Freedom

We live such privileged and comfortable lives in Canada. We don't have pestilence or starvation. We don't have tyrannical rulers -- well we have a buffoon and a control freak. And we had the Upper and Lower Canada Rebellions of 1837 and 1838 and in 1885 Metis leader, Louis Riel led his people against the Canadian government in the Northwest. 

But we've suffered little more misery than this and most of us can hardly remember our history let alone having had experienced what little struggle our country has had. I often think of our luck to be Canadians when observing Ecuadorians living in their minuscle homes ekking out an existence.

On Thursday, over lunch we chatted with a couple who were on our train coach. He had taught philosophy and she social sciences. Rodrigo mentioned some of the improvements President Raphael Correa has brought to the Republic of Ecuador. They talked about how he had reduced poverty and unemployment here. 

"You have been through a lot of misery over the years here haven't you?" I asked. "Yes," Rodrigo said, "Times were very hard." I thought of how so many men and women had left the country for 15-20 years in the 1990s and of the struggle and misery they endured. 

Not far from our hotel in the centre of Otavalo, there's a mural depicting Ecuador's struggle.

The mural wall.

 The enslavement of the indigenous by the Spaniards. The indigenous were enslaved. Most lived and died in deplorable conditions.

They wanted to break free.

Mobilizing against Spanish rule.

Their leader, Simon Bolivar.  

He is represented in statues and street names everywhere. Bolivar was born in Venezuela into wealth, lived in France for a while and was a friend of Napoleon. But he returned to Venezuela in 1807 and when Napoleon named Joseph Bonaparte King of Spain and its colonies, which included Venezuela, Bolívar joined the resistance movement, fighting for control of the Americas, to wrest its control from Spain. 

Eventually he became "El Libertador", the Liberator, creating the Federation of Gran Columbia -- Venezuela, Colombia, Panama and Ecuador. After some time, he was named Dictator of Peru and later he created Bolivia. So it's no wonder paintings of him are everywhere.

Tasting freedom

The dove of peace.

A new flag and emblem.

Creating The Declaration of Independence.

The mural was designed and painted by University of Otavalo students.

So much history here. 

Hasta pronto.