Guayaquil offers the tourist route of the ‘paper giants’, those huge puppets that the inhabitants of the southwestern suburb of the city elaborate for December 31st holidays, turning their sector into a point of interest.
The guide shows 27 spots distributed in two circuits. Mrs. Gloria Gallardo, President of the Public and Municipal Tourism Company, launched this Monday the guide: ‘Guayaquil is my destination to visit the route of the giants’, along with the Association of the Paper Giants’ Artists and Artisans of Guayaquil.
The exhibit of the paper giants will be until January 15th. In this guide is highlighted part of the history of the giants, a review of its authors, and route maps.
The first circuit includes 23 paper giants. It starts at 16th St and Pedro Pablo Gómez and ends at Francisco de Marcos St, between Gallegos Lara and Leonidas Plaza. The second circuit includes four spots, from 8th St and 4 of November, to 24th St and Francisco Segura Alley. In 2015, Mrs. Gallardo committed to promote the work of the paper giants artisans, who also use cardboard, and wood, and which have a maximum of ten meters height.
The giants are covered with plastic to protect them from the rain and for the visitors’ safety, to avoid accidents, said the craftsman Jose Luis Morales who, as his colleagues, is encouraged with the presentation of the guide.
Morales, 25, who has ten years as craftsman has finished his giant with all the characters from Sesame Street, a stage of 6.5 meters high and 8 meters wide, at 18th St between the first and second Francisco Segura Alley.
The character of Jack Sparrow, from the movie Pirates of the Caribbean, in 16th St and Alcedo; and the scenography of the Lion King, in 25th St and Gomez Rendon, are also ready. But most artisans still have not finished elaborating and painting the giants. They are expected to be concluded this week, said Richard Guambo, who is doing Winnie the Pooh at 28th St and Portete.
Request for firefighters
One of the artisans´ concerns is whether they will be allowed to continue with the tradition of burning the giants or at least part of them. In this matter, the Fire Department is the one that would have the last word. To get an answer, a group of artisans met with Mr. Martin Cucalon, First Chief of the Firemen.
Source: El Universo
