Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Preparing to TRAVEL....



As we  count down the days till our departure for Minneapolis and Omaha (on Thursday) life goes on pretty much as usual.....

Yesterday Susana took us to find the special coffee for Linden who is now in Miami and dying for a good cup of Ecuadorian coffee....
El Tostador Export Coffee

Sealed tight to preserve the flavor...




 I had written down the address wrong,  but Susana had an idea where it might be, so we followed our noses.....










The shop is small but they seem to sell a lot of coffee - they roast it themselves.....
Got some to take to the states with me -- both my sons-in-law love good coffee....

Leaving the coffee vendor we passed a street hawker selling some kind of hair do dad....

He was a very good salesman and seemed to be doing a great business....demonstrating how to use the piece to make your hair look very neat and finished.....  Almost made me want to buy one!!

Then Susana had to go to Ricaute to make an appointment with a chiropractor who seems to be a great healer....he only spends 5 minutes with each patient,  charges $5, and they are cured after 3 treatments...  He handles over 100 patients a day....You have to go get a number and then go back in 2 or 3 hours....

While they wait.....


the indigenous people make good use of their time...weaving straw into the lovely "Panama" hats which of course are from Ecuador.....This is in the courtyard of the chiropractors office......

After Susana got her number she took us to SuperMaxi to get toothpaste and a couple of other things....since we leave Thursday I didn't need much......but we forgot the toothpaste!!!


Later in the evening Susana brought over some fresh "pan de choclo"...bread made with corn.....a few minutes later Marcella from Tacanijo called saying she wanted to bring me money to order some personalized pens for the business.....she came with her mother, the baby and oldest son.....


We got to talking about her mother-in-law from Mexico who had visa/passport problems and we got worried about Ricardo leaving the country with less than 6 months on his passport....seems there's a lot of misinformation out there.....we spent the whole day today calling the US Embassy in Guayaquil, the airlines,  our dear Silvia (Ecuadorian counsel in Minneapolis) and FINALLY found out that there is no problem leaving but he will have to renew his passport in Minneapolis because ECUADOR will not let us back unless he has at least 6 months left on his passport......he was planning to take a 4am bus to Guayaquil to be at the embassy by 8am.....
Anyway, that's not necessary,  thank God.....

And by the way, the pan was delicious with coffee!!

This afternoon I sent Yolanda over to pick up the bolero jacket Fany Dominguez made for Cristina to wear over her sleeveless First Communion dress....
It turned out darling -- the fabric I had...kind of a cotton printed "brocade"  ...  I asked her to put ruffles on it and puffy sleeves....sent a picture to Deborah who showed it to Cristina -- her reaction, "I LOVE it!"

Fany does great work...the cost to make this $7, but we traded some sewing notions that I had for her work!     The zippers, etc., I had bought years ago at an auction and never used,  and they are what she needs....

Tomorrow Jean comes over for manicure and pedicures....then Ricardo and I pack,  and Thursday night we are on our way!


I probably won't post again until we return to Cuenca on May 5......







Saturday, April 11, 2015

EASTER SUNDAY ....Making a difference.....

One of the most endearing things about living in Cuenca is the ability to touch lives and make a difference....being charitable is very important here....if we don't help the poor, who will?
Thank God there aren't huge government agencies doling out money - it's up to the people to help out their neighbors -- it's wonderful!!

Easter Sunday we met Jean in front of the Cathedral at 11:30 so we could give out the  baskets we had put together....the ladies were smiling so big as we gave them the baskets and a few coins -- I know it meant so much to them, and we felt so good!!

Mass was lovely,  packed as usual ---- the altar had gorgeous arrangements of yellow and white roses with Easter lilies, of course....

The baskets were filled with "golosinas"  or fattening goodies ....cookies, nuts, yucca chips, coffee and tea, etc....Jean went to SuperMaxi and  bought gobs of treats,  and some practical things like spaghetti, mayo....

After Mass we went to El Cantaro for lunch ... Jean and I both ordered Cheviche de Camaron  (shrimp cheviche)  and it was great!! With a glass of wine,  delish!!   Rick got Seco de Carne which was delicious too.....

Then over to the Mercado de Flores to get baskets for Susana and Bertha...

Imagine,  $5 for BOTH  baskets of lovely fresh flowers!!

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Tuesday was the Memorial for Susan Klopfer......





Susan's ashes were in a wooden box on a table in front with beautiful white flower arrangements....There were a lot of lovely tributes from friends,  and Fred (her husband) and Barry (their son, a lawyer from Arizona) gave moving testaments to her life and works.....

It was outside in the garden of a lovely old colonial house now used as a restaurant with many dining rooms decorated differently.....the pot luck lunch was really delicious as everyone tried to bring their best dishes...   All in all it was quite lovely,  and I'm sure Susan was pleased!

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Went to see Guido Marquez our artist friend in the Artisan Market.....He wanted me to meet a talented friend of his so we walked over to the taller called AHUACUNA......

Mario Machado and his son David work in copper, bronze, and silver!!  They come from a family of jewelry manufactures.....
www.ahuacuna.blogspot.com
VERY talented men who were kind enough to show me everything....I just love this kind of thing,  mainly because I have such respect for those who can work with their hands and create beautiful works of art!!

Yesterday Rene Calle and his wife Valentina came over for coffee and cake.....we ended up talking until dinner time so we went to TACANIJO for some good Mexican food...

Can't believe that in only 5 days we leave for Minneapolis and Omaha for 18 days....it will be just wonderful being with family and friends and especially GRANDCHILDREN!!






Wednesday, April 1, 2015

SEMANA SANTA ...Holy Week BEGINS....


PALM SUNDAY   "Domingo de Ramos" is the beginning of Holy Week and it is very special in Cuenca.....

The Cathedral was PACKED ... must have been over 10,000 people with even standing room almost non existent.....

It's so moving to see the devotions of all the people at Mass with their "ramos"  
Ricardo at the back of the Church...



 We bought our palm branches outside the Church where there were vendors selling all different kinds of arrangements....the one I chose for me was palms with 2 gorgeous pink roses....

After Mass a procession started representing Jesus entrance into Jerusalem...


Young boy on burro dressed as Jesus

The Roman souldiers...

Statue of Jesus after being scourged...


 
Two artists from north of Quito brought their hand carved religious works....excellent workmanship....one of them told me he started carving at 7...

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We had lunch at Don Colon and came home and took siestas -- it was raining so perfect for a nice nap....

Monday morning Rick went with me to meet Jean at the tailor...and then to lunch at our favorite little cafe.....Ricardo was impressed with how good the food was for only $2.50 per person.....Jean I and decided how we were going to handle the Easter baskets for the poor woman at Church....she's picking up some goodies and we'll pack the baskets on Thursday to give out Sunday....

After lunch  we went out to see Dr. Vintimilla, cardiologist, at the IESS Hospital....he was recommended by Fanny as the best here.....right away he cut my meds,  and, the next day my legs weren't nearly as swollen! 

I was supposed to get the Easter baskets,  but I was feeling lazy so I sent Yolanda -- she got the perfect size, sturdy, so they'll be able to use them again....   I thank God every day for giving us this little jewel, Yolanda....she makes our life sooo much easier!!

Tuesday Rick went back to Dr. Woods to have his permanent crown cemented on....it looks great.....
then to lunch at Pronto Taco....a Mexican food restaurant about 1 block from the dentists' office...

Up early this morning to go to the IESS Hospital  (the Social Security Hospital) to see 
Dr. Vintimilla again....He personally did the echo cardiogram,  all the while instructing the two beautiful med students.....I also get an EKG  and blood drawn.....
He'll study everything and decide  exactly what medications I really need -- as a favor he is getting me in before we leave on the 16th for Minneapolis....a really great guy!

What beautiful doctors these young woman will make!!   There are a lot of women doctors here!

Since  my appointment was very early,  Ricardo took me to breakfast afterwards at San Sebas Cafe....they have great American style breakfasts....ran into Nancy Peterson there  (she was our neighbor) looking good....she was with a couple who make canned pickles, salsas, peppers,  all kinds of goodies you can't find in the stores....I'll definitely be going to see them in May  when we get back...


After breakfast we stopped at the other tailor  CIRCULO DE LA MODA   to pick up the jacket he was making for me....

People are asking me to see the kind of things I am having made and how much they cost....
Brown jacket and blouse material $20      Cost to make jacket $47,  cost to make blouse $16....

 
Flowered jacket material cost $13,    cost to make jacket $47

"tablecloth" jacket made from Otavalo homespun tablecloth,  $15 for tablecloth,  $47 labor to make....

Jacket from an Alexander McQueen design with zippered pockets, material about $18  - cost to make $45,   blouse material $7, cost to make  blouse $15....
Doesn't show much on the hanger, but this is a very straight  military shoulder with puffey sleeves ---




Rick went back out to IESS for a 3pm appointment with the sleep apnea doctor -- I'm waiting for Tony Bishop to come do some work on the computer......

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Susana came over last night to invite us to Deleg again for Good Friday when they make Fensca and Humitas.....traditional soup for Holy Week and especially Good Friday....it will be a great day with so many family members gathering...


                                    Thank God for leading us to Cuenca!!