Cats, dogs and a weird game

While we've seen lots of dogs in Ecuador, there've been only a few cats.  And we saw an odd game being played in Quito.

The dogs are of all sizes and shapes, and levels of freedom.  Many are put to work as guard dogs, roof dogs we've come to call them, because they're often on the open roofs of homes, and are especially good as early alarms.  Lots of dogs are carried in arms, almost like babies, too.  Some are just free to do as they please, especially in small towns, chasing cars, in and out of restaurants, playing with each other.  Except for guard dogs, they're very friendly, deferring to humans.  

Roof dogs, at work.

More roof dogs.

The cats were almost always behind gates, on doorsteps, seemingly protected. 

Protected, although he clearly didn't need it.  

Lucia, here, helped the bird feeder lady in a park. Sweet job for a cat.  She was white-tipped completely tail to whiskers. 

And while we were walking through a park in Quito, Steve noticed a group of about 15-20 men at a ball and racquet game along a court about 20x100 feet.  We watched for about 30 minutes, never did get the game, although it required a serve, hitting back and forth, lots of conversation, frequent smoking breaks, and a couple of youngish ringers with the generally older men.  Would love someone to identify this for us, please!  Sorry, some of the photos are dark. 

Awaiting the serve.

The ball was about 6 inches in diameter, the size of a Chicago style softball, but bouncy like a racquetball.

Special mitt-type racquet.  He was good.

The hitting side of the racquet was fairly standard.

They decorated their racquets.

Unlike a tennis or badminton racquet, these racquets make a good seat.