Cuenca Updates: Saturday Feb 11, 2012

Saturday Feb 11/12 update

I have caught a bit of a sinus cold so I was awake at 4, up at 5, shaved, showered, had a coffee, then had a short snooze on the couch. Bella was going to stay home and cook most of the day so I decided to walkabout with the big camera.

Bella and I walked together to the Coopera Credit Union and Market about 6 blocks west. She did some veggie shopping while I continued west.

I had wanted to find this big park called the Parque Paraiso (Paradise). I decided to stay on the south side of the river but at some point there is the huge island park surrounded by two rivers, the Tomebamba and, I think, the Yanuncay. I kept waiting for a bridge to access the park but all the access was at the far west end, so I then walked back east to enjoy the park, enjoying the south side of Paraiso, and then enjoyed the north side on the return trip. The rivers, trees, foliage, flowers, and the people were truly a delight.

I then was just catching the #15 to go to the Rotary Market when Bella phoned with the news that Jim & Cindy Wilkins wanted us to meet their friends who were visiting now, then moving to Cuenca at the end of March, named Chris & Bettye Petersen. Bella was to meet me at the Rotary Market so I hurriedly did some quick shopping for the 28” belt for her new breadmaker. I found an automotive belt that was the right length but unsure of the width for $6. Bella arrived and we quickly looked at a few small tables before we made our way to the San Sebas Restaurant in the San Sebastian square. On the bus we witnessed a brazen theft of a lady's earrings by a young man who grabbed them off her ears at a stop, dashed out the door and ran down the street. It happened so fast we didn't realize what was going on until he was already a block away, not that I would have chased him anyway.

We enjoyed a delightful meal, our first time there, and the fine company of these nice people from Georgia. Chris and Bettye are having an estate sale and starting fresh in Cuenca. They have already found a place to rent and are looking forward to joining us. They wanted the information on our $250 satellite TV deal so I emailed it to them.

When we came out a rainstorm was threatening so we hurried to the Rotary Market again and bought this varnished side table with lower shelves for $20. This is to give the boys more room to sit in the window on the terrace. We hustled to the street where guys with trucks just wait to do deliveries. I chose a familiar fellow who asked for $5 for the trip and off we went. By the time we hit home it was a downpour. As we were moving the table in the house I saw the smile of recognition as this driver remembered his last delivery here, also in a monsoon rain when he delivered the dining room suite and Bella’s vanity. We all had a good laugh over that.

I installed the belt on the breadmaker and was pleased that the length was perfect. The width was on the wide side but, being a variegated belt, it fit over the edge of the big pulley perfectly. Bella tried it out and it seems to have worked just fine.

Bella made borscht for supper along with her homemade bread. Yummy. Later she is going to make cinnamon buns. I think we agreed on the overly sloppy ones with cream cheese icing. Look out Cinnabon, we are going into business….

That was today’s excitement. Enjoy the pics. Hugs to all.