Cuenca Updates: Saturday May 12, 2012

Saturday May 12/12 update

Another bad night last night and broken up sleeping patterns but I still got up after 9am and swept the house top to bottom as we are expecting company and the cleaning lady doesn’t come until Wednesday.

Bella was busy preparing the supper all day, everything except the main course, which is my duty to go get.

I busied myself with varnishing the new shelf unit in my room and that turned out nice, since I didn’t overdo it as I normally do. Then I went outside and moved some rocks into the gully they had carved next to our sidewalk when they were playing with the road surface. We have no idea if they are returning or if this is it?? In any case, since the road now slopes toward the houses then slopes to the east, I did not want any rushing water eroding under the sidewalk and creating further problems. Hopefully these carefully placed rocks will prevent any damage.

I saw Peso and Pancho enjoying the sunshine so I decided to join them on the terrace and get some reading done. Peso took off before I got the camera ready so I only got a shot of Pancho.

Then I shaved and showered and headed off to get the promised chicken at Segundo’s restaurant. I was early so I just parked myself at a table and watched Marta patiently rotate the spit with 3 chickens, changing hands, changing the angle of the spit, standing, sitting, and the poor girl is bored to tears. After 5pm they took off the chicken on the left and bagged it for me and I headed back home.

I was kinda surprised to see Julio and Paola’s vehicle in front of our house as we were expecting them at 5:30. Bella says they showed up at 5:05 had already given them the grand tour so we stood around and discussed their business problems while the potatoes cooked .

Julio and Paola are the wonderful couple who rescued us off the mountaintop zoo when a huge rainstorm was threatening to send us sliding soaking wet to the bottom. Then they had taken us to the neighbouring town of Paute for a lovely meal, quick tour, then to Julio’s family’s farm. This meal was to repay this debt and to get better acquainted with this beautiful family.

The children were quite content to watch the Disney channel once I got it changed to the Spanish language for them. Rafaela, the oldest, is into TaeKwonDo and will be getting her yellow belt next month. Carolina is a skater and little Juliano is into soccer. It was so sweet as they gave us big hugs on arrival and departure.

The meal was a hit with the adults, not so much with the fussier children who are not accustomed to trying strangely prepared foods. Julio couldn’t have enough mashed potatoes and butter and must have had 5 helpings. The broccoli salad was a hit with Paola and she kept the bowl at her side and was sure she got the recipe before she left. The dessert of chocolate éclairs didn’t last very long and gathered many compliments for Bella the excellent cook.

I told the children that they were very lucky to have such a pretty Mom and a handsome Dad so they are guaranteed to be good-looking themselves. Julio had to translate most of it and, when he got to the part of the handsome Dad, Rafaela gave him a "you've got to be kidding" look that got us all roaring. The kids were so very well behaved all evening.

This couple owns a company that makes upscale bedding mostly and they employ 35 personnel. The rules for employing someone here are way different than in Canada as they have no UIC and if they fire someone they must pay a large severance equivalent to 1.5 months salary for every year. Even with an iron-clad one-year contract he was not immune to being sued by a lazy pregnant employee and losing in the courts to the tune of $5,000, which is a pretty good annual salary here.

We had many discussions about cultural differences and Julio gave us many insights from his time in Minneapolis. They are truly a delightful couple, both younger than our children, but very eager for our friendship. Julio says he told his parents about our visit to the farm when they weren’t there and the parents have requested that we are brought out there to meet them, even though they speak no English at all. We had better start remembering some of the Spanish we are supposed to be learning.

I also asked Paola to let me know when one of the kids has a competition as I would love to attend. Julio also indicated he might take me to a local soccer game some day.

All in all it was a truly wonderful evening.

Enjoy the pics. That was today’s excitement. Hugs to all.