Wednesday July 25, 2012

Wednesday July 25/12 update

Bella went to Coral for groceries and says she barely made it home, she is still pretty shaky.

I caught the #16 to Spanish class and this lady and daughter had this cute puppy and they agreed I could take their picture.  The lady in that background was nattering something to me in Spanish so I just nodded and smiled.   As she was getting off, she hand me this brochure for cleaning homes and businesses.  This was only the beginning of this weird day!  I was going to class mainly to bring Ray Holt the information and invoices to use with our common cleaning lady, Rosa.    He was ever so thankful that we had broken this ground for him as he did not want any confrontations over the benefits and IVA tax issues..

After class I decided to check out the ancestral art exhibit of Tigua and Cotopaxi (North Ecuador) at the CIDAP Museum at the bottom of the Escalinata.  Not a whole lot had changed since I was last there but they seemed to have new masks and a few other new items.  Some of the artwork, masks and sculptures are amazing.

I then slipped up to that Arabian Bar for a couple of shawarmas, much like the donairs back home but with chicken.  I asked if their hot sauce was sold in stores and they said no, they make their own out of cumin, lemon, chilis and tomatoes.   I asked if he could sell me some but he said no, he would give me some the next time I came in.  They are such a treat for me.

As I was walking to catch the #3 I spotted this couple at the Coffee Tree that looked familiar and they waved for me to come over.  This was Ken and Debbie Fisher from Invermere that I had bumped into at the Parque XTremo.   They are still in town with their exchange student’s family until Tuesday.  I gave them my card so they would have links to my Blog and GringoTree, etc.   Ken’s eyes went wide then he showed the card to Debbie and her eyes almost popped!  “I’m a Bourassa!” she said.   We determined that she is from the other original branch that went north into Indian country, Meadow Lake, Sask (Gabriel Dumont was her Uncle), Spirit River, St. Paul and Plamondon, Alberta.   I have run across quite a few from this branch over the years.

I told them to give us a call if they find they have some free time.

This is Twilight Zone stuff again, because yesterday and today, I got an email from a distant American cousin named Karen Fisher with whom I correspond regularly.  She mentioned that her son David had passed away a few days ago and that she would supply more details later.   And today is the burial day of our 33-year-old great nephew Nick McKay who also passed away a few days ago.   His Mom has lived in the Bruderheim area for many years.  A few days ago, a Jana from Bruderheim bought one of my photos online.  Like I said, this just keeps getting weirder and weirder.

Tom Thumb seems to have disappeared entirely on me today.  I hope nothing untoward has happened to the little guy.   I am getting quite fond of him.   I did get a shot or two of a beautiful orange-head+chest fellow though.   He shore is purty…

Please see the day’s photos at souvenircuenca.blogspot.com.  That was today’s excitement.    Hugs to all.