EL MERCADO RESTAURANT y mas!

Yesterday we decided to try a different restaurant before we went to SuperMaxi for groceries.....I had heard good things about "El Mercado"  (from the Vintimilla family who also owns El Jardin and Villa Rosa among others..)

Called Patricio and he took us to Calle Larga 8-27 and Benigno Malo,  an old historic building built on the river...

The bar area on the entry level...Has a floor I just love
with tiny blue accent tiles...

We sat upstairs at a corner table by the window...notice the little tin pitcher with flowers...

The charming stairway down....

Two dining areas on two levels....

Simple food done RIGHT!!

The check is presented in a "Book Box"

Ricardo by the Shabby Chic bureau


Another unusual feature.....YOU CAN SHOP!

As you enter the building you see a couple of neat shops......

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MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND
MASS at the Cathedral on Sunday was especially packed because of the pilgrimage of the Virgin de Cisne procession...... I couldn't see much except the beautiful faces of the people around me....

The face of an angel......and the lovely lady in purple lace.....

MONDAY......DELEG with the wonderful Cabrera Urgiles family:

From the top......Ricardo pigging out on Guacamole I made  :)   

Julia and Maria who work for the family.....

Susana Cabrera and her father Rogerio,  "THE CHIEF"

Making Humitas in the outdoor kitchen at Quinta Esthelita.....

Ricardo with Dominica Cristina  "Titi" and her little friend Joaquina...

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Other highlights of the past 2 weeks include lunch with dear friends John and Joyula and Jean....

John has been suffering some health challenges but now he's doing great thanks to some alternative doctor here....

Mosquita and Fanny came over with sandwiches de Pernil --- small roast pig sandwiches we love so much.....

So great having them come for a visit.....Mosquita really likes my new bright pink tablet!!

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Went to see the Cardiologist and am much better after he changed my medications....met this lovely indiginous woman at the IESS pharmacy....

 She had such a big bag of medications -- I started chatting with her and found out she is very crippled up with arthritis -- her hands....God bless her,  she so reminded me of my mother who had the same condition....

For me it is such a pleasure to talk to the people and be accepted as one of them.....

MASS in the hospital waiting area....God bless this wonderful country and the wonderful people who honor Him so.....

That's all for now, folks!!

BACK HOME in CUENCA

 Our trip to the states was great,  but it's good to be back to our normal lifestyle....

The main reason our trip was the First Communion of our 8 year old grand daughter CRISTINA.....

Our lovely daughter Deborah, son-in-law Phil with Cristina and Father Tom...

Cristina with Father Tom

GODPARENTS Aunt Linda & Matt Pizcorski

After the Mass Deborah and Phil hosted brunch at a terrific restaurant in Omaha,  Granite City....on Sundays there is a huge buffet with just about anything you can imagine having for Brunch.....

Olivia, Nicolas & Cristina -- horsing around....Cristina really loves her cousins!

We flew into Minneapolis on April 16 to spend a week with daughter Linda and family....got to see Olivia skate -- she loves the ice rink and is REALLY GOOD at only 9 years old.....went one evening to watch Olivia get fitted for new skates....the prices nearly knocked me over!   Ten months before Linda paid $300 for ice skates for Olivia and here she was getting  a new pair because her feet had grown so much.

Nicolas is a charming imp at 12....you can't help but love him and his gentle ways even tho he is all boy  (and so hard to get a good picture of him)

On Friday the 24th we all drove down to Omaha for Cristina's First Communion on Sunday.....It was a wonderful trip even tho I wasn't feeling that great - problems with my blood pressure meds... so we really didn't get to see many people........

Did manage to have dinner at Nettie's Mexican Restaurant in south Omaha -- terrific TexMex and Margaritas!!

And we had dinner at another Mexican Food place before we left -- Agave Azteca..... really good food in a lovely environment....

Ran into old friends who knew our daughter Christina and the leader of a Mexican trio she sang with.....quite an emotional evening...

 

Cristina REALLY LOVES tortilla chips!!

Phil had the idea to try out this restaurant- a great idea!!

We managed to do quite a lot of shopping while in Omaha -- the big deal for me - a new Samsung 4 tablet....I love it!  I had mentioned to Rick that I'd like a Kindle or small notebook....he got me a 10 inch tablet.....

Our trip home was uneventful but exhausting....almost 24 hours of traveling with no sleep, but we survived......Susana and Bertha picked us up at the airport at 8:30 am on Bertha's birthday,  May 5, or better known in the states as CINCO DE MAYO....we came home and Susana insisted we go over for breakfast....delicious scrambled Mexican style eggs and bacon!!!  Hit the spot.....then she said we should rest and she would bring lunch over....Arroz con Pollo.....she's just incredible....

Did a little unpacking and rested, then Geovani called to invite us to go to dinner with them to celebrate Bertha's birthday!!

Dinner was at EL ARRIERO, not far from us.....

Latinoamericana 1-50  off Av. Remigio Crespo Toral

EXCELLENT!!!

CARNES ASADAS,  PARRILLADAS,  CANELAZOS,  COCTELES, etc.

Bertha looked great in the ring I gave her....Sunfire Quartz & Brazilian Citrine...

Saw the Cardiologist on Friday and he changed my meds.....the water retention is much better.....

MOTHER'S DAY was soooo nice.....Bertha came over with a beautiful arrangement,  and then Susana brought over red roses, and a gift -- the oh so pretty clock!!

Geovani drove us to Mass at the Cathedral where we met Yolanda and Juan Gabriel...after Mass we ate at Don Colon,  and so did Betha, Titi and Paul....

Yolanda is such a good mother we wanted her to have a special day too....

Juan Gabriel looks so handsome in the shirt and tie we brought him from the states!!

After lunch Bertha wanted to take us for a drive,  but first Ricardo wanted to treat us for ice cream at Mixx....the best ice cream I have ever tasted!!!

Then we took a drive up to Turi --- such a fabulous view of the city nestled in the valley,  CUENCA!!!

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YESTERDAY was Paul's birthday and we were honored to be invited to celebrate with the family.....

 

Handsome Paul turns 21!!!

This young man is such a delightful gentleman -- he's going to make a terrific lawyer!!!

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HAD GREAT NEWS THIS WEEK...          Deborah called to tell us she and Cristina will be visiting us from July 7 thru August 9th....We're very excited and happy -- it's going to be a fantastic summer!!!