Balsa Mantena

Today we celebrated Colombus Day (here it's called Dia de la Raza) in Salango by setting this replica of an old sailing raft to sea.

Children dressed up like the mantenas, indigenous people to this coastal region, may have been dressed upon the arrival of the Spanish five hundred years ago. Also, some dance groups from Quito came to make the festival more lively.

And of course there was the obligatory selection of the most beautiful girl - no party would be complete without it.