Cuenca Updates: Monday July 2, 2012

Monday July 2/12 update

Sunday

After I sent the Sunday blog I got some distance shots of Tom eating from my hand. Then Bella called me when she was done bridge to meet her and David and Kathy downtown for pizza. I caught the bus and managed to get a shot of the new neighborhood police station which appears to be almost completed! They must have been working almost 24 hours a day to accomplish that!

As I was just climbing the stairs above Solano, Bella called again to say the Italian Pizza place was closed so they would meet me at the top of the stairs, which they did. Rather than walk to Millennium Mall I suggested eating either the Taj Mahal restaurant kitty-corner or the other Middle Eastern restaurant we were standing in front of.

Since none of us had tried this one yet we agreed to look at the menu and stay if it looked promising. It was a bit of a dive but the Shawarma (sp?) and beer were darn excellent. Beside us we had this young couple sucking on the water pipe which would make rude bubbling sounds so we had a few giggles and they let me take their picture. There was no smoke odour so I didn’t mind it at all and was wondering why they were both acting a bit high. I was offered a chance to suck on it but I said I did not smoke due to allergies. They bought that excuse.

So we said our goodbyes to David and Kathy who depart in the morning for Riobamba and places beyond. Whether or not they will return here is uncertain so we wish them all the best.

Monday

Spanish class again for me. The good news is that Christine is offering to continue the Spanish class for another 6 weeks, Mondays and Wednesdays, so we can finish the class textbook. Bella has OK’d that I continue.

Across the street from the Chamber of Commerce building work is progressing slowly, to our eyes, on the Parque De La Madre. They were jack-hammering the middle of the street and they have taken down all the art boards on this side street. I assume they will need armed guards to keep idiots out of the park during the night.

Bella was off to Coopera today but didn’t get my usual solid head of cabbage, all they had were the light air-filled ones which are a waste. That is usually my lunch all week for about 68c and I really enjoy it.

Bella is giving some bridge instruction to an interested friend who is hoping to graduate to the higher ranks of play. It is hard for them to get enough competent players for the “bloodsport” games.

At 3pm I met with James and John from JD’s Private Transportation to nail down details and responsibilities for my proposed night photography outing. I want this to be the first trip of many for a possible fledgling photography group. We are all very flexible, depending on numbers of interested people, which I think will be a lot. We fleshed out a tentative plan and dates and pricing but one intangible yet to arrange is supper for the group due to the timing of the outing. John is going to pick me up in the morning and take me out to the Cojitambo ruins east of Cuenca where we intend to start with a sunset vigil. This is one of the highest points in the area so we should get a 360 view of many different weather patterns as well. Then we hope to check out a nearby restaurant with a big menu they recommend and see if we can strike a group rate for a few specific dishes and drink. The trip will then come back into the city to get some specific buildings, churches, etc, then more close panoramic views from the Avenue De Las Americas, then a huge panorama from the mountain with all the communication towers. This should be a fun trip.

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