Thursday September 20, 2012

Thursday September 20/12 update

I had a decent sleep and didn’t want to get out of bed but I promised to pick up Ed and Dick at 10am so I hustled and actually made it there at 9:30.  Ed kindly gave me 40 or so Canada pins so I can pass them out to the kids at Amigos.  He is also going to see if he can get the Govt to send me more, and maybe some photos…

We started out checking to see the times to see the crypt at Immaculate Conception but that wasn’t opening again until 10:30 so we decided to press on.  We went back south to Calle Larga and went to the west end passing through to 10 De Augusto Mercado. 

There is this antique shop that promised panoramic views from their rooftop so we went up (50c a person) and it was well worth the climb.  The roof had great view to the south so I got a nice panorama shot and we actually had a nice angle on the main cathedral too.

Continuing up that side street we saw an old-style barber shop that evoked many memories, then we came to this eclectic club that has a skull chandelier, very macabre.  Further up the street was that fun sculpture of the family climbing this pole.   The boys liked it as much as I do.  Next we headed to San Sebastian Square which was bathed in sunshine under a gorgeous blue sky.  Remember that the sky is usually ominous when I am in that area for some reason, but not today.  We had breakfast at the San Sebas Café which was awesome, and even better because Dick paid for it.  I introduced them to Reshma’s husband, another fellow Canadian that happened to be there.

Then we went across the street to the Museum of Modern Art which didn’t have much of a collection today but they did have interesting upper torsos of men and women all decorated differently with an electronic theme.  One pair of them was pretty funny with the torsos having electrical male and female plugs for genitals.

We walked along the side block and saw this artisan working with tin making artworks.  He was amazing, and he started to pull out press clippings about how he has been a craftsman for over 40 years, etc.  They sure know how to work with their hands in this country.

We peeked over the hill at Otorongo Plaza to confirm that unfortunately the hummingbird display is indeed gone, so we retraced our steps and went back to Calle Larga.  I took them into the Panama Hat Museum so they could see how they are woven, then steamed in metal or wooden forms into many shapes.  They were very impressed and had their photos taken wearing the hats.

I then showed them the various restaurants for shawarmas, the Coffee Tree, the Windhorse, the Sabor Latino, before going into the Carolina bookstore.  Then we briefly stopped into the Museum next to the Victoria Hotel then the CIDAP museum on the escalinata before heading to Todos Santos and the Broken Bridge.

Then we coasted down the Inca ruins at Pumapungo and went down to the aviary.  The door to the cage for the peacock was open but he wasn’t coming out to show off.   Too bad.  We wandered over to see the llamas and two of the girls who were relaxing on the grass.  They sure giggled at their photo.  Then we walked around the pond below the ruins before climbing up to get a view of the park below.

We stopped in at the Banco Central museum but we just sat down and decided against touring it.  Our feet were getting pretty tired.

We walked up to San Blas square and there we said our goodbyes for the day.  We were all pooped.  They are to sign up for the Beef Wellington meal at Joe’s on Saturday so we should see them again before they leave on Sunday.

Boy!  Almost 6 hours to complete the blogs today...   Good night!

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