Cuenca Updates: Saturday, Cinco De Mayo, 2012

Saturday May 5/12 update

Today was an interesting day with all sorts of characters on the street. There is a huge full moon so I am certain that has a lot to do with these oddities.

I know some of you are getting tired of the hummers already but here’s just a few more shots of my little friend fifteen inches inside the house already. He is visiting regularly now and, as long as I stay quite still, he is being bolder.

Bella wanted a quiet day today with only a trip to Coopera on her agenda. I tried to get her to come to the Festival de Pan (Bread Festival) on Calle Larga near Todos Santos but I had to go myself. There wasn’t much going on when I first went by so I thought maybe I had missed it all. I went and had 2 “donair” lunch again at the Persia Pipa Bar a little further up the road. Oh it was so good, even if I had to put up with teens smoking a hookah in the corner. I have no idea what they were smoking but it didn’t bother me.

While eating my lunch I was watching this old indigenous Quechuan lady trying to use her cane to bring down something from inside the grating of the building across the street. She made several attempts too, oblivious to traffic, before finally shuffling on her way without her prize.

I was walking by the Coffee Tree Café and literally came across an example of the blind leading the blind. See the photo enclosed. ‘Nuf said.

When I came back near the Todos Santos Festival area they had a singer and a few roaming clowns performing for a while. One of the audience was the lovely Ecuadorian lady Doctor Norma who attends the afternoon Spanish classes that Bella, Chris and Bettye attend, and helps the teacher Martha with her local translations and idioms.

Singer and clowns http://youtu.be/4Uw5O66MUAY

Then the entertainment gave way to barefoot ethnic dancers and this was one of the best displays I have seen of their joyful dancing.

http://youtu.be/JxKi95wWiK0

http://youtu.be/aCw9oHlPfT4

http://youtu.be/FQd8M4xWbms

From there I walked to Rotary Market to try to find a small shelf unit, about the height of my window mainly so I could have a stable surface to use for my hummingbird feeder. After going from stall to stall and back again at least four times I finally settled on a shelf unit for $15. When I got it home it was just the perfect height.

It only took about 10 minutes for the little guy to visit, and he wasn’t shy at all, coming in to feed. Then he backed up to the window opening and did a complete 360 degree spin while hovering to check for danger then came back to feed again. Oh how I wish I had had the video running for that but I usually let them come in daily the first time completely undisturbed so they will return later, which they always do. He visited me eight times today, and at least twice more when the window was closed and I sure heard him scolding me over that.

http://youtu.be/E6CD6rlBeXE
http://youtu.be/IWWt6oRvsn0

I got an email offer to accompany two friends to Quito and back on Wednesday to pick up a goat (I’m not kidding!). But I had to listen to my body, and not my heart, because an 18-hour drive is not fun, especially when 6 hours will be in the dark on winding mountain roads. The carrot was to be photo opportunities, and there definitely would be some of those in the Avenue of the Volcanoes, but there usually aren’t too many places to stop on that highway, plus they would have a long day, so delays wouldn’t be too welcomed.

Segundo made an appointment with Bella for tonight for more English tutoring and showed up on time.

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