Saturday-Sunday August 4-5, 2012

Saturday August 4/12 update

We were up very early to catch a bus to join Chris, Bettye, Tom and Miguel for an excursion to the Yunguilla Valley.   Miguel and Chris had been invited to bring guests out to visit Judge Juan Gonzales and his lovely wife Nora for a tour of their farm and an almuerzo (lunch).  This valley is about 2,000 feet lower than Cuenca and very warm.  The farm is also in the shadow of an area of legend, where a meteorite has buried itself in a mountaintop.  We originally thought that a pointy peak was the meteorite itself, but it wasn’t until we were leaving, and could see the whole mountaintop, that it appeared the meteorite is really the whole center of the mountaintop, with two small mirror-image peaks at either end.  Now it makes more sense to us.

The Judge, affectionately called Juanito everywhere in Cuenca, is 77 years old and still working as the head judge in Cuenca, and this family farm is their weekend refuge.

With Miguel doing a lot of interpreting we had some great discussions about families and the local history, on which the Judge is an authority.  We quickly fell in love with this couple for their self-deprecating humor and easy style.   I told Juanito as we were leaving how much he reminded me of my wonderful father.

Their land is part of a family heritage of 360 acres nested high in the valley with rivers on either side.  They have ingenious irrigation systems, and even a fountain, fed by gravity alone.  They have multiple fruit trees, chickens, ducks, geese, cattle horses, and even peacocks.   Juan enjoyed taking a few photographs with my camera, that is why you will see some rare shots of myself.

We had an awesome day there with these wonderful people and they put out this huge lunch and the plates of food just kept on coming.  Comments were reinforced many times by Miguel that emptying your plate is considered good form.  As a result, I overate, got too much sun, so I have been queasy since leaving there.   Somehow Bella was the only one to suffer multiple insect bites.

The ride back was uncomfortable as Chris and I napped in the back.   I was just praying that I wasn’t going to upchuck all over Miguel’s van because he only had pop-out windows in the rear of his Hyundai van.  BTW, can you tell that I took the shot of me napping??

We made it back to Chis and Bettye’s where everyone freshened up to attend a lamb or beef rib supper at Joe’s Secret Garden.  If I hadn’t been contracted to take their photos this night I would have just gone home.  I felt so bloated and uncomfortable the whole time that all I could eat were some raw veggies and dip, and I shouldn’t have eaten even that.  Everyone else enjoyed their meals but I was so happy to get home and get comfortable in my own bed.

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

Sunday August 5/12 update

Today is a day I have not being looking forward to as my honey heads home to Canada for a whole 3 months.  I know I can look after myself and the boys but I do admit to feelings of panic, especially today.   I took her to the corner to catch a cab to the airport and barely made it home in time as my sickness manifested itself quickly and with little warning.

I was supposed to join Toronto photographer Glenn Specht on a walking tour of the city this morning to photograph old buildings but my overnight rumblings made me realize that that would have been a disaster unless there was a bathroom within 10 yards at all times.  I emailed him to cancel at 7:30 am and he was most gracious about my late cancellation having “been there, done that”.  The morning has since proven that my decision was the right one.

That was today’s excitement.   Hugs to all.