..... A GOOD WEEK....

   This week was a warm & fuzzy week.....Fun with the neighbors,  and meeting a recent arrival....

Wednesday I went with Rick to pay bills, which means we eat lunch out somewhere....

We went downtown and as I was looking at the lovely old buildings I noticed one that said  CASA EPISCOPAL - Bishop's House....very old & lovely....

Looking carefully on the balcony - the half moon shaped wood pieces - there are the names of the early bishops of Cuenca with their dates....the construction of the colonial building is with the typical interior patio.....

Business finished so we headed toward home stopping for lunch at Tutto Matto:

There we ran into some Gringo friends.....the place seems to have a lot of gringo customers...with reason,  good food & reasonable prices....

After lunch we walked 1/2 block to Ital Deli -- an American style deli full of the best meat in Cuenca....here is where we get our bacon...neat thing I noticed is that Ital Deli had in their refrigerated case  CORN TORTILLAS!   Oh yes,  Cuenca is growing up!

Back home to rest a little but not before taking a picture of the gorgeous Calla Lily blooming in our backyard...Yolanda brought several plants from her home and after struggling  some they are starting to do very well....

 

Thursday late afternoon Susana came over ....I opened a bottle of wine and we sat in the kitchen visiting....pretty soon Ruben came over ( I think he gets curious about what we gals are talking about)  I poured him a glass and he sat and we had a very good conversation about educating children....case in point,  daughter Poleth and husband Andres are university  graduates with accounting degrees,  but they haven't been able to find steady work doing accounting...so...Andres got a contract for $100,000.00 to repair, replace,  and clean up the main building of Banco Bolivariano!!  Amazing that he was able to pull it off with NO EXPERIENCE doing that kind of thing....they are going great guns,  but it was because Poleth and Andres were taught HOW TO WORK!    They hopefully will make about $20,000 for them if they finish on time in January...and now have another job lined up after this is finished ... so proud  of them starting their own business!!

Then Bertha came over....after Susana & Ruben left Bertha wanted to see if I had any tee shirts for Titi.....couldn't find any but she fell in love with a lovely Fostoria Romance  fruit bowl/centerpiece with matching candelabra,  and a darling Malachite ring....since they are now 1/2 price she took the ring and left.  I locked up,  but back she came with Geovani - for the Fostoria pieces!  It made me happy to see her with the Fostoria because this was the pattern Christina Maria chose & I love seeing it go to dear friends....

Friday a new friend came over so we could meet face to face and have lunch....we went to Bertuchi's for Italian....Ginger is a delight,  from Dallas,  and we had a good time talking and comparing adventures....Rick had recommended she see Dr. Galo Cardenas for her immigration questions and she was VERY HAPPY she went to see him!   Took he over to "our" bakery around the corner from us so we could all load up on goodies...

 

 

 This morning Susana took us to the Italian, Fillipo, to get bread and cheese....how I love good bread and good cheese....today I got Olive Bread and bread with dried tomatoes,  and 2 kinds of cheese,  Fontina, and one with crushed black pepper....so yummy....

 

After Susana picked up Paula from her English classes, we dropped Rick downtown to get a haircut .... the barber had raised his price to an outrageous $4..... :)

 

Then we went to get an "ice cream"  frozen yogurt really -- 2 flavors swirled together  -  great!

 

On the way home Susana spotted a Garage Sale so we stopped.....gave her the idea of having a big "neighborhood" sale with Bertha,  Ximena,  and Eugenia....move out the trucks and have the sale under the covered driveway....I really like the idea since I was thinking the same thing!!!

 

When Rick got home we ate some empanadas he picked up -- not as good as Fannys'  ... hers are twice the size and really FULL of meat and chicken!

 

It's now time for a siesta!!

 

 

 

 

 

.....WONDERFUL WEEKEND....

       This weekend was unique and wonderful.....it's amazing the growing & learning opportunities there are in Cuenca -- little surprises that make life interesting and never dull....

FRIDAY afternoon Linda and Bo came over with a friend who has just moved to Cuenca...Lorena is a bubbly fun Italian gal who was a Spanish teacher and lived in Mexico and for many years in Colombia before she ended up in the states....

They also brought Todd,  a retired M.D. (radiologist) who came to Ecuador for a writers seminar and fell in love with the country.....He came to Cuenca, found a house  to buy in Chaluabamba, and when his wife Shelia joined him he had a surprise for her!      He's a super nice guy!

We all went to eat empanadas at Fanny's little outdoor driveway eatery....

                                       The empanada girls....LORENA,  LINDA  &  me - SUSAN..
                 The huge empanadas stuffed FULL of well seasoned meat or chicken are only $1 each!!

                                      The empanada boys,   BO, TODD, and RICARDO...

Amigitas!!

I made a very Mexican salsa to take for our empanadas -- didn't know if anyone would like it,  but they did and Bo especially raved -- he has quite a sophisticated palate!! .....Made with 3 different types of dried chilis.....Chile Ancho,  Chile Guajillo,  & Chili Chipotle...no tomatoes.....

SATURDAY  the compuer Guru Tony Bishop came -- working on Rick's computer he attached another screen so Rick can now see what he is doing and he's happy.....

That night we went to our favorite Mexican eatery....Tacanijo  for another great meal...

 

I ordered a new menu item.....Chalupas -- really delicious!

 

The charming owners of Tacanijo,  MARCELA & PAULO....

 

This beautiful wrought iron railing with red roses is one of the details of the new dining room addition to Tacanijo.....

 

I took with me a sample of the gorgeous rings I have on sale now 1/2 off....Marcela chose this knock out -- sterling silver set with genuine gemstones - amethyst,  peridot, citrine, blue topaz, garnet & marcasite .....and how pretty on her petite hand....

 

It's so great to see the terrific success they are experiencing with the enlarged eating area.....

 

SUNDAY.....

I bought my usual candle from this vendor outside the Cathedral....she has a very nice selection of religious goods....she is one of several vendors with lovely things...

 

 

Teresa waited on the Cathedral steps for the lunch Rick prepares for her and the few dollars we and others give....

It was a beautiful High Mass and afterwards a big procession....

 

And with a band too.....

 

 

 

Gathered on the side of the Cathedral were these CHOLAS....I talked to the ladies from Banos.....delightful -- don't you love their hats!

 

And afterwards lunch at Don Colon .... some of our neighbors were there also....

 

We both had the $4 almuerzo quesadilla plate....very tasty!!!

 

And then to the Mercado de Flores where I bought 10 beautiful cut roses and this darling miniture rose plant...all for $5.....

 

This reminds me of candy canes.....

 

MONDAY....got a taxi to go the Farmasol Pharmacy to buy my heart pills (for the arrhythmia ) ... had him wait and then take us to Don Raul for Ceviche and shrimp....

Good seafood!!! (especially with a beer!)

 

And then we walked down the street to a bakery with delicious pastries.....when we got home I invited Susana and Bertha for coffee... But first they wanted to go to SuperMaxi to buy the groceries for tomorrow's lunch....Bertha wants me to show her how to make my macaroni and hamburger dish....found fresh Basil and Oregano as well as fresh mushrooms....but NO HAMBURGER MEAT!!  So tomorrow Bertha will go get the hamburger....hope this turns out good since I never measure I have my fingers crossed because they thought what I made last week was so outstanding...

 

When we came out of SuperMaxi we stopped at the little chocolate kiosk...couldn't believe the chocolate nativity set....totally edible....

 

Isn't this terrific?  Costs $15 ...

 

Geovani wanted me to see the two trucks he is deliberating over buying, so off we went......small semi's....one brand has a seat he really likes but no air conditioning...the other has air conditioning and electric windows....he is convinced the prices are fixed and I told him EVERYTHING is negotiable,  but he must talk to the owner,  not the salesman....business owner to business owner.....Hope he gets a good deal because he is prepared to put down $45,000 cash and finance the rest....a lot of money!

 

The girls did come over later and we had coffee and goodies from the bakery and some Camembert cheese from SuperMaxi -- they loved it all but especially the cheese!

 

Time to get to bed...tomorrow will be another busy, fun day with some of  the greatest people on the planet!!!

 

Thank you Lord for leading us to Cuenca!!

 

 

 

 

.....TREE REMOVAL in CUENCA.....

      Monday morning bright and early Jaime came with his worker to cut down the big tree in the front of the house.....he got this bug to take out the tree and replace it with some fruit trees.   I liked the tree but it was rather messy with the leaves dropping all over....they clogged the gutters so Jaime wanted to get rid of it....

Tree cutting in Ecuador is a far cry from the U.S.   .....  It seems as tho they have never heard of a chain saw,  they cut down the trees with machetes and axes!  It is quite amazing,  not only is it a huge job,  but they need so much strength and stamina....Months ago  a huge tree in the park was cut down  in the same manner....

It was a big job for one kid especially when he only makes $20 a day.....Jaime "supervised"   ...  more like the blind leading the blind.....problem arose when they encountered a hose like line for lights?  phone?    Luckily it wasn't too damaged so hopefully everything will continue to work....

I made sure they were careful.... all the branches were hauled away but the big tree trunk is still in the yard -- that sucker is heavy!!

Then the planting....

 

Jaime brought a purple  bougainvillea  and we planted it by the front gate.. It's in my favoite color....

 

 

The last job was to remove a large tree stump that has been here for a long time...finally got it out and it looks so much better now....

The weather has been cooperating with the new plantings....Light rain today which is what they really need......................


Yesterday we had lunch with 3 darling friends....Jean L., and Joyula and John H.....We met at a favorite Italian restaurant of Jean,   That's Amore ...... food was good and the conversation and laughs were fantastic!!  John has a great sense of humor and knows lots of good jokes!!       We haven't been getting together enough so we vowed to change that.....lunch in a couple of weeks will be at
Chill and Grill,  a great hamburger place near Super Maxi......

After lunch Rick wanted dessert so we stopped at Fruitilados for ice cream and cake and cookies....

 

This afternoon after almuerzo at the little cafe 1/2 block from our house,   Tony Bishop (the computer guru) came over to pick up Rick's computer .. glad to hear he and Katie will take some time off over Christmas and New Year's  .......

 

 
Home last night we  watched  "THE MAN WHO KILLED BEN LADEN" ...  what amazing young men we have in the US Armed Forces....Tonight the 2nd part.....
Hope you all will be able to see it too ..........

.....The MERCADO & FERIA LIBRE....

    Wednesday is MERCADO day......ALL the vendors go on Wednesdays and Saturdays,  so if you want the best selection those are the days you go,  however it's also the most crowded and hard to find a parking place.

Jean Lehman came over -- first we had lunch at the new little cafe 1/2 block from us -- $2 almuerzo....chicken soup,  piece of beef,  rice,  salad & beans plus juice and popcorn appetizer  ....Brought home 2 lunches for Yolanda and Juan Gabriel and they thought it was good....

After they finished eating we went to the Mercado with our wheeled shopping carts.....Yolanda showed us places we had never been before and boy did we load up!

 The FERIA LIBRE is outside where people set up their stands....these are the people who grow most of what they sell and they do not have a permanent place....

The spices are inside the El Arenal Mercado

Yolanda with her neighbor who grows a few things to sell...

This is one of the potato vendors.....

Sometimes it's hard to get a good smiling picture - they are very shy..

Bought onions from this happy gal....

 

We took our time and walked all over .... at times I felt we should have dropped bread crumbs to find our way out,  but we had Yolanda and she knows the mercado like the back of her hand....

 

For me  ( and Jean too ) this is one of the best things about living in Cuenca....just love to shop and talk and laugh with the people...the extraordinary people of Ecuador....simple, kind, loving, honest  (I dropped a nickel and an old lady walking by told me and pointed to where it had fallen)          I have never felt anything but "at home" with them and lucky to be around them....  Sometimes GRINGOS come down here with an attitude and start complaining about being charged too much,  or  "Gringo Pricing" ... well,  I have never experienced that...as a matter of fact my Cuencana neighbors joke about taking me along to bargain for them because I get the best prices -- I think you try to make a friend whom they want to deal with and the rest is easy!

 

 

When we got home Yolanda started washing everything and putting it away,  and Jean and I opened a bottle of wine....We sipped wine and talked and talked.....she is so easy to talk to, and very kind and understanding and a good judge of people....

 

And while this may not sound very exciting or even interesting,  for us it was delightful,  and another good learning experience....

 

*****************

This morning Susana came over - I was still in my nightgown but we had coffee and visited....she asked if I needed to go to the bank but I didn't....then I asked her if she wanted me to go so I could make the deposit for her...she did.....the banks here are usually very crowded and you have to wait a long time,  but they have a special line for senior citizens so I quickly got dressed and we drove  to the bank....

 

 

 

As I stood in line I noticed a beautiful picture on the wall -- Our Lady of the Sacred Heart!!  Amazing to see in a bank,  but it's not unusual here!!  How I love being surrounded by people who love the Lord and his Blessed Mother - no wonder I feel so at home in this country!

 

After the bank Susana wanted me to see some furniture she wants to buy,  so we went to Coloneal -- it's THE place to shop for very nice furniture....   Susana wants a chest for her entry and these would fit the bill...

This is hand painted

This is fabric covered...

 

Prices are too high for the quality so I called Michel Blanchard....Michel is a good friend who is French Canadian,  a man of many talents and the most fabulous sense of humor....He was a model in New Work, studied design at Parson's School of Design  (THE DESIGN SCHOOL) --- And tells the most hilarious story about being Elizabeth Taylor's bartender one Christmas! ......Michel and his partner Ashley Rogers are building a big business here in Real Estate, etc....They even have their own radio show!!  Anyway Michel knows so many people here who make furniture and decorator items.... I don't want Susana to overspend on inferior quality furniture....

 

www.ecuadoratyourservice.com

 

Their web site is terrific....Check it out....

 

Yolanda went to pick up the jalapenos I had ordered from Linda Chase...and I asked her to stop at EL PAN FRANCES.....was very disappointed that the croissants weren't really like the French...they put cheese inside here....no gracias!  But got a loaf of French bread to eat with the potato soup I had made -- not bad...

 

The landlord came by to repair the wall that the neighbor messed up building his wall....long story..... Jaime wants to cut down the big tree in front and plant an avocado tree....I said no,  and then Bertha came out of her house,  she told him it was too close to the house....the roots from the tree (which gets huge) will damage the house...so we agreed he can plant a lemon tree....   He gets excited and wants to plant a bunch of trees -- the yard is too small, and I want FLOWERS....Tomorrow we'll talk some more....

 

And now it's time to sign off on another lovely day in beautiful Cuenca

 

 

 

 

 

 

"FIESTAS de CUENCA"

  This weekend is a fun celebration for Cuencanos and expats and tourists alike.....Starting on Friday and ending today it's been fun activities all over town....

Yesterday we did things a little differently so we too could take in some of the festivities...

We started with 12:30p.m. Mass at San Roque Church which has just started an English Mass....the crowd is not large yet  (still plenty of room for more English speakers)  but they are working hard to bring the Mass to those who are rather lost at the Masses in Spanish....Lyle & Patricia Rhoades do a great job with the music!! .....Robert is the organist,  ...still waiting for more song books.....the priest is a cute young man whose English is quite good - he really tries....  All in all it's very nice and will get better and better with more input and participation.....go and see for yourselves....  

 

 The church reminds us of a Church setting in Mexico with the fountain area outside like a park gathering place  and a large area for celebrations....
 

 

The Church has some interesting statues.....

 

 

Very unusual statue of Jesus.....first one I have  ever seen of Jesus sitting down....

 

 

 

Not sure if this is St. Francis or St. Joseph -- the wound on the thigh throws me so if anyone knows please let me know....

 

We probably won't go every Sunday -- I love the Spanish Mass  (it reminds me of the old Latin Mass of my childhood) and we have started taking food to 3 old ladies who wait outside the Cathedral for the generosity of the people to survive.

 

After Mass we walked down Loja street towards the river.....a small little cafe drew us in with the roast pork ....

 

 

We had 1 almuerzo for me  (soup, mote,chicken & rice) with a large beer, and the Chanco plate for Rick  with coke  =  total bill  $6.70  ... and we were stuffed...

 

Next stop, almost next door, was the Bakery

 

 

Erika sold us 10 huge sugar cookies for $2.00 .......

 

and on down the street to the corner where Marco was selling some garden tools....

 

 

In the states Marco would be considered handicapped -- he has a deformed hand and leg...here he is a business man selling garden tools on the street....I stopped and asked how much ... 3 for $5.00,  and then he came down to $4.00  ....   Rick tried to just give him money and he shoved the tools at him.....and Rick gave him $5.00.....I asked to take his picture and told him to smile big....precious man!!

 

Later I saw other people with the tools,  and a couple stopped us and asked where we got ours so we directed them to him telling we paid him $5 so they wouldn't try to give him less.....  Think Marco had a good day -- sure hope so!

 

Around the corner was the ART FAIR......

 

 

                           This artist is from Peru

So much BEAUTIFUL ART!!!

 

This lady from Otavalo was very sweet....after I took her picture she wanted to see it..then she wanted a copy,  but with no email I had no way to give her one.....I couldn't resist this little butterfly noise maker she was selling....

 

And lots of sellers of clothes, handmade jewelry, religious art.....

 

 

I had a ball -- Rick found a seat and patiently waited for me.....

 

This young man is quite talented .. charges $10 - $15 for a hand drawn portrait....

 

It was time to head home.....

 

 

The festivities continue thru tonight......

 

 

Our street is crammed with parked cars on both sides....so they don't get parking tickets the city has "meter maids"  who get paid to watch the cars and collect the parking fees...

 

 

Rick says he'll take me for Sushi tonight....a sacriface for him -- hopefully he'll find something on the menu to eat....