Saturday, April 28, 2012

Saturday April 28, 2012


Saturday Apr 28/12 update
Well I got to bed again about 4:30 and got up at 9.  Bella has invited Chris and Bettye to help us eat Segundo’s chicken tonight and they indicated they were going to walk from their house to ours.   After all the walking Chris did yesterday they might want to reconsider as that is probably a two hour hike for them, although 90% will be downhill.   I also invited my language buddy Gilligan, I mean Juan, to join us and he accepted.  I asked him to come at 4:45 so we can run and pick up the chicken.
I am a happy camper today,  It is a beautiful sunny day again and I got my first video of a hummer at my feeder on the third floor!  I also have some nice footage of a hummer on the wire too.
Hummer at the feeder  http://youtu.be/VlP44U3kfGg
Hummer on a wire  http://youtu.be/aNu6JXv7hNo
Bluish birds in a tree  http://youtu.be/NfEHh_FJZq4
More GOOD NEWS too.   Bella’s Mom is recovering nicely.  It turns out her family doctor had prescribed diuretics which had depleted her potassium levels to a dangerous level.  She now has a smarter doctor that has her properly medicated and the transformation has begun.  This is a huge relief to everyone.
Juan showed up at 5 so we rushed off to get the chicken for supper.  I called Chris and they were just catching a taxi so they arrived soon after.
We had an excellent meal and chocolate éclairs for dessert.  Then we played Rummy Sticks and it seemed everyone got at least one really hard one to work with.   Everyone had had a long day so we shut down before 9 and Juan kindly offered to drive Chris and Bettye home as he lives not too far from them.
Enjoy the videos.    That was today’s excitement.    Hugs to all.

Friday April 27, 2012


Friday Apr 27/12 update
I was awake at 3am and just got up at 4 and got busy cleaning up loose ends.
Bella was off to the dentist for a cleaning then to play bridge today at Bettye’s so I stole Chris and we were off to the spa town of Banos, a western suburb of Cuenca, to check out the sights and the hot springs
Bella’s dentist appointment did not go as planned.   Apparently they sent all their teeth cleaning equipment to the coastal area because of the flooding there (don’t ask us why, it must make sense to someone..), so she got a free examination instead, and a new appointment for next Wednesday.
Chris and I met at Feria Libre and hopped the #27, which I had never ridden before, and we got to admire yet another part of southwest Cuenca that we had never seen and came into Banos from the side at the top of the mountain and got off at their lovely blue church.  This church has 7 round domes and is quite pretty.   The last time Bella and I were there it was occupied for a funeral so we did not get a chance to look inside.  Today the outer doors were open and I managed to get a nice shot of the great interior through a space at the edge of the inner doors.  This church is very impressive!
Chris and I then began a very long walk down the hill looking for the spas.  A town office suggested the Piedra De Agua was the best one and we found it almost right away.  They had the neatest pathway with all sorts of tools embedded in with the rocks, from rakes to power drills.  Once we arrived at the upper gate we were then told to go to the restaurant for admission and instructions.  We had a quick look around first and Chris commented on the brown colour of the water in the main pool.  His remark was overheard by one of the staff so the manager came over to explain that they change the water 3 times a week and they were just in the process of changing the water for the weekend traffic.   There was only one Ecuadorian couple and 3 Quebecers in the whole place.  Bella had told me she had read that the price was around $5 so we were a trifle shocked to see they wanted $10 to sit in the dirty pool or $30 to include the Spa (steam rooms, mud packs, 2 more pools) and $40 more if you wanted a full massage, etc.  It was a nice place but neither of us wanted to pay that kind of money to sit in a dirty pool.  
So we continued our descent and found a local food place for lunch.  Chris bought lunch and it was quite good, especially with a light Club beer by its side.  2 tables away there was a couple with a young boy in a high chair who was backlit by the bright sun outside so I got some cute silhouettes.
Then we went to the next spa, the Hosteria Duran, which was a really beautiful spot.  The 2 pools we saw looked like ordinary chlorinated swimming pools, pale green and blue so maybe their spas were hidden in another building.  Their prices were 20% less.  This place looked like a little resort with 2 water slides.  There were also a lot of hummingbirds cruising the flowers in this area, and that is always a treat.
Then we veered east to try to locate a home we had seen on the Internet for sale, “a touch of the southwest” I think it was, 3 stories, big kitchen, huge yard backing onto a mountainside, with a separate bodega building, for $92,000.  I still wanted to check it out, even though we would never buy it, but we never found it.
We did find one of the lawnmowers tethered in a yard and in need of a change of scenery because she had already eaten her circle of food.
I don’t know why I love palm trees so much, maybe it is because they mean retirement and relaxation to those of us from the northern climes.  Near their College at the bottom of the mountain they have this avenue lined with palms that is like a magnet to me.  Where is my hammock when I need it?
We jumped on the #11 for the return trip and I was shocked that the entrance to Banos was only about 4 blocks from the west end SuperStock and Coral stores.  Heck, it was walking distance to our destination of Feria Libre.  I knew the trip was short last time on the #11 going out but hadn’t noticed the proximity.
We still had time to kill until 5 pm so we wandered around Feria Libre, then MegaHierro across the street where we picked up a few items.  Then Chris wanted to surprise Bettye with a few kitchen items so we walked up to the Sukasa store.  We located a $17 oven thermometer that Bella had been hunting for, for months, so we got to surprise her too.
We still had another hour to kill so we stopped in at the BQ Sports Bar on Ordonez Lasso and it was like stepping back home.  Other than the Ecuadorian staff you could easily have been in Miami or Calgary.  They even had 2 Labatts beer neon signs.
We arrived at Chris’ apartment as close to 5pm as we could so we wouldn’t interrupt the girls’ all-day bridge game.  Chris even got to play a couple of hands.
Then Bettye and Chris were taking us out for supper and the girls had made reservations at the California Kitchen for their Filet Mignon special.  Oh boy, was that ever a great and welcome meal after the miles of walking, and the dessert and entertainment topped it off nicely.
I didn’t even get through half of my pictures and I collapsed in bed at 9:30.  The trouble with that is I woke up at midnight and finally got up at 1am to complete the photos and this blog.
Enjoy the pics.    That was today’s excitement.    Hugs to all.

120427 Chris Petersen

120427 Banos Church 

120427 Banos Church with 7 round domes

120427 Banos Church + town building

120427 Gorgeous Banos Church interior

120427 Circle of food exhausted

120427 Hosteria Duran first set of buildings with pool+slides

120427 Hosteria Duran 2nd set of buildings with pool in centre

120427 Hosteria Duran hummer

120427 I wanna hammock!  NOW!

120427 Impressive Piedra De Agua entrance

120427 Piedra De Agua walkway with embedded tools

120427 Piedra De Agua heart fountain

120427 $10 to sit in here at Piedra De Agua 

120427 Make your own caption....

120427 Kid silhouette 1

120427 Kid silhouette 2

120427 Make your own caption again

120427 Clock tower clocks never work!

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Thursday April 26, 2012


Thursday Apr 26/12 update
Bella is having a day of rest today.
I was up much too early to see the Sixth Interschool Festival of Dance, again at the Coliseo Jefferson Perez.  Most of the groups were doing folk dances but there were a few modern dance groups too.  The routines seemed to range anywhere from 2 minutes to 12 minutes.   Since I had to hold my big camera slightly over my head to get above the railing it was very hard on the arms after a while.   Given the very young age of every entertainer, performing in front of thousands of their peers, there were no signs of nerves or fright.  They all performed with poise and enthusiasm and were a pleasure to watch.
Ethnic #1 http://youtu.be/AU_o5lDimQE
Ethnic #2 http://youtu.be/OGE_Nli7blI
Ethnic #3 http://youtu.be/4fUvEqOKzuo
Ethnic #4 http://youtu.be/p3KauYkpLEE
Ethnic #5 http://youtu.be/LDn2Wtc3udM
Ethnic #6 http://youtu.be/86H9uNgcIjs
Ethnic #7 http://youtu.be/f9IRovyIOi8
Ethnic #8 http://youtu.be/jBbALESWZHI
Ethnic #9 http://youtu.be/R1F4IokvQ3g
Ethnic #10 http://youtu.be/ntex3IReY8s
Ethnic #11 http://youtu.be/t3oVtgD7i6U
Ethnic #12 http://youtu.be/CYhTHHOyILY
Gymnastic #1 http://youtu.be/ayqNpLr3oQE
Gymnastic #2 http://youtu.be/muzdSi6nBCU
Little Kids #1 http://youtu.be/ZegYIrpHAoU
Little Kids #2 http://youtu.be/qcv_W6UX04Y
Teen Modern http://youtu.be/3GrGRRxIZjU

The Coliseo was jammed with thousands of schoolkids so it was very noisy and they seemed to be in constant motion.  Many parents were also in attendance and I was honestly surprised at all the junk food everyone was consuming.
Near home I could hear a hummer so I located him and took a small video.  Twice today I have seen a hummer at our feeder but have been unable to have the camera ready in time yet.  This is encouraging, so stay tuned for more hummer videos.   http://youtu.be/gS5C79eQvfM
Some boys from Etapa showed up again about 3pm and were supposed to replace the outside line but it didn’t appear they had done anything except lose our connection entirely then they took off for an hour.   They did return and it took almost an hour before they supposedly repaired the line, we have Internet, and we are good to go,….. we hope.
Enjoy the pics and videos.    That was today’s excitement.    Hugs to all.

120426 Dance Groups

120426 Dance Groups

120426 Dance Groups

120426 Dance Groups

120426 Dance Groups

120426 Dance Groups

120426 Dance Groups

120426 Dance Groups

120426 Dance Groups

120426 Dance Groups

120426 Dancer

120426 Dancer

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Wednesday April 25, 2012



Wednesday Apr 25/12 update
Well I took the bull by the horns again and went to Etapa this morning.  On the way I noticed this Museum for Ceramics so I poked my head in and saw this beautiful courtyard ceramic artwork so I had to take a shot of it.  Then I continued on to Etapa and started off with a different lady than AnnaIsabel who marched me over to a head service consultant named Pablo Camacho Aguilera.  I was struck by how modern their offices were as I had to wait a few moments while they brought over a well dressed man and woman who spoke fabulous English.  His name was David and he explained that he had lived in Ottawa for many years, recognizing me as a Canadian right away(usually the Tilley hat is a giveaway). 
They went over my copy of the email I sent Saturday, in Spanish and English.   Michael indicated that I had not told them that my signal was dropping consistently, but I showed him my English version which said “This week the problem was again the signal that is inconsistent and keeps quitting on us.”  However the Google translator, which is usually pretty decent, came up with “Esta semana, el problema fue de nuevo la señal de que no es coherente y mantiene en nosotros dejar de fumar” and the last part, loosely translated, says we are quitting smoking….   We had a good laugh over that.
David explained that even though I have purchased the 1Mbps plan that we cannot expect speeds like that during peak usage hours as I share my signal with eight others (that part I did not know).  I said I expected slower speeds during those peak hours, that is a given, but I do expect a firm, usable, reliable signal.
I now have the phone numbers for both Pablo and David in case of future problems.   They say the configuration of the modem needs to be changed and that Pablo will come over between 3 and 4.  I drew him a map and gave him my cel number too.   Maybe we will resolve these issues once and for all.
Segundo came by last night as we were trying to watch the movie Chaos (good movie).  He was supposed to come over the night before and stood us up for the third time so Bella was trying to ignore him.  He phoned several times and she didn’t answer so he just drove to our door.  He is a nice guy and all, but Ecuadorians are notoriously unsympathetic to other people’s time or space.  They just barge in front of others and expect everyone to drop everything for them.  It is an accepted part of their culture, don’t ask me why…
Segundo promised Bella a cooked chicken on Saturday (he only owes us about eight of them for past services) so we tried to invite Brian and Shelley (who had included us for New Year’s dinner) over that night.  They responded that they have a funeral that day so they had to decline.  We also owe Julio and Paola but Bella was concerned about feeding their fussy kids our North American version of a meal.  She thought on it and let me call them but it was too late.  Their daughter has some competition in Guayaquil on Saturday, so they are driving up Friday night and returning Sunday.  Paola indicated they would like to get together with us midweek or next weekend, and maybe go to Paute with them again.  So now Bella will look at inviting Bettye and Chris, and Greg and Leona, to help us eat this huge chicken.  I am informed it is my job to go get the chicken after 5 on Saturday so I’ll probably dust off the bike for that purpose.
I get to see so many sights out of the bedroom window as the people stroll by the paths and as the construction workers upgrade houses across the way.   It is truly refreshing to watch a little pride in the appearance of their homes beginning to take shape.   Two doors down the family is installing ceramic tile on the outside of their home so it will be very pretty when completed.  We get rain, but not snow or freezing temperatures, so the construction materials and techniques are very different.   Across the way one corner house is getting a new roof, and of course, on the other corner we have a new home starting from the ground up.  I took a photo and was laughing about the rebar for the columns being crooked, until a few moments ago when they had added the supports.  Now we might have a straight column!.
Today I saw what looked like a kindergarten class going down the path, following the teacher, grabbing each others shirttails, and doing a “sound off” with the teacher, like marines on a run.  I should have taken a video instead!
Well David from Etapa phoned that Pablo was on his way and he arrived about 3:45.  He checked the modem, upload and download speed, and confirmed my contention that the problem is somewhere on the telephone line they use to provide our signal.   He will have David call me later.
The boys were enjoying the sun on the terrace so I had them reluctantly pose for me.  The texture of the one shot of both boys looks much better when greatly enlarged.
Enjoy the pics.    That was today’s excitement.    Hugs to all.


120425 Our budding Marines "sounding off"

120425 Neighbour's ceramic wall

120425 Etapa's modern office

120425 New roof installation across the road

120425 Ceramic museum courtyard

120425 Why I thought buildings were crroked

120425 How they straighten the columns

120425 Texture looks better when much bigger

120425 Pancho looks BORED....

120425 Peso looks annoyed


Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Tuesday April 24, 2012


Tuesday Apr 24/12 update
Awake at 3am, up at 4:30, tired of tossing and turning.  I modified a couple of my websites with overdue changes amidst all the Internet outages.  When the signal is on, it works great, but the signal just quits right in the middle of uploads and downloads.  This is super frustrating.
Etapa did not show up yesterday so I am a little peeved with them again.  I tried calling AnnaIsabel at Etapa but I don’t know if she understood me at all.  Her English is very limited, like my Spanish.   I am resolved to hang around the rest of the day.
I had slipped out early this morning to a Photography exhibition at the Museo Remigio Crespo Toral on Calle Larga that opened at 9am.  The exhibit was quite small and unimpressive except for 3-4 shots.   They also had an exhibit related to Chinese and Tibetan clothing for some reason and were running a projected film explanation in English.  I wanted to walk off with the Ming vase but I am sure they would have been quite upset to lose that.
I then walked down below Todos Santos (All Saints) Church and took a few shots from the river and also discovered what looks like an excavation of some more old ruins.
I caught the #15 back to Monay Mall and popped into Coral to get my discount card updated to register my Cedula number.  Bella has informed me that since I am already age 62 I can claim back 50% of any IVA tax charged to me (but I can’t claim this until I turn age 65 up to a maximum of $1,500) as long as I ask for, and keep, all my receipts.
Who is going home tonight on DWTS?  I fear Gladys or Melissa’s time is up.
Enjoy the pics.    That was today’s excitement.    Hugs to all.
120424 Photography Exhibition 1


120424 Chinese Dress display


120424 Tibetan Coat display
120424 Ming vase?


120424 Photo exhibition 2

120424 Photo exhibition 3

120424 Photo exhibition 4
120424 Morning sun at Todos Santos

120424 Riverside beauty on Rio Tomebamba
120424 Excavation of old ruins?

120424 Rio Tomebamba is just above normal

120424 Bridge beauty on Rio Tomebamba


120424 Todos Santos + Rio Tomebamba 1

120424 Todos Santos + Rio Tomebamba 2