Friday November 2, 2012

Friday November 2/12  update #273

While waiting for my arrivals from Canada I heard some odd buzzing and looked out to see two planes/jets streaking back and forth in tandem across the sky.  From this distance it was tough to ascertain, but I am positive they are military judging from the payloads on the undercarriages.  I figure they are part of the Cuenca Anniversary celebrations happening this weekend.

Bella and Mavis arrived as expected around 1:30pm  and we set about the unpacking of 6 suitcases and 2 backpacks.  I can’t believe all the stuff they brought.  Our kitchen is now very well stocked with appliances and gadgets and spices, etc, although some items mysteriously never made it here.  Maybe the Customs guys like Hy’s Seasoning Salt too….

Bella took Mavis on a short walk in the neighborhood and it was comical how they witnessed a puppy vs rooster confrontation almost outside our front window.  A silly puppy was no match for the upset rooster!

I made a pasta supper and everybody settled down.   I spent 3 hours setting up Bella’s new laptop which was a bargain for about $380.  I get so frustrated with the newer versions of Windows where you can’t find anything any more.  I installed Firefox and Google Chrome so hopefully we never have to use Windows crap.

I have much to do with some of my old software that Bella brought along and not enough time.

Tomorrow promises to be very busy with the Anniversary celebrations in full swing.

We have now been in Cuenca officially for 1 year today….

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

Thursday November 1, 2012

Thursday November 1/12  update #272

Art, art, and even more art!!!   I spent the day beside the Rio Tomebamba, just below El Centro, going through all the artisan booths stretching from the Broken Bridge to Otorongo.   Much of the art is amazing and so well priced.   Some of the artisans are so very inventive and talented.   I managed to restrict myself to spending only $10 but I am looking for someone to loan me $300.    See the photos and you will know why!

I met lots of folks I know on my 4 hour odyssey and had lots of chats.   I even ran into Jay early on, and he was helping his landlady’s daughter, Gabriela, to find some paintings.   I mentioned I had seen some exhibited when passing on the bus, at the Broken Bridge and not far from the Electrica Empreza building.    I later went by the Broken Bridge and I am still drooling over one piece in particular….   Did I mention the need for $300????

I took lots of shots so please enjoy the wonderful art.

Oh, and I found out that we can find out about most happenings in town on the town’s website  http://www.cuenca.com.ec and then just click on any of the 3 Agenda flags ½ way down.   Someone actually managed to hand me the November book today.   When I had asked for it yesterday they had none at the iTur office.

About 8:15pm I thought we were having a military firefight behind us, it sounded like so much gunfire, and close…  I finally caught a glimpse of the last burst of fireworks from the Monay Mall area. 

The house is clean and I am now doing laundry to await my sweetheart’s arrival tomorrow after lunch.  Gosh, 3 months is a long time and I will be glad to have her back.

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

Wednesday October 31, 2012

Wednesday October 31/12  update #271

Today I made arrangements to meet Jay at 10am at El Vergel so we could explore a metalworkers exhibition in the area.  Jay managed to get there by taxi  and we found the museum but were dismayed to find out the exhibit did not open until 5pm!   So we had lunch and visited the many neat shops and marveled at some of their incredible talent and artistry.  We were quite surprised to be greeted in English, especially by ladies in ethnic costume at a store selling Peruvian clothing.  We had a few chuckles there with one fellow wearing a devil’s face balaclava and performing for us.

We got many shots around El Vergel and the Pumapungo Inca ruins.   They had the llamas tied up right on the ruins, no doubt acting as live lawnmowers.  I showed Jay where Big Kabuda’s Restaurant was, then we climbed the hill and toured the Banco Central Museum.

Jay had to go home and charge up his camera battery and I needed to pick up my hard-earned cookies from Carole Walter in Rio Sol.  Carole and Ray have a lovely townhouse in the back of Rio Sol and we spent a good hour looking at photos they had taken on a Rhine cruise.

I wound my way back home and threw the cookies in the freezer, changed my shoes and climbed the hill again to catch the #3 downtown. 

Jay and I met again at 4pm as there was supposed to be some All Saints Day celebrations at Parque Calderon.  Nothing much was happening so I started to show Jay the sights, like the mimes, and the Justice Building, and we also tried to find a spare battery for his camera without success.  We went by the San Francisco Market and decided to get off our feet and have some supper.  Jay bought the pizza at La Vina and we both enjoyed our meal and a beer and the few minutes rest for our aching feet.

We went back to Parque Calderon but there was still no action at all so we called it a day and went our respective ways.

Tonight is Hallowe’en of course but there are no goblins or ghosts running around here.

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

Tuesday October 30, 2012

Tuesday October 30/12  update #270

I was at Hearts Of Gold again this morning and we have now sold almost 30% of the tickets in our pre-sale.

While I was there I got a call from John, a fellow I had met at Parque Paraiso twice.   He had mentioned on Sunday that he had seen a poster about a Rodeo somewhere Nov 3, but couldn’t remember where.   He called to say he saw the poster at the Miraflores Super Maxi but couldn’t give me any more details…

I left my shift early because I had to be home for Rosa’s arrival for housecleaning.  I had a quick lunch and as soon as Rosa arrived, I caught the #15 to downtown hoping to catch the #28 to Super Maxi but it never seems to show up when we need it so I started walking.   It really wasn’t a long walk but it started to sprinkle, then rain, so I was thankful I had thought to put my mini-umbrella in my fanny pack.

I found the poster and didn’t like that the tickets were $20 for the Rodeo, nor that the times conflicted with our other Saturday plans.   Too bad!   I am sure it would be worth seeing.   However, by the time we leave Joe’s and get to party at Los Sauces for the Cuenca Independence celebrations, that will have to trump the Rodeo.

So I decided to do my grocery shopping at Super Maxi, something I haven’t done since Bella left.  I had a very short list but still spent $60 by picking up sundries that are hard to find anywhere else.   While I was there the heavens opened a couple of times and we could really hear the downpour bang on the roof.  I did my shopping leisurely while I waited for it to subside.   It was back to a sprinkle by the time I had to catch the cab home.

Rosa has been such a good worker and she said she still could use a couple of more customers so I told her I would give her a recommendation on GringoTree.   She is anxiously awaiting Bella’s return to help her set up Internet payments for her monthly RUC government payments.   It is too much of a hassle for Rosa to have to go to their offices to pay the monthly billing.

I am looking forward to having some corn on the cob for supper tonight, one of life's simple pleasures.
Blogspot is giving me fits lately.    When I upload my photos it continuously fouled up the order of them.  I see they are now solving that problem by not letting me upload ANY photos!!   Thanks again Google...

That was today’s excitement.   Hugs to all.   

Hunka hunka burnin' love, up the street from us

Yonder rodeo poster

Monday October 29, 2012

Monday October 29/12  update #269

I was requested by Emilie at Hearts Of Gold to show up if I had nothing better to do, so I did.  I had about an hour’s sleep so I was anxious to get up and about anyway.   I did the full morning shift, went to the Coopera near the Chamber of Commerce to do the banking.    I took several shots of the progress in Parque De La Madre which seems to be really moving along now.   I tried to have lunch at the Inca Bar, known for its burgers etc, but it was closed so I climbed the stairs and had a couple of spicy shawarmas for lunch.  What a treat!

As I was rushing to get back to the office I was stopped by a small older Ecuadorian who was asking if I was interested in renting an apartment or not, as he had two for rent in the Oro Verde Hotel complex.  I should have realized right then that I was talking to the “Captain”, a friend of Chris and Bettye’s.  He is 83 years old and had just returned from piloting a ship through the Mediterranean.   He is quite the character and he made a few predictions that I hope do not come true.

I got back for the afternoon shift but ended up just resting on the loveseat for 3 hours.   We had three of my friends buy tickets in the morning so we have sold about 20 of the available 71 seats before they go on public sale.    I have also agreed to return in the morning for 3 hours before I have to rush home to allow Rosa in the house for cleaning.

I popped by Raoul’s new house to say Hello.  That building is really progressing now.

I went next door for supper.  I was just too late and too tired to cook.   I barely had the energy to feed the Boys.

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

Sunday October 28, 2012

Sunday October 28/12  update #268

I was up every 2 hours trying to finish off the blogs from yesterday but Blogspot was having trouble uploading so I would go back to bed and try again every time I woke up.   Very frustrating.

With very little sleep I awoke with a headache so I just did the chores and went back to bed.   I sent an email to Jay from Montreal to see if he wanted to see the festivities at Parque Paraiso this afternoon and he agreed.  My headache continued so I took a couple of Tylenol and caught the bus.   Jay met me by the bridge and I helped him set up his fancy Olympus camera a little.

We wandered the park but were shocked that the festivities reported to run 10am to 6pm Saturday and Sunday were nowhere in evidence.   When I went by the park in the taxi last night around 9:30pm the place was still hopping.   We could hear fireworks and loud bangs until 12:30 am.   Regardless we enjoyed a pork dinner and meandered the length of the park enjoying the families having fun.    My headache still wasn’t gone so I wasn’t too much in photography mode today.

There were families enjoying themselves and a couple of comedians for entertainment, but other than that there was only the handsome cab waiting in readiness.

We saw the spray paint artist showing off in front of a crowd and Jay was fascinated.  When he heard he could buy the painting he just witnessed being created for $10, he had his wallet out immediately.

Jay and I caught a yellow cab home where he got to meet the Boys and see our lovely home.   Peso and Pancho were very affectionate to Jay and he took an immediate liking to them.

Then we walked up to Coral at the Monay Mall where I helped Jay locate a few minor items and I introduced him to Jorge, the grocery manager.   Neither of us were very hungry so we just opted for a brownie ice cream sundae. Mistake.  It was delicious, but ice cream is never good with a headache.    

I am sitting here and briefly heard carnival-type music so I looked out the window to see the amusement park on the hill is lit up and apparently operating.  It certainly is colourful.

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

Saturday October 27, 2012

Saturday October 27/12 update #267

I locked the Boys out and had a good sleep.   Even so, I had another 2 hour nap before heading west.

A stop was made to briefly watch Jorge and his buddies play volleyball.   I got some shots of them with a pretty dramatic sky in the background.   This is so very common to get these threatening skies but we rarely get any rain from them.   They have to go west to the Cajas before they open up most of the time.

From there I caught the bus over to Joe’s Secret Garden, where the sky was already clearing up and it was a lovely late afternoon.  I would rather take outdoor shots at Joe's any day of the week since indoor shots are so finicky.

Today was Fried Chicken Day so Joe’s had lots of bookings and they tried something different, two evening seatings.   Some people were supposed to get fed at 6:30 then a second bunch would take over the seating at 7:15.   There was a lot of grumbling over this, because the first group worried that they would be booted out early to make way for the late group.  Then the latecomers were worried about standing around waiting and eating too late.  Somehow Joseph made room so everyone could get seated and all the grumbling stopped.   The fried chicken was perfection again tonight, as was the apple peach cobbler for dessert.

I got to finally meet Jay Shink from Montreal tonight.  We had been corresponding by email for a long time since Jay discovered my blog.  What a nice man!   He even brought us some cat food and spices from Canada!  I know the two of us will be getting together soon and I’ll show him around town.   He will be here at least 6 months.   I introduced him to most of the other Canadians in attendance tonight, like Garth & Orilla, Joanne & Kevin, and Mark & Karen.

My seatmates for supper were another Canadian pair from Milton, Ontario, Frank and Rita Chin.  We are so fortunate to make the acquaintance of so many interesting people at Joe’s.

Carol Walter was celebrating her 80^th Birthday this night and she asked me to take a quick portrait of her to send to her friends.  She promised to bake me a huge batch of 35 cookies for my trouble.

Another lady from Montreal asked me to send her some photos too.   She is originally from Hungary and met another Hungarian lady this night.

The taxis were very slow getting to Joe's tonight so I got home rather late.

I have encountered many problems trying to upload the blogs since 3am….

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