" "How much do I owe you?" "That'll be fifteen" "Fifteen?" "But according to the meter it's eight, isn't it?" "Yes ma'am, but you came out from the international terminal" "Gosh ma'am, you wouldn't have a five-dollar bill?" "It's that I don't have any change" "But you won't fuss over five dollars, right?" "You earn so much money over there anyway" "Over there where?" "In Spain ma'am I could tell right away you were from there" "And who told you we earn so much in Spain?" "Oh, my uncle, my cousin, my godmother" "I've got plenty of family in Murcia, you know?" "Well, that might be in Murcia but in Barcelona we earn our money just like you, working 40 hours a week" "Forty hours you say That's nothing!" "Well well What a rip off man" "What do you say?" "Rip off?" "Rip off is what my brother gets paid for picking broccoli the whole year long" "My uncle was right, you can't be too careful with Spaniards they took away the Inca's treasures in the past and now they come thinking everything's cool!" "See you there!" "Marianita de Jesus is considered the author of the famous maxim which anticipates that "Ecuador will not disappear due to earthquakes but due to bad governments"" "But that's absurd because in those days Ecuador didn't exist as a country yet" "What people did say about governments in those days was:" ""Long live the King of Spain!" "Down with corrupted governments!"" "More or less the same as we say nowadays:" ""Long live democracy!" "Down with the president!"" "María Teresa Hernández Larrea." "Registered as being born in Quito on November 5th 1982" "Daughter of Augusto and Bertha." "Lawyer born in Ambato and music teacher with Lojan descent." "Weight at birth: 2 kilos" "Age of first period:" "Thirteen years old" "Important family pathologies:" "Maternal grandmother died of breast cancer at seventy" "Paternal grandfather alcoholic" "Best known at school as Maríaté her parents call her Tita and her uncles Princess" "Daniel:" "How are you?" "How's your life?" "I'm finally free after two weeks of exams." "I didn't mail you before 'cause I was tied up with work." "And you?" "Why haven't you mailed?" "I handed my paper in today." "Remember I told you about it?" "The one about the women characters in contemporary Ecuadorian literature." "Daniel:" "I miss you, I really do." "I've been thinking about you." "I suppose you haven't written cause you've been busy with your job but I'd really like to see you and be with you." "Write back, call me or something." "Remember our plan to travel together?" "I've got vacations now and I could come to visit you in Cuenca." "Don't disappear on me." "Daniel, if you don't want to write or call any more, at least let me know why." "I don't understand these long silences, and if I do..." "I think I prefer not to." "Are you scramming?" "You know I'm not the type to cut my veins open cause you leave but I really hate this "cuencano" way of evading the subject." "Take responsibility man, confront what's going on" "I'd prefer you told me:" "I don't want to see you any more, don't bother me, don't call, it's over, and not this running away like a sewer rat." "Hello Daniel?" "How are you?" "It's me me" "Yes, how are you?" "Yes, I've finished today and" "I was looking forward to visiting you in Cuenca" "What?" "But why didn't you tell me before?" "You're such an idiot Daniel!" "What?" "!" "No, man, you can't do that" "No, man, no way, you can't do that" "Look, I'm going to Cuenca tomorrow, wait till I get there and we'll talk this over" "Calm down man, I can understand It must be hard for her but" "The day after tomorrow?" "What are you talking about?" "!" "No, wait up, don't be such an idiot!" "I'll go there tomorrow, we'll talk and I'll help you work this out" "You don't want me to come?" "But of course I'm coming, don't doubt it if you don't want to see me that's your problem but I'm coming!" "Shit!" ""Everyone deserves a name of their own but no one has one no one has had one and no one will have one" "Reality beyond names is uninhabitable and reality within names is an everlasting breakdown" "Meaning is not to be found within words but beyond them" "These words I'm writing are searching for a meaning and that search is their authentic meaning" "Meaning is not to be found within words but beyond them"" "Buy some gum!" "Don't be scared, I mean no harm;" "That's for watching too much TV" "Come on, buy some" "I've got, lemon, mint Which one does your boyfriend like?" "Ok, give me the mint gum" "Mint" "Oh gosh." "Hand that over!" " Rascal!" " What do you want?" " Come here!" " Don't wanna!" "Do as I say!" "What do you want?" " Get me change for this" " I don't have any" "Come on!" "Or you'll play as goalkeeper on Sunday" "I'm telling you I don't have any, I gave Chivo all my change" "So go look for change and come back quickly Speed up!" "T-h-e M-o-n-k-e-y" " You interested in animals?" " Not really." "Or rather, yes" "That's great" " At what time does your bus leave?" " At seven" "Hell and what if the Rascal doesn't come back on time?" "I'd have to give you ten dollars worth of gum" " And where are you going to?" " To Cuenca" "Ah they say that's beautiful down there" "I've got a cousin who lives in Cuenca" " And you're going all by yourself?" " Yep" "My mother likes to say it's not good to hang out all by yourself because the demons come out to frighten you" "That's why I always hang out with my friends" "OK little demon, give me my ten dollars worth of gum cause I'm leaving" "What are you doing now?" "It's that I just realized I do have change" "Well I don't want my change anymore Now I want my gum" " You sure?" " I'm sure" "I do this to sell my gum faster selling it one by one is endless" "And the Rascal?" "He's got orders not to come back" "Well, well Bye little demon" "Beware of the cuencanos!" "I'm sorry but you're in my seat" "Really?" "Let's see" "Fifteen "A"" "Yeah, that's the aisle seat Mine's sixteen "W", the window" "Hell, you're right The thing is how should I put it" "It's just that I'm on vacation, you know?" "And my guidebook says this road is beautiful that you can see the volcanoes, the towns and since I've got my handy cam" "Though if you prefer" "No, no, it's OK" "You sure travel light I wish I could" "Are you traveling just for a few days?" "Don't know" "Sure, some people prefer to travel like that" "I just can't" "I need to know exactly when I'm getting back no matter what happens I like to have my tickets handy" "You want to read?" "I've got a spare book" "Thanks" ""Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz or the Traps of Faith"" ""Grandpa's books unlocked the doors of a different world for her" "A world into which her mother and her sisters were not allowed:" "A masculine world"" ""In this fierce and ever-changing reality there's only one safe place:" "The library" "Inside its walls Juana Ines finds not only shelter but also a world that replaces the conflictive and ghostly world of her house"" ""True reality, say the books, resides in our ideas and the words that make them up" "Words are our only reality" "Juana Ines lives in a world of words" "That world is not inhabited by men or women but by some timeless creatures that are more consistent and truthful than any other reality or any other creature of flesh and blood:" "Our ideas. "" "So let's get out of bed 'cause it's already seven fifteen in the morning!" "Come on up those of you who are still stuck to the sheets..." "Nonsense!" "We've got the sun shining over the city today:" "A great day to make new plans, to give the best of ourselves and demonstrate we're winners!" "Jefferson Perez already did it!" "We Ecuadorian's can reach all our goals, we can be champions if we want to!" "Come on everyone;" "Get up brothers, sisters" "Nonsense and nonsense!" "Tell yourselves this is going to be the best day of your lives, 'cause we can do it!" "San Francisco de Quito" "Registered in the Book of Councils as founded on August 28th 1534 granted by the statement written by Francisco Pizarro, which lies in the Indias General Archive of Sevilla" "Ancestries:" "Quitu, Cara, Inca and Spanish" "Altitude: 2800m." "Latitude:" "Zero" "Why are we stopping?" "Don't know looks like there's a caravan" "I'm sorry ma'am; do you know why we're not moving?" "It must be the strike they announced earlier" "At this time all the roads must be blocked" "A strike?" "Where?" "I think they said it was in Cañar, or in Riobamba, I'm not sure" "Shit this is so predictable" "An Indigenous strike it must be" "Grandma, I'm thirsty" "Go back to sleep, come on, we've still got a long way to go" "I've got water, do you want some?" "Don't worry about her What a shame, see how naughty you are?" "It's alright The girl's just thirsty" "What's your name?" "Well answer, come on, don't be rude, cat got your tongue?" "Say:" "My name is Jeanneth Alejandra" " My name is Jeanneth Alejandra" " Here Jeanneth, want some?" "Take it now, you asked for it so take it" "Say thanks to the gringa" " Thanks" " You're welcome But I'm no gringa, eh" "What's going on?" "There's a strike and the roads are closed" "And what are you going to do?" "I'm going to hitchhike and see what happens" "Hitchhike?" "Ah, auto stop" "Well, I have to get to Cuenca today no matter what and the buses aren't moving until the strike is over" "That can take days, you never know" "Days?" "I can't believe it!" "Really?" "Hey Would you mind me coming with you?" "If you want to but I can't assure you we'll get any place" "Be very careful girls" "Why?" "Is it dangerous?" "Not really but two women alone" " You coming?" " Yes, sure" " Goodbye" " Goodbye" "Goodbye Bye Jeanneth" "You're so rude; say goodbye, have a nice trip and thank you for the water" "Say goodbye, have a nice trip and thank you for the water" "Bye" "Shit!" "My name's Hope And you are?" "Sadness my name's Sadness" "That can't be true" "Well it's just that this had never happened to me coming across with Sadness" "Why would anyone give you that name?" "I don't know just like they called you Hope I guess" "Hey, how are we getting out of here?" "In the first car willing to carry us" "You mean any car?" "I mean any car, and if you've got a problem with that" "No, no problem at all if you mean any car, then it'll be any car, sure" "Sadness?" " Do you live in Cuenca?" " No way" "No?" "So why do you have to get to Cuenca today?" "Because a friend of mine is getting married" "Oh, great!" "Hey, do you know why the roads have been blocked?" "I thought it was because the gas prices went up but on the radio they said it had to do with Plan Colombia" " Plan Colombia?" " That's what they said the radicals who are against it have staged a protest in order to paralyze everything until the people who came to sign the Plan Colombia leave the country" " How strange" " Yep First time I hear about it too but nowadays people block the roads for any reason, so" "What's going on?" "Are there problems in Colombia?" "Yeah man, but from way back" "Yeah, yeah but What's going on now?" "Look:" "The thing is that these days they were going to sign an agreement that allows the gringos to access our frontiers more easily" "And are there so many people against that?" "Sure 'cause those guys are using the drug problem as a smoke curtain to set up camp here" "The Colombians?" "No, the Colombians would be ok the gringos" "And are you for it or against it?" "Against what?" "Well the plan, the strike, the gringos I don't know" "I'm against it" "Ok, but against what?" "The plan, the strike, the gringos, everything," "I'm against everything actually" "I saw a movie once, where people were trapped in a bus station in the middle of nowhere and they couldn't get out" "Your country is so beautiful When I return I want to go to Otavalo" "I'm really thrilled with that market full of colours, you know" "Indigenous people are so cool!" "What do you mean cool?" "Yes, cool, it's like they're great, you know?" "Don't you think they're great?" "Well some of them are" "Hi!" "We're going to Cuenca Can you give us a lift?" "It's only the two of us" "Sure, come on up" "Ok, thanks" "Oh no honey, look at all that luggage no way, let's go, come on!" "Oh, uncle, please take them" "Hey, wait up!" "Look, this is in The Middle of the World, can you see me?" "That's me with one foot in each hemisphere" "And this is in the Telpher I'm the one with the brown jacket" "and this is the Panecillo, look at me with the virgin" "Ah!" "And this is at the Wax Museum there I'm with all the Independence Leaders" "Ah!" "Those who were killed by the Spaniards" "Yes, those ones" "Hey, hey!" "Stop, man, stop!" "Are you going to Cuenca?" "Can you take us with you?" "I'm with a friend Can we?" "These guys are reporters and they say they can take us all the way to where the roadblock is" "And where exactly is that?" "I don't know" "But we'll probably be able to get some car on the other side of the blockade to take us to Cuenca" "I thought no one was ever going to stop, man, with all the luggage you carry" "Come on, stop complaining and lighten up" "Ask the big one to come inside with us" "You can come inside with us if you want" "No thanks, I'm OK here" " And you?" " No thanks, I'm fine" "We don't bite, ladies!" "Hey, are you sure these guys are reporters?" "Course I'm sure That's what they told me besides, they've got the typical reporter look, you know" "Reporter look?" "Sure, reporters look alike in all places" "Good Morning how much do you need?" "Fifteen bucks of gas and a twenty bucks receipt, please" "When will we get to the snow peaked volcanoes?" "We've already passed the Cotopaxi and the Illinizas" "The Chimborazo is about an hour and a half away" "We've already passed the Cotopaxi?" "But when?" "When it was raining" "Shit" "My mother would have loved to" "I can't believe I missed it" "Relax man, there's tons of postcards of the volcanoes you can buy some for your mum and just relax for the rest of the trip" "Why don't you tape now?" "Not now it's thatthere's some places that I don't know" "Look, for example Hand me the camera" "DON'T GET TOO CLOSE, IT'S NOT BOLERO" "What are you recording?" "Ecuador, man, Ecuador" "Climb on, ladies" "Which background do you prefer?" "This one or that one?" "Let's go for that one" "More over here mate, if not we'll lose the smoke" "Here?" "Great 4, 3, 2" "The national Indian strike I'm sorry" "The strike organized I'm sorry shit!" "I don't know what's wrong with me" "The national strike organized by the indigenous groups has caused chaos all over the country" "The roads in the Highlands have been mostly affected by the fact" "Tell us Where do you come from?" "Well I come from Barcelona" "And where were you heading?" "Well, we wanted to reach Cuenca but with this strike thing" "I don't think we'll make it" "And you?" "Where were you headed?" "I intended to support the Indians but it seems the strike is already over 'cause there's no one around anymore" "Thank you, that was very kind of you" "This is the situation at the moment" "Stay tuned because we'll keep you informed" "From the spot of the disturbances, Carlos Manzano reported for The World Today" "But why don't we move the trunk to the side and pass through?" "Look at her, she's got nerves" "But we are so close to Alausi take us there and then you can go back lt's dangerous ladies, they can lynch us on the way" "We've already been in these situations before Right mate?" "Course we have Let's go" "What are you doing?" "We're continuing on foot man" "I can't go back to Quito and you shouldn't go by yourself with these idiots" "Sure?" "Yeah, we'll be ok, I know these roads" "Go and bring them back Move" "What's the hurry ladies" "Why don't you come with us to Riobamba, have a couple of beers and catch a bus once the strike is over" "Don't worry, we ladies never get lynched" "Hey mate!" "That's how women are when something gets into their heads" "Let's get out of here" "I can't believe it" "You better start believing that anything can happen man we're in Ecuador" "This is amazing Too bad I'm out of batteries" "As long as your own batteries don't run out, man, everything's fine" "Hey what's your problem?" "You find everything so cool man and it's annoying" "you're thrilled with the volcanoes, the Indians flip you out you hallucinate with colours but you know what?" "This country has its problems too right now we're in the middle of a national strike in case you haven't noticed" "Sure, I've noticed, although it can't be seen" "Yeah, everyone talks about the strike but I haven't seen anything seems more like a virtual strike, doesn't it?" "Don't you have the feeling that everyone has left?" "Don't you have the feeling that everyone has left?" "Holy shit!" "What's wrong?" "I got my periods man" "Too bad Do you have any tampons?" " No Do you have any?" " Yes, wait" "I always have some handy When you travel with all the different weathers and emotions, you never know" " Here" " Thanks" "It's alright, that's what friends are for" "And when is your friend's wedding?" "Tomorrow at noon" "So it's ok if we don't get there today, right?" "'cause at the pace we're going" "No, it's not ok" "The thing is I don't want to be in time for the wedding but in time to stop him from getting married" "And why would you do that?" "Because he's my boyfriend, I mean he was, I don't know anymore" "But I can't let him get married" "He himself doesn't want to, and he's being forced to it" "Wow!" "You don't seem to fit the part stopping a wedding inside a church" "That sounds more like me" "But I'm going for it Do you want a tissue?" "Yes, thanks" "Is Alausí still very far?" "I don't think so" "It's so weird" " What is?" " To be here" "It happens sometimes while I'm traveling you know?" "I suddenly feel my mind goes blank and I don't know who I am or what I'm doing so far away from home" "That's weird" "With your travel guide and your camera one would say you never get lost" "No way I use the guide to avoid panicking you know?" "When I'm lost I open it and follow the instructions" "Gee that's tough" "Look" "Do you have a daughter?" "No, it's me" "Oh how pretty" "I carry it with me all the time" "My mum says I used to be a very happy child" "And who's that?" "Hi, I'm Jesus" "Oh my God!" "What are you doing in this paramo?" "Well, we're trying to get to Cuenca" "Really?" "Me too" " Yes?" "You're going to Cuenca too?" " Sure" "We can go together if you want" "Ok let's go" "Jesus María Borrero Márquez" "Registered as being born in Cuenca on May 11th 1963" "Son of Paul and Lily" "Paediatrician and Author of children's literature born in Cañar" "Age of first ejaculation:" "Thirteen years old" "Known among his relatives as Goat" "As a child he wanted to be named Peter" "Now he signs under the pseudonymous The Lame Devil" "So, what do you do Jesus?" "I'm an actor, but I don't make a living off of that" "An actor, wow Have you acted in any movies?" "Yep" " And what characters have you played?" " A few." "Once I played a drunken poet" "And what happened to you in the story?" "I died, of course And you?" "I work in a travel agency so each year I get a ticket to go and see the world" "I've got all my trips in video tape, you know?" "Fez, New York, The Greek Islands" "I love traveling you know?" "But this time I've had bad luck" "I couldn't even record the Chimborahua 'cause it was cloudy" "The Chimborazo, not Chimborahua" "If you call it Chimborahua, it's never going' to show up that mate likes to hide away from foreigners" "You don't mean that" "I'm serious;" "Chimborazo never shows himself to foreigners" "Let's see, Alausi 16" "It says here that there's an ancient train station here in Alausí" "We could go visit the station while we wait for a car" "Don't you think so?" "It's breathtaking to think they could build a railway on these mountains a hundred years ago" "You guys are so much fun" "It's great to be on tour with you both" "Welll'm not actually touring with you girls and the only thing that takes my breath right now is to get to Cuenca on time for my grandmother's funeral" " I'm sorry, is that why you're going?" " Yep" "But your family will understand that with the strike you weren't able to make it on time, right?" "The problem isn't whether I get there on time but whether grandma does" "Ah, my granny" "She was from Cuenca but she lived in Quito and her last wish was that I, her eldest grandchild" "took her back to Cuenca or rather her ashes" "To spread them out in the Tomebamba River" "But since she was afraid of planes she asked to be taken by land" "So here I am" "What breath taken?" "Anyway" "What we should do is look for tortillas or something to eat 'cause we still got a long way to go" "Morning!" "What can I get for you sir?" "Good morning ma'am give us three cold sodas and a treat of tortillas please" "And a switch for the camera, if possible" "What is she going to tape today?" "People come out on Sundays, right now it will look all abandoned" "Excuse me ma'am have you heard anything about the strike on the news?" "No, I haven't" "Do you know when the roads will be open?" "Haven't they said anything on TV?" "There's no news at this hour" "Sir, there's a switch next to the door that you can use" "Thank you ma'am" "Please ma'am, can you switch the TV on there might be some information" "There's nothing at this time" "But strikes usually last one whole day" "They missed so many goals" "With love, to all my fellow Ecuadorian people" "Look, my favorite serial is already on" "LOVE LIES" "So what's your hurry?" "A relative of yours is ill or something?" "No way my story isn't worth telling" "Well I don't think so I find it very heavy" "What is it?" "It's just that a friend of mine is getting married tomorrow" "Matricide!" "In Cuenca that's sacred same as funerals, especially if they're your friends'" "Tell him, come on, maybe he can give you some advice" "The thing is I don't want to go to his wedding" "I actually want to stop it" "Well, that sounds interesting" "The thing is this guy isn't in love with his girlfriend" "I mean, with the girl he's marrying But he's marrying her anyway because she's pregnant" "And how do you know that?" "What?" "That she's pregnant?" "No, how do you know he doesn't want to marry her?" "Ahwell I don't know maybe he does but they're not at all alike" "Look:" "He's a biologist, a hitchhiker, he's got long hair he's the black sheep of his stuck up family and she's the typical Cuencano girl:" "Green eyes, works in a bank, goes to church and paints her nails while she waits for her husband to appear" "So he's more your type you mean" "Kind of" "And you've been dating him" "Yeah but not really dating 'cause I don't live in Cuenca" "Ok, but you're in love with him and you think he should marry you instead" "Marry me?" "No way" "What I think is he shouldn't be marrying anyone" " That sure sounds strange" " I think so too" "I'm sick of your lies" "I'm sick of your lies" "Ma'am can you give us three more sodas please" "Valentina, you couldn't deal with the truth" "But as a proof of love, Victor Manuel," "I need to know who I've been married to all these years!" "But..." "What is it you really want with this guy?" "I want to be with him, but without compromising go out with him, travel with him be with him" "Shag with him?" "Yeah that too but that's not the issue" "Well, well" "You guys don't get it" "I'm sorry but I think it's you who doesn't get it" "You're in love with this guy like a teenager and you don't seem to realize it" "You don't take a trip like this just to chit-chat with a friend do you?" "So what are you planning to do to stop the wedding?" "First of all I'd like to talk to him face-to-face" "'cause his parents, his brothers and all his relatives seem to have trapped the poor guy" "Even the in laws must be involved by now." "I know how this works" "He must be virtually kidnapped by the family without realizing it" "He's about to confess everything!" "But I lied to you Valentina" "When you and I first met, I was in love with Sonia María" "When you and I got married I kept on loving that woman" "Two years ago, when her husband died I..." "Enough, enough, say no more, you're killing me!" "Shit, I left the camera switched on!" "Let's see" "First of all I'd like to talk to him face-to-face 'cause his parents, his brothers and all his relatives seem to have trapped the poor guy" "Even the in laws must be involved by now" "Ecuador ah?" " You should put this house on tape" " Which one?" "This one, Eloy Alfaro slept here the night before he was killed" "And who was that?" "That is one of the few decent military this country has had in fact, he was the first one to come up with the idea that this could be a country and not a bunch of haciendas ruled by priests" "The man built the railway to unify the Coast with the Highlands and they used this same railway to take him from Guayaquil to Quito to kill him" " Hi where are you heading?" " To Zhud" " Is that near Cuenca?" " It's on the way" " Would you mind taking her?" " Ok" "I'll tell her then" "He says he's going to Zhud" "Maybe I could go on ahead" "Sure, you do that" "Gee, it's too bad And you guys?" "And your grandma?" "Don't worry about my grandma, she hated motorcycles anyway" "Sure, go" "Ok bye" "Ready?" "You know Jesus my father wanted to be incinerated but when he died we buried him" "My mum wanted to have him near her, you know?" "And she said it was hard for her to convert him in ashes from one day to another" "No way you have to let people leave spreading away the ashes is a way of saying goodbye" "Because "freedom, Sancho, is the most precious gift men have received from the heavens"!" "Wait up;" "I'll have a heart attack if I'm left alone with this horse in the middle of nowhere" "Calm down!" "You're not in the middle of nowhere and as long as windmills don't show up, it's cool!" "Thanks a lot How much do I owe you?" "That's alright let me buy you a beer instead" "And I can help you find a place to stay in case you have to" "Thanks but I have to move on no matter how" "You've got someone waiting for you in Cuenca for sure" "Not really, but" "What, you're afraid of Ecuadorians or something?" "Hey!" "I'm an Ecuadorian too!" "Really?" "Well, you don't look like one" "How come?" "Ecuadorian girls never travel alone in the first place" " What's up man?" " How's it going?" "Well, I've got to go now Watch out with the Cuencanos, ok?" "Ok, and thanks for the ride" " And where in Spain does the lady live?" " Me?" "I live in Barcelona" " but please don't lady me" " No?" "My parents are in Spain for almost three years now" "Really?" " But they're in Murcia, not in Barcelona" " And do you miss them a lot?" "Sort of" "Do you like it here?" "I've only been here for a few days but I think you've got a very beautiful country" "It must be, yeah All tourists say so seems Ecuador is beautiful indeed" "Is there a toilet that I can use, my friend?" "A toilet?" "Come this way" " Want some paper?" " Sure!" "Go down that way" " Watch out for grandma please!" " Sure!" " Is he your boyfriend?" " No way!" "I've just met him" " Hello!" " You hitchhiking?" " Yes since dawn" " Come on then" " Bye Rosi" " Good Bye" "Hi kid" "Juan Andres Ponce León" "Registered as being born in Quito on Sept 15th 1978" "Son of Philip and Conception" "Economist born in Guayaquil and House Wife born in Cuenca." "An orphan since he was 4, when his father died in a car accident" "He introduces himself as Andres." "His mother calls him Juanchis and his friends Andy" " We going?" " Yeah, but Could we wait a little?" "It's that I'm traveling with a friend, you know?" "It's Jesus" " Hello" " Hi, what's up?" "You don't mind taking us both, right?" "Well No, that's fine Let's go" "Where's grandma?" "Over there!" "Good bye and thanks my friend" "So where are you from Andres?" "I'm from Quito, but my mother is from Cuenca and half my family lives there" "Wow Everyone's got family in Cuenca or what?" "You too?" "No, I'm just a tourist here but he does" "He seems so familiar to me What's his last name?" "How would I know!" "Yes?" "Nothing mate, I was just telling her that I think we've met before" " Are you family with Ashuco Borrero?" " Sure, he's my grandfather" "You see!" "I'm Aurelio Leon's grandson" "He married Nena Borrero, your grandfather's sister!" "Did he really?" "Give me five cousin!" " It's a pleasure" " Same thing" "Listen, Jesus right?" "Are you coming to visit are you living in Cuenca or what?" "Just visiting" "I'm taking my grandmother's ashes to spread them out in the Tomebamba river" "The ashes" "I didn't know man I'm so sorry" "Is it Hortensita?" "No, Angelita" "Angelita Aguilar My mother's mum" "Angelita Aguilar your mother's mother" "The one who used to dance flamenco at parties?" "Yep" "Sure I remember" "I'm sorry mate" "It's ok" "Andres, What places do you think I should visit in Quito?" "It depends on which ones you know" "I know San Francisco, Panecillo, Plaza Grande" "They're all wonderful environs of my beloved city" "La Loma Grande, and la Guaragua La Guaragua, la Guaragua, la Guaragua!" "La Guaragua?" "What's that?" "Don't know" "What could la Guaragua be?" "Isn't that Sadness?" "Sadness?" "Sadness!" "Stop the car!" "Sadness!" "What are you doing here girl?" "I thought you'd be in Cuenca by now" "No way, not one car dares to go beyond this point" "Don't worry, we've found a guy who's also going to Cuenca and I think he can take us with him" "Any news from Victor Manuel?" "People from El Toboso are all like that, rather ghostly" "Now stop it" "Puppy?" "How are you mate?" "I'm in deep shit man" "I can't make it to Cuenca" "No way man, your city's a flop I'm serious mate" "Right now I'm in" " Zhud" " I'm in Yud" " Zhud!" " I'm in Yud, Zhud, whatever!" "Right in the middle of nowhere man!" "What should I do?" "Go down to the Coast and then up through the Cajas?" "Right, and I might come upon a virgin up there, ha!" "Your aunt Eugene, that's the only virgin I know of!" "To the Montañita beach?" "Why would I go that far?" "Oh, that's a smart puppy!" "Sure I can do that for you!" "Lt'll be a long ride, but the goodies are worth the trip, right?" "Ok, Puppy, gimme a ring if something comes up" "Ok mate, see you, bye" " So this is Andres and this is Sadness" " Hi Sadness" " Pleased to meet you" " Hi, what's up" "You don't mind taking the three of us, right?" "It's ok with me though I'm not going to Cuenca straight away" "I'm going to the beach first but I can take you to Guayaquil if you want to" "Guayaquil is on the Coast" "Though we could all go to the beach instead!" "No thanks man" "If you take us to Guayaquil you'll really help us out" " But why?" " She's in a real hurry, you know?" "It's one of those things, you know?" "She has to get there 'cause she has to get there" " And are you all traveling together?" " Yep" "Ok, so let's get going" " What's this?" " My dinner suit, put it aside carefully" "Easy girl!" "Hey!" "You deaf or what?" "Goal!" "Goaal, damn it, goaal!" "Goaal, damn it, goaal!" "Shit, the last thing we needed" "What's going on?" "Did you see him slam the breaks?" "Liga's Goal!" "Look at him!" "Is it the final match of the South American Cup or what?" "More or less it's Liga from Quito playing against Barcelona from Guayaquil for the National Championship" " You have a team called Barcelona?" " Yep" "That's amusing" "What torero team?" "Barcelona, of course" "Barcelona?" "But what's Barcelona got to do with bull fights?" "Nothing man, nothing!" "Here nothing's got to do with anything" "Check out that dude!" "I'll give you, my beautiful League, that thing that starts with a "C":" "CHAMPION!" "Thank you ma'am" "Fuck!" "I can't believe they missed the penalty!" "It's so predictable!" "We start out winning and then these monkeys speed up" " Who do you call monkeys?" " I call the monkeys monkeys!" "This girl here doesn't understand a thing bro!" "Relax man it's not my fault your Liga didn't make it" "Anyway, Andres, why did you change your mind about going to Cuenca?" "Well, that's because a friend of mine's getting married tomorrow in Cuenca and he asked me to bring him a very special gift that you can only find in this specific beach" "So people do get married in Cuenca, right?" "Like everywhere else I guess" "And this friend of yours" " What's his name?" " The Puppy?" "We've called him Puppy since he was a kid" "His dad and uncles are best known as Dogs, so he's the Puppy" " Ok, but your friend" " He's finally going to settle down" "He's almost thirty already" "And who's the bride?" "His everlasting girlfriend:" "Blondie Crespo nice girl, beautiful girl indeed!" "He was so cool my friend I mean, he still is cool loves to party, enjoys life" "Blondie has been really patient with him," "He spent most of his time at the beach" "He had the perfect alibi with marine biology" "So he's had a great life ah?" "That's for sure; the Puppy really knew how to enjoy life" "But Blondie gave him the ultimatum" "And you know how those things are in Cuenca mate" "I sure do" "That's why I don't want to get to Cuenca without his special gift" "It's going to be the Puppy's last joy" "No more beach, no more surf, no more hippy girlfriends 'cause he was a real lady's man handsome and charming as he was didn't loose a chance" "But now it's pay back time" "He'll have to uphold the baby take over the family business" "Now I want to see him when he has to put pesticides on the flower plantations," "let's see how Mr Ecologist handles that" "But that's what we all have to go through some day, right?" " If you say so" " That's the way it is mate!" "Cheers!" "To all the Puppies that'll grow to be Dogs someday!" "Cheers!" "Another two beers ma'm!" "Seems like we're staying a bit longer here!" "You're great mates!" "I really like you people Cheers!" "Take it easy, it could be someone else" "What do you mean someone else?" "It's him Don't you see everything fits?" "Ok but did you know they called him Puppy?" "No" "I met him at the beach, not in Cuenca and he was on his own, not with that bunch of shitty relatives and friends he's got" "Here" "So I was just another hippy girlfriend of his!" "And he had a girlfriend waiting for him in Cuenca and haciendas and flower plantations The so called ecologist!" "Stop it girl, that's what this guy says" "But the real truth we don't know" "The real truth?" "It's pretty clear to me" "The bastard was only waiting to turn thirty to become a conservative just like his father marry a blondie just like his mother and bring up spoilt little kids just like himself!" "Wait up Sadness!" "You're merely repeating what this guy said" "But things might be different" "I remember you saying the family had kidnapped the poor guy" "Maybe he's just never met a girl as daring as you are maybe he doesn't even know that people like you exist!" "I mean when he sees you actually turn up there he'll realize life can be really different" "I don't believe a word you're saying" "But you're right" "In these things, once you get started, you have to go all the way" "Let's go" "What have I said, for God's sake!" "Ok mates, if you insist in getting to Cuenca today, you must stay here if not to the beach with me!" "What are we going to do?" "I don't know about you guys, but I'm staying here until someone picks me up" "Why would you stay here, this place's deserted!" "I'm staying anyway man, you guys keep going" "In any case let's grab some fruit, bananas, tangerines or something" "Sure, come on" "Hey Puppy!" "How are you mate?" "I'm on the Coast now man" "So what was your friends' name?" "Iguana?" "You're kidding me Puppy!" "You get me into so much trouble you bastard!" "Hey Puppy!" "And how was your farewell party?" "Wow!" "Great man!" "Sure I know the place" "I went there with you once!" "And how good were the chicks?" "Really?" "You're really hot man!" "Sure, that chick's gorgeous!" "Maria was there too?" "Really?" "You're the best, man!" "Blondie doesn't suspect a thing, right?" "Be careful mate" "Hey guys, I think I'm coming to the beach too" " This place is deserted anyway" " Sure, come on!" "I saw a movie once where a group of friends go on a trip to see a lake but when they get there it's so foggy that they can't see a thing" "But they stay there anyhow watching the void" "Although I prefer movies where people kill, take drugs, sleep around, do something, know what I mean?" "Sleeping around is ok with me" "Taking drugs I'd be willing to" "I'm not sure about the killing part though" "Look, if you wanted sex, drugs and fun, you should've gone with that guy!" "Hey, I didn't want to go all by myself, you know?" "And you could've been a little nicer" "The guy gave us a lift, he offered to take us to Cuenca he even wanted to buy us ceviches What else did you want girl?" "Look, the guy saw you were a foreigner and thought "hum, this chick"" "This chick what?" "The guy never came near me!" "Of course he didn't 'cause he didn't have the time" "But his invitation to drink beers on the beach was so obvious" "Might have been obvious for you 'cause if it had been obvious for me" "I'd have gone with him straight away" " See?" " I'm kidding girl!" "But I'm grown up enough to know what I want or don't want with a guy, right?" "But you make it sound like the wolf running after red riding hood the guy wants to eat up the foreigner the rich kid wants to have his chance with the little girls" "But what if I were the wolf?" "If I were given the chance to choose, I'd choose being the wolf and not red riding hood, who thinks shagging, is not an issue in life" "Here you go" "It's good eh" "Seems like the strike is over!" "The president quit they say" " What do you mean the president quit?" " Well, they made him quit actually" "Shit, look at me here!" "Completely unaware of what's going on out there!" "Relax there's not much going on really" "The fellow army principals kindly suggested the president to abandon the Presidential Palace" "It's amazing how quickly you people get rid of presidents here!" "With the same quickness they turn into presidents 'cause they're no real presidents, you know?" "Yeah, but" "Ah, this is Jesus And this is" "Francisco mate, but you can call me by my nickname:" "Iguana" "This is ridiculous, the country's falling apart and here we are, drinking cocktails," " with Iguana" " Stop torturing yourself girl!" "If I were in Quito, at least I'd have the chance to go out to the streets to demonstrate or something!" "Demonstrate what?" "This morning you didn't know what was going on!" "I didn't know what was going on but I sure have things I want to demonstrate and shout, you know?" "Looks like you've had quite a few drinks here already" "Lady's Night mate What can I get you?" "Whatever they're drinking I guess" "Tell me, Jesus, why do they all kiss my feet?" "Lts Saint Peter, here, sitting in a bronze cast" "I cannot look aside nor give a kick because my feet are worn out, as you see" "make a miracle, My Lord!" "Let me go down to the river and be a fisherman again" "That's me!" " Bravo, bravo!" " Cool mate!" " That's great" " Another one!" "Come on!" "No, that's enough!" "Where are you going Jesus?" "I'll be with granny for a while, you guys stay here nice and quiet" "Do you mind if I take pictures of you?" " These are My friends from Ecuador!" " Wait a second there!" "What would you like?" "The Unicef Christmas postcard?" "With the smiling white, black and blue kids?" "Or would you prefer the National Geographic one with the savage man chewing his coconut" "What's wrong with you guys!" "I just wanted to have a souvenir from you" "Souvenirs are kept in here" "Otherwise you'll turn into one of those cable channel explorers who go on adventures but never get dirty" "Nor step on shit!" "Well guys, I might be a cable channel explorer but in your country, like in any other, there's tons of things to see and do" "So I'm not going to search out for shit!" "If I wanted to do that I'd have stayed in my own country" "Ho ho don't compare my country with yours!" "Why not?" "Both are shitty anyway!" "Excuse me girls, but this here would be like a different shit a unique one" "Right!" "And that's why, since the Pizarros, those ancestors of yours, arrived here all sort of pirates have kept on coming from all over the world" "My ancestors?" "You mean your ancestors, 'cause mine stayed back in Spain" " in Extremadura, Sevilla and Valencia!" " You've got a point there" "But only half a point actually 'cause your ancestors are my ancestors' ancestors, right?" "Enough is enough!" "We're not having a foolish ancestor contest here right?" "No, the problem here aren't the ancestors, but the present-cestors that turn into presidents, bankers, flowerers, banana-ers, whatever just to be able to grab the last bit of shit there's left" "But they won't make it" " 'cause our shit is never-ending!" " This country isn't pretty" "This country is cool!" "Look:" "Pretty is not worth it pretty is disgusting" "We're not like canned food nor Campbell Soups nor Nordic countries where they're white, pure and narrow shitted" "Here we're neither white, nor pure nor narrow shitted" "Those who say we're indians are not always indians" "Those who say we're not Indians, sometimes turn out to be just that" "Those who aren't black sometimes wish they were" "And those of us who are half this, half that and half whatever never know what to say when they ask us what we are" "But we're gutsy people!" "Gutsy!" "What's that?" "Cool, gutsy is like cool" "Only some of us though,'cause there are also some cowards, like Daniel's father who forces his son to get married to this girl only because of her name" "Something else is bothering you, girl" "Hey stop it!" "What a headache!" "Shit!" "Sadness!" "Sadness wake up!" "Wake up!" "What's the matter?" "Our stuff's being dragged by the sea girl, com on!" " Where's Iguana?" " I don't know where he is girl!" "I'm telling you our stuff's missing!" "Jesus, come on, wake up man!" "Cool guys, cool!" "Take whatever you want but be cool" "Sadness!" " Jesus" " Jesus" "Granny took a short cut after all" "She was going to end up at sea anyhow Well if you look at it that way" "She was always on the go" "I wonder why I never get a happy ending story of my own" "It all depends with happy endings, you know" "What do you mean?" "Yeah, it all depends on where you decide to make the story end" "Look, if you'd decided to end this story the day you met Daniel at the beach there you had your happy ending" "final credits, music, applauses and everybody went home happy" "But now this guy got married to this blondie that means children and haciendas for him" "and that's were his story ends but your story hasn't ended yet" "I actually think it has just begun" "Santa Ana de los Ríos de Cuenca" "Registered in the Book of Councils as founded on April 12th 1557 granted by the statement of Andres Hurtado de Mendoza," "Peruvian Vice-King of those days" "Ancestries:" "Cañari, Inca and Spanish" "Its previous names were:" "Tumipamba and Guapondelig" "Most recent surgical extractions:" "Removal of a significant part of its population due to massive unemployment emigration" "Hey, miss, wake up;" "we're closing the bus now" "Ah?" "What's going on?" "And Jesus?" " The guy with the beard?" " Yes, that one" "That guy got off before we reached the terminal" "Did he?" "Where?" " Up town he did" " Didn't he leave a message or something?" "No, but he forgot something on his seat, wait here" " Gee, this guy" " Oh brother" " Is he a relative of yours?" " No, he's our friend" "See?" "Well, weddings are all alike actually" "Can you imagine me there?" "My hair all made up, dancing with my in-laws, my feet all swollen, and having to smile on top of all so everybody thinks I'm happy" "Well, happiness, you know" "This time I really want to get drunk!" "If they tell you:" "We saw him all smashed" "Her not him Why do you say him if you're her!" "Sadness, stop correcting me all the time!" "We're just singing right now, aren't we?" "Let me have another drink" "What's wrong now?" " It's that I'm not Sadness" " What do you mean?" "Just that:" "My name is not Sadness" "And why would you lie to me on something like that?" "Do you think Jesus is Jesus' real name?" " It's so weird" " What is?" " Being here" " Hey, that's my bit, isn't it?" "Tomebamba River" "Fluvial Current that is born in the Highlands of Cajas and abandoning its name descends through the Eastern Andes Mountains to be successively named Paute, Namangoza, Santiago and Amazonas" "I'm sorry but, you're in my seat" "Her grandpa's books unlocked the doors of a different world for her" "Sadness!" "My name's Hope and you are?"