Saturday Mar 24, 2012 with MAPS

Saturday Mar 24/12 update with maps

Bella went to get a starter kit for some nutrient-filled grain that makes a healthy drink.  She says it is truly a small world, as she sat and chatted with this woman’s husband at Coopera one day while waiting to complete their banking.  Also these people live next door to a woman who was trying to arrange residency in Quito at the same time as us through Gabriela as we waited in the Minister’s office for approval.  Apparently this lady does not have the approved pension income required so she has been refused residency.  That is so sad.

I headed to Kywi, on the north side of the airport to try to get a backing plate for some ceramic house numbers I had purchased yesterday.  They had a plastic sign that was the perfect size but the pricetag was $17 and I was certain I would find a ceramic backing plate for less.   A visit next door to MegaHierro was no help.  I could purchase nice sized pieces of ceramic tile that would work, with some modifications, but I would need to buy a full square meter for about $11.

I decided to try to get to the huge Graiman ceramic store on the other side of the airport and walked back to the west end and enlisted the help of a fellow who spoke mild English.  He told me to hop in his truck and he drove me to the east end of the airport then south.  He had misunderstood me somehow, I have no idea how, because he was trying to bring me near home….  He dropped me off there so I had to walk all the way up again and down the south side of the airport and ended up walking within a few blocks of where he and I had started from.  Guess what, it was like 1:02pm and the store had just closed!  I was more than a little peeved at this turn of events.

I found the end of Paseo De Los Canaris quite close which brought me right down to near where we rented previously and I just kept on walking.  I stopped at Coral at Monay Mall and they only had the same packages of ceramic.  The price is right but I really don’t need all that leftover ceramic.  I decided to hold off until I can get to Graiman again or check out other ceramic stores.    I did pick up some mounting screws though for a whole 16c.

While devouring lunch I saw that Ecuador is experiencing flooding near the coast due to El Nino and that several lives have been lost.  No place in this world is immune from the ravages of Mother Nature when she gets her dander up.

One of our loyal followers has again asked for map references to give a better idea of where we travel in this beautiful city.

I am going to try to enclose two jpg’s of maps I have devised with easy to follow references hopefully.  One is just of my travels today, just for fun, and to experiment.   The second is a map of our main sites that might be worth saving somewhere for easy reference.  This blog will also be marked that it includes MAPS so it should be easy to find too.

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

120324 Today's Travels - This is a test - Is this of interest on a daily basis?

120324 Main Sites and Locations for reference - Our home is on the right.

Friday March 23, 2012

Friday Mar 23/12 update
We went to Banco Pichincha first thing and got called over for the expected bad news that we would be relegated to the poor man’s banking downstairs since we didn’t maintain a $50,000 deposit to remain respectable clients of their “Private Banking” upstairs.
They also did their best to try to stop us from moving out money to a Coopera CD at 10.5%.  It is of course much safer to stay with them at a whopping 5.5%.  We explained that an extra $1,500 per year meant a lot to retired people on a very fixed income.
The Manager, Juan, wasn’t at Coopera, and was expected to be back at 2pm Ecuador time.  Bella went home while I went walkabout for 3 hours to the Rio Yanuncay a little further up.  What a picturesque spot!
Next to the Yanuncay were a pair of banana sellers with a 6 foot stack of bananas for inventory!
As I was passing a couple of Cuencanos talking on the street one of them addressed me in English.  He was another one who had been working in New York and he was bemoaning the fact that he could make $1,000 a week in the Big Apple but only $500 per month here.  I asked him how much his apartment cost in New York and he backed off in a hurry and laughed  Gotta love the Cuencanos..
Juan showed up at 3:10pm and I completed the banking.  Like I said, he was on Ecuador time.
I heard there is a soccer game at the stadium tomorrow night.  I will have to see if I can get someone to show me the ropes.
Bella fried up some Filet Mignon (called Lomo Fino here) on the stove griddle for supper and it was just superb, for $2.80 a pound!   I am sure she will be watching for that at the Coopera store again.
Tonight we went to listen to the Cuenca Symphony Orchestra performing movie tunes.  That is much more fun than most classical stuff they are usually forced to play.  We were fortunate that we got there quite early.  The people behind us in line were from Kamloops, BC, checking out our city.  The beautiful concert hall at the University of Cuenca was standing room only.  I have a few YouTube videos.  The Pirates of the Carribean theme has an unexpected extra guest conductor, in addition to the 32-year-old from Spain, Bruno Axel.
http://youtu.be/em8ioFPUp4s     West Side Story Theme
http://youtu.be/H_RcsdYKDPc   Indiana Jones Theme
http://youtu.be/kk417cgp01E       James Bond Theme
http://youtu.be/TJZkwjZg1hk      Jaws Theme
http://youtu.be/Qp198Jua6e8       Jesus Christ Superstar Theme – part 1
http://youtu.be/-rlpkWPu6rs        Jesus Christ Superstar Theme – part 2
http://youtu.be/XXC5bbPhnRw   Pink Panther Theme

http://youtu.be/smeq6Q9RiCg      Pirates Of The Caribbean (with an extra conductor)
Enjoy the pics and movies.    That was today’s excitement.  Hugs to all.

120323 Bananas anyone?? - 1

120323 Bananas anyone?? - 2

120323 Bananas anyone?? - 3

120323 Cuenca Humour

120323 Cuenca Symphony Orchestra

120323 Cuenca Serpent

120323 This is the HUGE El Arenal/Feria Libre market

120323 Cuenca Gas prices for US Gallon

120323 Note the name on this toilet

120323 Cuenca Mini Madness

120323 Rio Yanuncay 1

120323 Rio Yanuncay 2

120323 Rio Yanuncay 3

120323 Rio Yanuncay 4

120323 Welder at work

Thursday March 22, 2012

Thursday Mar 22/12 update

We took a chance to go to Banco Pichincha and do our banking because we could not get online to confirm the money transfer.  The money hadn’t arrived so we called Maria at Banco Territorial and she promised it by tomorrow morning.  In the meantime Bella had the Bank amend our records so she could check our account online, and now that does work.

Every time we go to Banco Pichincha we can expect a good rain and today was no different.  It seems to have held off until Bella got home and I made a quick tour of downtown El Centro.

Of course I can’t pass a good video store without looking for some of the classics.  I tend to buy those films that I know are good and that I would watch more than once.  They also have a lot of movie compilations that are too tempting to pass up.   Essentially I got 21 movies for $10.  We now have about 120 movies in our new collection.

There was a huge demonstration by the indigenous Quechuans.  I have videos of this huge procession being directed down certain roads by police in full riot gear.  Thank God these are a peaceful people.  At the corner of Parque Calderon there were stages and more speeches going on and a lot of green flags being waved.  It appears they are protesting that gold exploration will contaminate the water supply.   We can’t meddle in politics or we’ll get expelled.

http://youtu.be/uswi0s5CLgM

http://youtu.be/TlWtcNbGEeA

http://youtu.be/i526xVNGAiI    

The heavens opened as I was waiting for a #3 bus and the two that came by were full of school kids so I decided to cross back to the 10 De Augusto Mercado and wait it out.  For $1.50 I had a fried chicken and rice dinner and the chicken was as good as the Colonel’s!  Then I waited some more and wandered through some area upstairs that I had never seen.

Finally it abated enough that I could catch a #3 and used my umbrella to make it home from Monay Mall.

I understand that the roofers managed to put a garbage bin in my driveway in Okotoks and still left room for Deb to get her car in and out, but they haven’t started any work, and now there is alternating snow and melting in the forecast.  Oh well, it will get done eventually I am sure,

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

120322 Police chopper playing Big Brother

120322  Peaceful rally in El Centro

120322 Downtown Rio Tomebamba

120322 Immaculate Conception 1

120322 Immaculate Conception 2

120322 Immaculate Conception 3

120322 Immaculate Conception 4

Tuesday-Wednesday March 20-21, 2012

Tuesday Mar 20/12 update

Bella went to the book exchange this morning and saw Greg and Leona again.  They are probably headed to Vilcabamba to visit friends that live there, then they will return and probably start their residence application.

Bella traded five of our junky movies for five new ones and she appears to have made some good choices.

We spent most of the afternoon trying to control a site that would give us a rerun of last night’s Dancing With The Stars.  Who would have thought that Urkel would have kicked the butt of that Cuban Brad Pitt!!  And that English Marilyn Monroe opera singer was breathtaking to watch.  Melissa Gilbert made me think I was watching Jennifer Grey all over again.  Wow, this is a talented group and that was definitely the best season opener ever.

It is not easy to try to get North American programming down here.  The major networks won’t let you onto their feed if you are not in Canada or the US because of some international agreements.  We think that really sucks.  We will have to try to find a way to get a live feed somehow.   If anybody has any ideas, let us know.

We heard some really good news that they were to start work tomorrow on our roof in Okotoks.

Our stepdad Lucien is doing remarkably well.  He is affectionately known as the Energizer Bunny by our family, and for good reason.

That was today’s excitement.  Hugs to all.

Wednesday Mar 21/12 update

Happy first day of spring.

Bella went on a Market tour today with an Ecuadorian guide to learn more about the different fresh foods available in the mercados.  They discussed uses, cooking, bargaining, pricing, and even which are the best booths.  Apparently the best Mercado in town is right behind our old place, and the best pricing is in the tents outdoors because they pay less rent.  Bella bought Filet Mignon for $2.80 a pound!

I was supposed to go do some banking today but the money never got transferred from Banco Territorial in Quito to the Banco Pichincha in Cuenca.  They wanted a more detailed, signed letter so we re-did our letter, signed in blue ink and scanned and emailed it.  The transfer should be completed overnight.

About 1pm I went walkabout with the camera along the path east on the other side of the Rio Tomebamba.  I was hoping to get some hummingbird shots, and I did spot one, but there were not many flowers along there.  The weather was gorgeous and mostly sunny so the big camera got a workout. 

Across the river were some indigenous folks tending the big black lawnmowers.   I continued almost to the Hospital del Rio then turned left along a little, but picturesque feeder creek, up to Avenida Gonzalez Suarez,  Then I hooked left again back towards Mall de Monay.   Along the way I spotted different workers, mechanics, ceiling tile makers, and cabinet makers.  They all delighted in having their picture taken.

I got another shot of our home from the backside (see the black arrow top left) and you can see the glass roofed terrace.   Near our bridge there were 4 sheep also doing lawnmowing chores.

A sunny day is such a pleasure to enjoy.

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

120321 Black Lawnmowers

120321  Tomebamba Beauty 1

120321  Tomebamba Beauty 2

120321  Tomebamba Beauty 3

120321 I love the light in these fluffy things

120321  Flutterby Dandelion

120321 Watching from above

120321  Gum trees losing their bark

120321 White Lawnmowers 1

120321  White Lawnmowers 2

120321  Almost home

120321  Black arrow points to our home terrace

120321  Making ceiling tiles

120321  Cabinet making

120321  Happy mechanics

120321 Tomebamba beauty 4

120321 Tomebamba beauty 5

120321 Tomebamba beauty 6

Monday March 19, 2012

Monday Mar 19/12 update

We had a noon appointment at a restaurant in San Joaquin for a lunch discussion about the Cuenca Referral Network and the Coopera Credit Union.  We took our #15  to transfer to the #19 at Feria Libre market but never quite made it.  There was some kind of odd demonstration on the road so the bus pulled a U-turn and everybody got off.  We waited a while at a bus stop but figured at 11:55 we had better grab a cab.  He found the Autopista quickly and we were there by 12:06.  And, surprise, we were the first persons to arrive,… because the luncheon was actually at 1:00. 

We enjoyed the new Fonda (restaurant) which is a series of delightful thatched-roof structures set over a large pond full of ducks.  Then we ordered our lunches. The meeting eventually got going, on Ecuador time, at 2:15.  Juan, our Coopera Credit Union manager had invited us and he made a short speech and introduced the President of Coopera who started it all 8 years ago with $50.  Two other nice fellows named Brian and Aaron spoke briefly as well, although their contribution was unclear to us.  Then those two handed out brochures for places they are trying to build outside of Cuenca.   They had no microphones for the meeting so we really struggled to hear what they were trying to say. and it really wasn’t very informative at all.   

We did get to meet a nice couple from Wisconsin who have lived in Belize for the last 13 years.  They were tired of the increasing costs and the crime so they are likely moving to Cuenca soon.  They are going to scout it for a bit.  Greg and Leona came back to our house where we told them about our experiences and then we all launched into the many delicious leftovers from last night.   

While we were talking Bella’s phone rang and Garth and Orilla informed us the good news that their passports had been found and that their residency application could proceed.  They are headed to meet 2 of Grace and Nelson’s assistants in Quito to get their residency stamp and hopefully their Cedula.  They have been forced to buy local furniture because they couldn’t bring their container until all this gets resolved.  They are breathing a huge sigh of relief.

We had a really lovely evening with Greg and Leona, truly kindred spirits.

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

120319  Brian, Aaron & Juan

120319  Coopera founder & Juan

120319  The new Coopera Fonda

120319  New Coopera Fonda 2

120319 Coopera Fonda 3

120319  Lovely Mallard

120319 Starting line for the one-legged race

120319 Nearby San Joaquin farmers