Cuenca Updates: Thursday Feb 2, 2012

Thursday Feb 2/12 update

Enrique showed up at 9:30am with 2 guys to measure for the gutter required on the terrace. Since the existing roof and the new roof will meet in a V in the middle of the terrace we need a way to get rid of any rainwater coming from both. This is really the first item to be installed before the roof can go up as the roof must be fashioned to connect above and the screen around it. They will be starting work tomorrow at 8.

Bella went off to the Thursday Book Exchange and to run some errands.

I wandered around Coral to see if they had some of the items we needed but without success so I walked a ways and then caught the #50 to the Rotary Market where they specialize in wooden products.

I stopped for a bite at a busy café and ordered the minute steak style dinner and pineapple juice. Well I got this huge platter of rice, beans, fried plantain and minute steak that I couldn’t even finish, along with a beer stein size full of juice, all for $5.

As I rolled out of there I dug out my camera to take a couple of shots from the corner of the market. I heard this young gal’s voice calling to me in English, “What is your name? My name is Esmerelda.” There was this mini school bus next to me waiting at the red light, and all these kids were smiling and waving, so I had to take their picture, right??

I scoured the market for shelving or a cabinet to hide my tools in this nook on the third floor. There was always the option of those steel shelves you bolt together but I was determined I could find better. There were many wooden shelves, but most were not deep enough or wide enough. My working space was 31” wide and 27” deep. Finally I found what I wanted in a “bodega” or warehouse on the corner. Once I found the owner, I was delighted she only wanted $80 but I showed her my wallet only contained $75, so she took it all.

While roaming I got a call from Enrique asking where I was, because he was outside our door with another gutter contractor for measurements because the first crew could not supply tomorrow as desired. I met him at the house at 2 and we got across to the new guy what we wanted.

When Bella got home we lugged the tool cabinet up the two flights and I wedged it into place, just as if it had been custom built to fit! Then I got busy hiding my tools in it so I could place all of our other stuff from the terrace in front of it.

I tossed the chicken wire down into the street. By the time I remembered to go retrieve it it had grown legs and wandered away. That is a good thing as we no longer had a use for it. Now we have a clean workspace to build our roof tomorrow morning. We can’t wait to get the roof on the terrace and watch the boys enjoy all that space.

Other than picking up some bedding before long, the only thing really left to do is to build a shelf or something to hide the piping in the dining room. I am a little in awe of how quickly everything has come together and how livable our place is now.

I also took a couple of shots of the two beautiful pieces of artwork that we got with the beds. They complement our home very nicely.

I had been having issues with consistent hot water in my shower and kinda figured it was due to the water-saver style shower head restricting the flow. Without enough flow the on-demand water heater shuts off the gas. I like finishing my showers cold, not in the middle though. Sure enough, as soon as I put the old shower head on the telephone shower the hot water was the same temperature throughout.

I can’t remember if I mentioned a problem with the electronic clock on the fancy stove. When they delivered it nobody could get the minutes to work properly as it would only count up to 10. The next day a fellow came to check it and promised a replacement then I never heard from them again. I mentioned it to Jorge because the store is owned by his relatives. Well 5 days ago Bella pointed out that the minutes now went past 10, so I set the clock and it has been working perfectly ever since. Yesterday on my walkabout I got a call in Spanish pertaining to this, I think, and I tried to explain that it was working now but obviously wasn’t getting my message across so I told them I would be home “Viernes” (Friday). He may as well come and check it out anyway.

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