"TEQUILA" in Ecuador & beyond.....

Our little adventure to find the "Tequila factory" in Ona, Ecuador turned out to be a delightful day .....

We left about 10 am after a light breakfast here at the house - scrambled eggs, toast & coffee....

Jean brought me a beautiful bouquet of roses.....

Then we hopped into the van with Andres driving,  Poleth in the back as interpreter and entertainer!

The 2 1/2 hr. drive was absolutely gorgeous -- breath taking views through the Andes passing little villages, small waterfalls, beautiful trees & rock formations.....the time flew by as we were all having a grand time....

Ricardo & Susan Correa

Jean Lehman

Dr. Mel & Glenene Harris

We arrived in Ona about noonish and started looking for the "factory" -- no signs or directions even tho I had the "address".... I called the factory and gave the phone to Andres...an unmarked turn to a white building, and we were there.....

The Agave plant from which "Tequila" is made...

And so the "tour" began with detailed explanations as to how the juice is gathered, processed, fermented and aged, and then bottled....Pablo and his father are the owners....

Ready for the tasting --- um,....GOOD!

The bottles I brought home....2 sizes of Aguardiente and Syrup,  Jarabe....

TEQUILA can only be called Tequila (by international law) if it is processed in Tequila, Mexico....so this drink which tastes almost EXACTLY like Tequila is called Aguardiente de Agave.....

They have also started making a wine which we tasted - I didn't buy any but Jean did....I'm a Tequila girl all the way!!

Feeling happy we drove on to Saraguaro.......another 30 minutes or so from Ona....

First stop in Saraguro was for FOOD!   By now we were all starving.....Jean had eaten before in a world class restaurant in Saraguaro on the Plaza,  but they were closed because of a broken water pipe....so we found this charming little cafe.....

Ricardo and I had the fish plate ..... REALLY DELICIOUS....this plate with a large bowl of soup for only $3.75

The town, like all South American or Latin towns,  is built around a center plaza or square.....the lovely Church takes center stage.....

Very impressive was the large TV screen on the plaza  -  for watching important sporting events, I'm sure....would make a lovely evening entertainment in the fresh cool air!!

Saraguaro

is known for the beautiful hand beaded jewelry the women make.....it's so LOVELY!!!

In traditional dress this lady makes beautiful things!!!!!!

THIS IS THE NECKLACE & EARRINGS I CHOSE.....All natural stones in aqua with tiny brown beads.....

And as another remembrance of our trip I bought this great plant with purple flowers for only $1........Siete Cronas,  SEVEN CROWNS,  I think it's called....it will vine way up and around a trellis.....

We got back to Cuenca around 6pm, and hungry again we went to get Empanadas from FANNY.....She makes THE BEST.....

Rolled out, stuffed and fried, these are "to die for" as Glenene says.....

Back home tired but happy ..... Thanks to Poleth and Andres we had a wonderful safe time and look forward to more adventures with them!!

Ecuador is so beautiful,  so interesting,  and so full of life!!!

TEARS & LAUGHTER in CUENCA

Life can be sad in Cuenca as in the rest of the world...especially when one moves into the retirement years and experiences life in the "TERCED EDAD" as they say here...

We were very saddened to learn that our friend, writer  SUSAN KLOPFER died suddenly of a heart attack in her sleep.....She was so full of life and plans for her next books,  and really looking forward to a trip to Barcelona....

Susan always tried to be helpful.....she told me about the tailor who made Cristina's suit last year  (who is now doing a jacket for me)

She encouraged us to join  IESS  and told us where to go to sign up....she had researched it and was convinced it was excellent health care services....(and she was right!)

She recommended the dentist  Dr. Alan Woods who is now fixing Rick's crowns......

Susan was soft spoken,  fun and charming, and a terrific  conversationalist.......she will be missed greatly!!!

A memorial get together  will be held on April 7th at Paladar restaurant,  11am,  pot luck, casual dress.....

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

We will be going to Minneapolis on April 16, and then on to Omaha for Cristina's FIRST COMMUNION on April 26,  and returning to Cuenca the 5th of May,  Cinco de Mayo!

We are really looking forward to seeing the family.....

It seems like a lot has been going on here ....went to the Mercado with Susana looking for special clothes for the grand children -- no luck--

 

There have been numerous trips to the Tailor which means lunch downtown.....

Street musicians wandered in and serenaded us at the Nutibara Restaurant which is next to the tailor DonaMes...

Not bad, but not great,  but we admire the determination to made a buck .....

This is the little restaurant that has such good coffee,  and their almuerzo is delicious too!












We tried a new place  (for us)    FOGO Mar.....it's a seafood  Sports Bar/ restaurant.....

     The food was excellent  -- I had "Shrimp Nachos".....
(not what they called it) -- very tasty.....







And the service was excellent!!!

There was also a fabulous white chocolate volcano cupcake with chocolate ice cream......soooo good!




They serve  the same kind
of tequila that Tacanijo does.....

The Italian cheese man,  Filippo, has opened a shop so we can get delicious  cheese during the week.....and wonderful fresh Italian breads...

Filippo has a great brochure for his La Sorrentina shop.....explains the different kinds of cheeses....my favorite is Fontina.....and his black olives are to die for!!

Sunday the 22nd we had lunch at Raymipampa,  the nice restaurant next door to the Cathedral....they specialize in traditional  Ecuadorian food....

 

Had Valeria come this week for a manicure & pedicure, and a haircut for me  and Juan Gabriel.....$20 for everything!   She is really good,  and a very sweet young woman!

Tomorrow I'll tell you about our adventure trip  to the "Tequila" factory......

...TAILORS in CUENCA...

Sunday....Mass at the Cathedral was very special...The Bishop came to formally install the new Cathedral parish pastor.....

It began with a procession with the Bishop entering the church...

The Cathedral is enormous so much of the ceremony and Mass are seen on the TV screens that have been recently installed...

For me it was extremely emotional because it was so beautiful and the devotion of the people so profound....It made me appreciate even more how blessed we are to have the traditions of our Catholic faith....

After Mass we went to San Sebas Cafe for brunch.....

My hamburger was huge and I ate the whole thing because it was so good,  BUT, they were OUT OF COFFEE!!

The restaurant faces Parque San Sebastian....so clean, so lovely!!!

*****MONDAY*****

Jean Lehman modeling her new rain coat......

There is something I don't understand about Cuenca....why the tailors/seamstresses here are not promoted....everyone knows about the tailors in Hong Kong, Shanghai, etc.,  but I never see anything about how terrific the tailors are here....

Jean picked up the fuchsia & green coat she designed about a week ago and has been getting nothing but raving compliments....people think she got it in Paris !! ...it is darling, waterproof and comfortable to wear....AND has interior zippered pockets to keep money, credit cards, etc...

 

The little polka dot shell and bolero jacket in black, green, yellow & white is so cute,  and COMFORTABLE....

The gold brocade bolero jacket will be perfect for dinner out and parties....

This is my purple flowered coat/jacket....

We are having a ball designing clothes and shopping for fabrics....

Jean's black slacks and a new gold blouse,  and a wild zebra print blouse I am having made will be ready on Monday - yeah,  another trip to the tailor!!

For coffee we walked down the street to a very old bakery....

I picked out some little cookies to enjoy with our coffee....

We did a little more fabric shopping and then headed to Parque Calderon  (in front of the Cathedral) to catch a cab....there was a protest march going on....

It was about women's rights....don't know much more but demonstrations like this are common.....

Got home about 1:30 and went over to see Susana....she asked me to go with her to pick up her sister-in-law Ruth and go with them to collect a debt....

I had no idea where we were going as we headed out of the city.....we ended up in a nice little village named Nulti...

Very clean and charming -- unfortunately Ruth didn't have any luck collecting the $300 she is owed so we discussed what she will do next....

Back into Cuenca to leave Ruth at the store and pick up her mother and her maid....Her mother (Susana's mother-in-law) had a doctor's appointment so we took her out to Hospital Del Rio.....

Then back into Cuenca --- Susana was going to take Paula to the Mall del Rio to look for new tennis shoes....I invited her to come for coffee when she got back...

In a little while Bertha & Titi  came over bearing Zucchini Bread made by a friend of hers.... Titi went to the china cabinet and got out "her cup" -- a little demi tasse she uses,  and an antique child's pitcher....her "coffee" is mostly milk,  but she sips it like a little lady.....  Susana came as the coffee was ready, so we all had coffee and bread...REALLY GOOD....

Ecuatorians are very clean people --- street cleaners work all the time so there is no trash around.....for a city of about 1/2 million people it's amazing....but,  I noticed the same thing in Nulti.....

Didn't celebrate St. Patrick's Day today as it really isn't celebrated here, or certainly not the way it is in the states --- BUT I did wear green!!   To all the Patricks, Pats, Patricios and Patricias ... 

FELIZ DIA DE SU SANTO!!!