WHY BLOG?

     When I started this blog my intention was to inform our family and friends about our life here in Cuenca -- now I realize that it really works as a diary to remind me what our life is.....So much happens that if I didn't write this blog, I wouldn't remember 1/2 of the things we do.....very busy with a senior memory...

Went out to Tacanijo on Wednesday the 18th....Marcella had their baby boy....Paulo looked happy, but a little tired -- I have the feeling he's not getting a whole lot of sleep tho he won't admit it.....Food was terrific,  as usual,  and we got to tell him that TACANIJO was selected as THE BEST MEXICAN FOOD of 2015 by the readers of Gringo Post....he was really touched...



Later that week, on Friday,  we tried a new place for us,  RED CRAB....since it's Lent we were looking for a good fish place,  and we found it!

The owner, GERARDO CORONEL A., treated us like royalty -- we enjoyed delicious food and a lovely ambiance...

Rick and Gerry Coronel

 We recommend the  Red Crab  for yummy seafood...

They are open every day so it's a good Sunday lunch place.... their address is Luis Moreno Mora 3-63 y Francisco Moscoso....tel. 281 2667 ...
                                                 
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Saturday morning Norbert came by.....we had just returned from the Italian cheese/bread maker,  Fillipo, and we were all set to enjoy some fresh bread and cheese....Norbert came bearing gifts  (as usual)... beautiful yellow roses  and ....

a wonderful bottle of wine.....we sat and visited and  ate bread, cheese, olives, and drank wine,,,ALL of it!!   MY KIND OF SATURDAY!

That evening we took our neighbors son Paul   (Bertha & Geovani's) to eat hamburgers at Carbon & Lenya.....Rick wanted to do something for him since he has been so good at keeping an eye out for us and our safety.....

A handsome young man with fabulous manners,  but not too good at smiling for the camera :)

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Sunday Mass at the Cathedral as usual --- every time we go I notice some other beautiful detail.....

This is one of the lovely inspirational side altars...

After Mass we went to San Sebas  Cafe for the first time.....American style breakfast...GOOD.....

Then we met Jean Lehman at a little theatre production....

Local Gringos put on the Melodrama -- they started late and it kind of dragged so we left at intermission... Jean had plans for dinner, and Ricardo was really tired....

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Took our poor hardworking gardner to lunch at our little "almuerzo place"

Saul seemed very pleased to be invited,  and boy did he clean his plate!

We talked about his business over lunch -  from what he told us he  makes less than $300 a month so I'm sure the free meal hit the spot.......he's a very sweet old man....I make him a fresh cup of coffee when he comes - with sugar and milk....He always says,  "Que Dios te page"  (May God repay you)  and I say,  "Si, en efectivo!"

(Yes in cash!! :) )   That always brings a chuckle!

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SUSAN KLOPFER came over to shop and visit and have a drink....

 

Susan is a talented writer of mystery thrillers with a lot of history woven in....her latest,  "The Plan"  takes the reader to  Cuenca....it's the first of a trilogy.....she does tons of research so I love to hear  the gossip and truths she has dug up!  

A very interesting gal with a great sense of humor....We do a lot of laughing over a good stiff drink or two!

Go to  www.amazon.com  and search SUSAN KLOPFER .... even available on Kindle.....

Susan is an example of some of the incredibly interesting people you meet in Cuenca ---- who'd a thunk??!!   First novelist friend, and in little Ecuardor....amazing......

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We'll be going to the states in April to see our daughters and grandchildren....got the tickets this week -- what a challenge,  but got it done.....now the waiting.....

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Have been a bit under the weather this week - Rick has a cold and I'm just tired so guess I'm fighting what he has....even in Paradise people occasionally get sick!

I made bean tostadas for dinner tonight - good and spicy so that perked us up.....Now to get some good rest and get ready for whatever adventures next week brings....

from VALENTINE'S to CARNAVAL....

Valentine's Day in Cuenca is not as big a deal as in the USA...it hasn't been commercialized and is known as the Day of Love and Friendship....no big gifts, flowers, or candy....

Our Valentine's Day was very nice -- a quiet early dinner at Fabiano's....

 



Always good food...



And a nice wine....










As we were finishing dinner a couple Rick had met stopped at our table to say Hi...we invited them to join us.....

Gary Park is from the states and his wife Meliza is Cuencana....very interesting couple...he was a jeweler/diamond setter ... she is adorable!!   A May-December marriage that seems to work very well even tho she speaks very little English,  but his Spanish is quite good.....All is possible with LOVE!

We have a lot in common - mainly love of jewelry and Mexican food....hope to get together soon and make some Pozole as he likes to cook!

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When we returned home I finished the cole slaw salad (shredded cabbage, carrots, celery, apples and raisins)   and deviled eggs for our trip to Deleg and Quinto Esthelita on Sunday.

CARNAVAL starts on Sunday before Ash Wednesday.....Some people even start celebrating on Friday.....the big tradition (which I will never understand) is getting soaked by water throwing people...they all laugh and have a great time....I can understand the kids liking this,  but the adults?  But they do -- only the Terced Edad escapes  (Senior Citizens)

We left Sunday morning with Geovanni and Bertha arriving a few minutes before the 9 o'clock Mass began....Rick was asked to be in the family offertory procession taking the gifts to the altar -- he took a beautiful array of flowers, as did Rogelio....

DELEG is a small town

about a 40 minute drive from Cuenca....

 The Church is so lovely and quite a surprise from 

the humble outside....

The Mass was beautiful.....most of Rogelio's children and grandchildren met us there, and his sister and brother-in-law....

After Mass we headed for the Mercado for a fabulous breakfast...

Susana and her husband Ruben

Good food and a great hat!!

Eduardo and lovely daughter...

Most of the little stalls are operated by Cholas.....the indigenous people of Ecuador.....they roast the pigs,  make the mote  (we call it hominy)  and the Yapingachos  (potato cakes).....


The food is really delicious..... 

Huge roasted pig....

Ummmmm - GOOD!

      It's the original "FINGER FOOD"   no forks, spoons or knives available....everyone dives in grabbing from a few plates on the table.....

I'm sure a lot of gringos are surprised  (if they even go to places like this)  but  "when in Rome..."     and it's fun to relax and just eat good food....

Susana & her youngest daughter Paula...

          As you can see the Mercado is very busy on 
Sunday morning feeding lots of hungry people....

Best place to go after Mass...

WE LOVED IT!!!

Just a little sample ??

Susana and Ruben

Then we all headed for Rogelio's home a few miles from downtown Deleg.....he has a very large home/estate where the family gathers for the big holidays....

QUINTO ESTHELITA

The house is very large -- 7 big bedrooms,  2 dining rooms,  a small living room and a LARGE living room,  bar,  and TV room.....

 

The large dining  room and Eduardo & Geovani

in the bar.....

 T.V. room and small dining room....

Beautiful antique mirror in the large "sala"

Large living room.....
                                                                 

...

The entry way "sala" where everyone gathers...

The grand staircase....

Antique mirror and console table upstairs hall....

A very realistic Jesus...

The little Chapel upstairs .....overlooks the large "sala" below....

I love the antique furniture..    hand carved with lovely tapestry upholstery....

Ricardo surrounded by Rosendo (Rogelio's brother-in-law) and Rogelio "The Chief"

Chatting on the front porch.... 

Paul, --  Geovani & Bertha's handsome son.....law student....

The house was full of people coming and going....Susana and Bertha prepared enough food to feed an army...it was all delicious!!...

About 4pm Bertha asked me how to make coffee in my large 60 cup coffee maker....we got it all set up and then went down to the little gazebo beside the basket ball court where the guys were playing.....Ricardo,  Susana,  Rosita  (Eduardo's novia) and Teresa (Rosie's friend)

were all playing RummyKub and having a ball....Teresa was entertaining everyone with her jokes and horsing around....she kept squirting people with foam from a spray bottle....

It was close to 6pm when we decided it was "coffee time" .... but coffee here is more like coffee and a lunch....can be very elaborate like a High Tea in England,  or just coffee and sweet bread and Ecuadorian fresh cheese....

Big problem tho,  the coffee pot hadn't made coffee....then we discovered the reason....the lights were out,  and so was the water!!  And being a holiday weekend there was probably no way to find out how long the problem would last....so we substituted sodas and had a good snack...

They put a bright face on it and determined to stay the night as planned...

.we came home with Rosendo and his wife.....

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The next morning about 9 am we had a nice surprise....Yolanda popped in and said she wanted to eat Huevos Rancheros with us.....I was still in bed watching Fox News so I got up and started making breakfast.....She only had to deliver 10 chickens so she had time to relax and have a nice breakfast with us.....Made us feel so good that she dropped in!!

After breakfast I asked her if she had time to go to the Mercado- Feria Libre,  El Arenal....I didn't realize her brother was driving her,  but that was good because he has a big pick up....Had a delightful time filling the rolling cart we took... got things for us,  and I asked what she needed....she never tries to take advantage,  but I got some avocados, tomatoes, onions, carrots, for her &  apple for Juan Gabriel.....

Asked her brother  (who is a terrific young man) if he would stop so I could get some carbon & lenya for the grill and chiminea....

Got home and they unloaded - we washed the vegetables and fruits and Yolanda got ready to leave -- to celebrate Carnaval....I gave her $10 to have a little extra money to spend...her eyes filled with tears of appreciation as she said now she could get her son a toy for Carnaval...

Today was rather quiet even 'tho the Cabrera family came back early...Eduardo told me the lights never came back on,  and that plus the water problem made it too difficult to stay....

Life in Cuenca is very good for us....although we miss our children and grandchildren immensely,  we would be a burden to them if we were there....here we live a complete life and have made some cherished friendships....