Correas' Cuenca: DECEMBER in CUENCA......

Tony Bishop came and finally got me back to my blog....had to get a different search engine so that my pictures post..... I was glad to find out it was nothing I did....Blogspot changed....

So here's what happened in December....

Jean L. came and we pickled & canned jalapenos....fun day with both of us remembering our mother's canning & how we learned so much from our mothers.... We both grew up on the farm....great memories....

December 7 is Rick's birthday so we went to Don Colon for lunch and met up with our neighbors, Geovani & Bertha & family.....

It was Sunday.....dinner was at the Terrace Bar & Grill -- planned to eat at Salvia but we went at 5:30 and they weren't open yet so crossed the street to the Terrace....

Looks and feels like a restaurant Sports Bar in the U.S. ....

Then we went over to Salvia for a wonderful dessert...

Salvia is owned by Karen and Chef Gavin Quinn...

In a quaint house very similar to what you would see in England....

Gavin is from Ireland and was a renowned chef in London....Sure glad to have him in Cuenca because he makes wonderful dishes....

www.salviacuenca.com 09395 13820

Roberto Crespo Toral 3-56 y Luis Morena Mora

Yolanda's Birthday is Dec 10, 3 days after Ricardo's so we celebrated with a beautiful cake....

Christmas decorating by Yolanda and Juan Gabriel....

Mid December we had a GARAGE SALE here in our complex....the first one they had ever had and it was very successful, but it was Cuencano style so it was like a family party too....

We had a "Christmas Lunch" with the Cordero sisters a few days before Christmas....met at Bertuchi's Italian Restaurant near our house and we all enjoyed delicious food....

This gorgeous 18kt. gold cross with Colombian emeralds was my Christmas gift from the Corderos.....I was blown away...it is so beautiful!!!

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All around Cuenca there are signs of Christmas, the REAL Christmas.....

From the chocolate NATIVITY in a candy shop....

to the very large neon Nativity put up by the city ......

and the fabulous Nativity village erected in the home/garage of a Cuencano family for the enjoyment of the whole community.....

It takes 2 months to assemble, and they do it every year...

The detail is incredible... a working fountain and stream with water....

A lot of the greenery is real and has to be watered....the nephew does it......

THE CATHEDRAL NATIVITY IS LARGE

....ALMOST LIFE SIZE....

The Pase del Nino parades begin on Christmas eve and continue every Sunday until Carnival......

And the beautiful processions in the Cathedral....

December 21, the Sunday before Christmas we had our celebration with Yolanda and Juan Gabriel....they met us at the Cathedral for Mass, and afterwards lunch at Don Colon....then to the house to open presents!

Juan Gabriel's FIRST CHRISTMAS STOCKING!!

While I know he loved his clothes, the soft stuffed monkey made the biggest hit!! The poor children of Ecuador rarely get toys....

December 23rd is our Anniversary....we celebrated 53 years with dinner at NOE, a wonderful restaurant that specializes in Sushi which I love,.....Ricardo doesn't so he had a beef dish which he raved about.....My Sushi was GREAT!!