Random Ecuador V

In the countryside outside of Banos, following a couple of days with rain, we started hearing a constant sound at night, like a travel alarm doing its insistent three-beep alarm (exactly like both Steve's and mine after its been ignored for ).  Very hard to sleep through.  It turned out to be a tree frog that loved the wetter weather.  After three nights of the alarm, there was blessed silence and I could sleep again.

This painting, quite large on a wall in a restaurant, has the little boy in the middle of the painting with his hands down his pants.  A recent addition to the building, done by one brother to permanently embarrass his younger brother.

Statue of Jefferson Perez, who walked his way to Olympic Gold in 1996 at only 22.  In 2008 he  walked to Olympic Silver as well.  These remain Ecuador's only Olympic medals.  He's a bit of a hero here and the park where he used to practice holds this statue.  

Sculpture of an Ecuadorean game where a pole is loaded with a topknot of great prizes (dolls, whisk brooms, kettles, balls, kitchen utensils,etc.), then is greased, and folks try to climb it, ascending from others' shoulders.  The game is still played in the countryside.  Can you find Nancy in the photo? 

Shoeshine people reside on one side of the major square in Cuenca.  Almost always, about half of the stalls are populated by women customers.  

Best broom I've seen in Cuenca.  Brooms here are almost all storebought. 

A hedge of lantana (what we grow in pots), with stems thick as tree trunks.  

Wattle and adobe/mud wall of a building -- still in use -- in downtown, historic Cuenca.  

Cigarettes here are sold with very graphic warnings about smoking (an earlier post had a photo), and the words "smoking causes a slow and painful death".  Cigarettes are also sold in 10 packs, as well as the usual 20 -- a nice approach for those seeking less of a commitment to the habit.  

Roof and gutter plants aren't uncommon here -- this pampas grass is pretty substantial, though.  

A pound of butter, in traditional packaging here.  Sent through a tube of sorts, with thin plastic wrap surrounding and then stuffed in the two holes.  Surprisingly efficient and hygienic.  

Swans made of folded paper strips, glued together.  Have no idea what they honor, how they're used.  Any ideas?

Steve in a $1500 Panama hat which -- we were told -- took 8 months to weave.  It's very, very finely woven, very light and flexible hat. (He didn't buy it.)

Chicago style parking space marker, in a residential neighborhood of Cuenca.  

Don't know.  Has "Silver Patron" on its side -- assume a bar or nightclub?  Would have loved to watch the
 delivery of this.