Cuenca Updates: Monday July 9, 2012

Monday July 9/12 update

The third round of Spanish class started this morning. I got up early to tackle last week’s homework and to find out how little I know of the verbs and conjugations. It is so frustrating that my mind won’t absorb all those darn details. I am going to have to use the simplified way to talk without having to conjugate every verb. There is a way and I intend to find it….

I also collected from my eighth participant in our night photography tour next week, my Spanish teacher. Now she can communicate with the doctors for me if I fall off any of the 3 mountains.

I slipped by Terra Diversa to return my comment card on the Giron/Yunguilla trip with all superlatives for the tour, the guide, and the driver. Then I managed to get the names and emails of the driver and guide so I could thank them again for the great job they did (and offer to help them find other jobs).

Next was a stop at the Papeleria for my new name stamp but they said it wouldn’t be there until 4, so I said I would return “manana”. I have to be downtown tomorrow anyway because I volunteered to help with the book & movie exchange tomorrow for 2 hours and they accepted my offer.

Almost next door was a bicycle shop so I popped in and bought a new saddle for my bike for $7 because I hated the one I had bought previously and I am sure that is why I have been avoiding riding my bike, I have been so uncomfortable.

I wandered through the flower market, Parque Calderon, and over to the Rotary Market. This fellow had boxes of ducks and quail that were fascinating this little girl, and also myself, because I couldn’t figure out how they don’t escape the seller’s clutches???

Once I got home, I hopped on my bike and painfully rode it over to my bike mechanic, low tires and all. Somewhere along the way I lost my bicycle pump again. I started to think that it was my fault, that the bike was too small for me, probably a 24” instead of a 26” and I was always sliding off the darn seat. I decided to have him install the new saddle anyway. If I still didn’t like it, then I’d just sell the darn thing.

Crossing the river I noted how low it appears again, showing many of the rocks on the riverbed. Some people complain it is too rainy (cloud must be rain to them) and yet we have hardly had any rain this month. We always get some grey clouds during the day but 90% of the time they are empty threats.

I love this little mechanic! He is always jovial and does such an amazing job for a pittance. He installed the new seat, straightened my handlebars, tightened the front fender, and filled the tires. I told him he could keep my old saddle, it is brand new too, and he said I didn’t owe him a dime then. He gets my vote for President!

I rode the bike home and I fell in love with it all over again. The seat design & texture and the angle, and the full tires made all the difference in the world! Now the bike felt the right size again!

Bella wasn’t home either time I returned and I know she told me what she was up to, usually groceries on a Monday, but I have forgotten. She has something planned for every day except Friday.

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