La Virgin del Cisne

In Southern Ecuador, the Virgin El Cisne is Queen... eh, Virgin.  All around Ecuador (and Latin America) different names represent the Virgin Mary, associated with a local sitting of the Virgin.  In my old site, Guaranda, La Virgin del Guayco is Virgin

Every year, there's a pilgrimage from El Cisne to Loja and then back to El Cisne.

Simon Bolivar first declared the pilgrimage in 1824 - pilgrims bring their wooden replica of the Virgin El Cisne (picture on left) from the village El Cisne (picture down below) to the provincial capital Loja.  Thousands of devotees from around Ecuador and surrounding countries make the pilgrimage every year.  Some walk days starting from their home towns to El Cisne where they meet up with the Virgin and pass through Catamayo to arrive in Loja.  The walk from Catamayo to Loja starts at 6am ... climbing hills from the sub-tropic city, the pilgrims arrive in sierra Loja around 4pm.

Last Sunday, the Virgin arrived in Loja.  The procession was two block from my apartment.  Most of the stores in Loja were closed all day, and traffic was rerouted from Ave. Gran Columbia.  She will stay here through the month, and then return to El Cisne in November.  During the month, she's at the Cathedral in Loja - there are daily masses, devotees to visit her, and sellers to provide all with candles, rosaries, necklaces and other memorabilia. 

An interesting article and photos about the pilgrimage and its diverse pilgrims.