Cuenca Updates: Monday June 11, 2012

Monday June 11/12 update

Just in case, again:

Our sincere apologies to all the readers of GringoTree!
Please, the blog you should be looking at is

cuencaresidency.blogspot.com

It is a gorgeous sunny morning and it feels great to be alive. The sunlight is phenomenal but Tom Thumb is not cooperating this morning, again. I am sure he saw Pancho on the bed behind me so he beat a hasty retreat.

Bella is doing groceries today while I head off to the Madrigal Spanish class.

I decided to leave an hour early and walk all the way downtown, taking me about 55 minutes. At the end of our block I was surprised to see so many vendors set up on a Monday morning! Even our fruit cocktail lady was there. Just past El Vergel church I was skirting this huge tree overgrown right across the sidewalk and only partially ducking when a bus screamed by my left side, missing me by maybe 2 inches. I had been thinking of leaning further out to avoid scraping my hat on the branches but I am glad I didn’t. I didn’t even hear him above the other traffic noise until it was already too late. That was close call number one today.

The Spanish class, the teacher, and the course are great, but it is my retention that is a problem. It probably would be better if my sleep patterns returned to normal.

After class I climbed the escalinata and saw this fellow, Greg I think?, washing the front of the Windhorse Café/Book Exchange. Apparently they are going to be doing a low-key opening in conjunction with the book exchange tomorrow. I then crossed the street and and waited ½ hour for the incoming jet to fly overhead and decided to video the approach rather than take 10 burst shots over 2 seconds.. It is not the greatest video, kinda shaky at the beginning as I try to track it but, overall, not bad. This jet comes from Quito and it is about a 45 minute flight. http://youtu.be/p1kxNTw4T9w

Then I went to find this gargoyle-type thing I could see on a rooftop when we went by in a vehicle or bus past the western end of Calle Larga, don’t know the name of this street but there are many photo opportunities in this area. I found a lot more than I was looking for.

I was then cutting across stopped traffic and passing in front of a bus, about to extend my leg on to the sidewalk and I just heard a sound at the last second that made me freeze. I almost became a fender ornament for a dirt bike speeding up the gap. That was close call number two today, …and the last, because I am not venturing out any more today.

I avoided going around Parque Calderon because I did not trust my willpower, or lack thereof, in the vicinity of all those sweets again. Why ruin all those calories I was burning today?

Next I headed over to the Fuji store to see if I could get them to discount the $53 tripod they had in their window. The best they would do was a 5% discount so I caught the #50 two blocks away and got off at Coral. I went in to double check on this tripod they had and decided to spring all my available cash to get it just under $40.

Now I am totally broke again for another week. It still beats working!!!

Bella made a feast tonight like she does when we are having company, ummmmmmmm GOOD!

Hearty congratulations to Leah Rankin and proud Grandma Bea Rankin on the arrival of Jenaya, on Thursday, June 7, 2012 12:53 p.m. She weighed in at 6lbs 6ozs and measured 19 3/4 inches long.

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