We were in Quito during the holidays (La Navidad) and had an unexpected run-in with many Quitoans when we visited the major landmark El Panecillo – home to the large statue La Virgen de Quito. The entire area was filled with locals for a special Navidad event. People were dressed up everywhere we looked, some women were in Disney princess costumes, others were in authentic indigenous costumes. This group of children, playing a distance from a large tent and stage, tried to convince us to ride a lone donkey tied up near the base of the statue. We declined, chatted a bit, and they let me take their picture. After the first few takes the donkey moved out of the shot and the kids tried to pull el burro back, only to get yelled at by the owner who was a few hundred yards away.