Cuenca Updates: Friday March 23, 2012

Friday Mar 23/12 update
We went to Banco Pichincha first thing and got called over for the expected bad news that we would be relegated to the poor man’s banking downstairs since we didn’t maintain a $50,000 deposit to remain respectable clients of their “Private Banking” upstairs.
They also did their best to try to stop us from moving out money to a Coopera CD at 10.5%. It is of course much safer to stay with them at a whopping 5.5%. We explained that an extra $1,500 per year meant a lot to retired people on a very fixed income.
The Manager, Juan, wasn’t at Coopera, and was expected to be back at 2pm Ecuador time. Bella went home while I went walkabout for 3 hours to the Rio Yanuncay a little further up. What a picturesque spot!
Next to the Yanuncay were a pair of banana sellers with a 6 foot stack of bananas for inventory!
As I was passing a couple of Cuencanos talking on the street one of them addressed me in English. He was another one who had been working in New York and he was bemoaning the fact that he could make $1,000 a week in the Big Apple but only $500 per month here. I asked him how much his apartment cost in New York and he backed off in a hurry and laughed Gotta love the Cuencanos..
Juan showed up at 3:10pm and I completed the banking. Like I said, he was on Ecuador time.
I heard there is a soccer game at the stadium tomorrow night. I will have to see if I can get someone to show me the ropes.
Bella fried up some Filet Mignon (called Lomo Fino here) on the stove griddle for supper and it was just superb, for $2.80 a pound! I am sure she will be watching for that at the Coopera store again.
Tonight we went to listen to the Cuenca Symphony Orchestra performing movie tunes. That is much more fun than most classical stuff they are usually forced to play. We were fortunate that we got there quite early. The people behind us in line were from Kamloops, BC, checking out our city. The beautiful concert hall at the University of Cuenca was standing room only. I have a few YouTube videos. The Pirates of the Carribean theme has an unexpected extra guest conductor, in addition to the 32-year-old from Spain, Bruno Axel.
http://youtu.be/em8ioFPUp4s West Side Story Theme
http://youtu.be/H_RcsdYKDPc Indiana Jones Theme
http://youtu.be/kk417cgp01E James Bond Theme
http://youtu.be/TJZkwjZg1hk Jaws Theme
http://youtu.be/Qp198Jua6e8 Jesus Christ Superstar Theme – part 1
http://youtu.be/-rlpkWPu6rs Jesus Christ Superstar Theme – part 2
http://youtu.be/XXC5bbPhnRw Pink Panther Theme

http://youtu.be/smeq6Q9RiCg Pirates Of The Caribbean (with an extra conductor)
Enjoy the pics and movies. That was today’s excitement. Hugs to all.