SOME DAYS IT'S QUITE FUNNY, SOME DAYS IT'S QUITE NORMAL....

Most of the time the days pass and it seems almost like the U.S. here,  but better...less hectic and more calm... 

but then we went to dinner....Fabiano's is one of our very favorite places....GREAT PIZZA at a GREAT PRICE....Gringos love it, and so do the Cuencanos....

We were served our meal and I looked up......
         
the cutest little poodle was seated at a table,  and he was eating pizza!

 Of course this would NEVER be allowed in the states,  but this little dog had better manners than a lot of adults!!

The couple is from Canada and absolutely LOVE living here.......

When they ask the dog if he'd like to go to FABIANO'S he gets SOOO excited.....

*****

Went for groceries at the new SuperMaxi -- it's just as nice as in the states...

Brand new construction in a new little shopping center....

Just about everything we could want,  but we still buy most of our fruits and vegetables at the MERCADO....cheaper and better.....

******

Mass Sunday at the beautiful Cathedral -- they call it the "NEW CATHEDRAL".... it only dates from the late 1800's versus the OLD Cathedral across the street  c. 1550......

This side altar may be new..... I had never noticed it before....so lovely....in the back of the Church....

After Mass we ate at Don Colon's where we ran into our neighbors...Ruben & Susana Cabrera & family....

We all loved the cream of carrot soup......

After we finished eating Geovani & Bertha & family came in......they offered to take us home after they ate....

Went to the MERCADO DE FLORES  ( as usual) and got some lovely flowering plants......

As we were leaving Teresa, the poor lady from the Church, came limping down the street.....I had $2 left and was trying to decide if I should give her the  money or buy her a bouquet....I opted for the flowers...

She was so surprised and happy when I gave them to her   "For me?"

A gorgeous bunch of open pink roses with a pink ruberosa lily in the center....I think it had been a very long time since someone had given her flowers...

***** 

Today was running errands, mostly bill paying etc.   First stop the SRI office to turn in several months of sales tax receipts....means over $230 in rebates.....if you qualify  (old people, handicapped, etc) you submit your receipts and the government deposits in your bank the 12% you have paid in taxes.....sure is nice!!!

Then to Claro, the phone company....they were overcharging us for stuff we didn't order,  but since we didn't cancel when they said it was available, they put it on our service and charged us...From now on we'll pay attention and tell them no right away....our normal $39 mo. bill had gone to over $50!!!

Had lunch at the Chinese restaurant across the street...

Not bad, but not spicy enough for us!

Then Rick went to the Bank and I went to get my nails done.....

It fascinates me how they can paint any nail art you want -- there are hundreds of designs to chose from, or you can bring in your own picture or download from the internet!!!    This cost me $2.50!!!

Came home -- Rick's ankles were really hurting so we sent Yolanda to pay the rest of the utilities....and I decided to make a "Dump Cake".....it's now ready to take from the oven, so,

"So long folks!"

WORLD TRAVELERS CHOSE CUENCA....

The more people we meet who have settled in Cuenca,  and who LOVE IT,  the more we find that these are usually people who have traveled the world.....and they chose Cuenca to live.....they go searching for a place to retire, or for adventure,  and just to live and enjoy,  and they, like we, settle in this lovely spot...

Today we went to the EUCALYPTUS CAFE  

after Mass for their "All You Can Eat" Sunday Brunch.....pancakes, waffles, eggs, sausage and bisquit with sausage gravy, and for a drink I chose a Bloody Mary,  and coffee......

We had been there a couple of times but now the management/owners are new....

OWNER, MICHAEL after traveling the world chose Cuenca....

               Chef Bohdi, from California, chose Cuenca....  he makes  awesome sour dough pancakes and waffles!!

Haley loves Cuenca.....

In El Centro ....  Gran Colombia 9-41 between Padre Aguirre y Benigno Malo....

              In one of the old historic colonial buildings.........

The food was quite delicious -- we'll go again and try the lunch/dinner menu....

****

We had a lot of birthday celebrations in August.....Juan Gabriel on Aug. 30...

 Juan Gabriel got to chose where he wanted to go for his Birthday Celebration... he chose TACANIJO so we went to their new location Presidente Cordova 1-77.....he loves Mexican food....Paulo put on a LUCHA LIBRE mask  (Mexican wrestling) to clown around and brought Juan Gabriel a wonderful piece of carrot cake with a candle....

We had a great meal, and this was after a trip to the mercado San Francisco where he picked out some very nice "sport shoes" -- tennis shoes to me --- and he was happy...

On Sunday I had a cook out/wiener roast --- some dear friends who were excited to get a good hot dog....they just don't make them here the way we do in the states....we had relish, sauerkraut (from Norbert - I had been saving the can for a special occasion) etc.,  chips,  and beer...Cori made a wonderful cole slaw  ... and ... Norbert & Cori and Patricia & Lyle also brought some very nice wine....

 Cori baked a delicious bread for me.....Glenene and Mel gave me the pretty lavender vase & the bottle candle holder which Glenene painted,  Patricia gave me one of her special rocks which she hand paints,  Norbert gave me the lovely amber tree from Poland, and Valentina and Rene brought the wonderful butterfly...

I felt so special....and then the next day,  Monday the 31st,  Bertha and Susana brought over these beautiful arrangements...

When Ruben got home he invited us to go to dinner on Wednesday evening to celebrate, so Susana and Ruben took us to LA PERGOLA for a wonderful dinner....

                                        Ruben and Susana -- dear friends and neighbors.....

                                                    My delicious fried shrimp dinner....

                                           My TOCAYA,  the beautiful Susana Cabrera

La Pergola is a beautiful old world type restaurant ... it's full of rustic charm, antiques and chandeliers which make it seem expensive,  but it's very reasonable...the food and service are great!

Susana's birthday was the 22nd but since they had a lot of family here from out of town, we haven't celebrated her birthday yet,  and Jean L's birthday was the 27th and she got sick,  so we will still be celebrating for a while yet -- goody, goody......

*****

Rick took me for Sushi on my birthday, Monday the 31st, and we went to NOE .. it's THE SUSHI place in Cuenca, and it's WONDERFUL!!!

Their martini's aren't as good as my son in law Scott makes,  but better than nothing!

**********

Made some pickled jalapenos with Tequila....

An experiment so we'll see how they turn out....

*****

It seems that every where I look in Cuenca there is something interesting or something to delight the eye ..... and sometimes I remember to take a picture......today the lovely yellow flowers on the balcony of a historic old hotel overlooking Parque Calderon.....

And next door a restoration in progress......

                         I've been inside this building and it's fabulously fascinating!!   

 Sometimes Cuenca reminds one of Paris,  or Rome or Mexico City -- but that's the beauty of this lovely city....

                                        ....it's always CUENCA!!!

NEVER BORED IN CUENCA....

THERE ARE RUMORS OF PEOPLE BEING BORED HERE, AND FOR THAT REASON THEY LEAVE.....THESE ARE VERY STRANGE PEOPLE AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED...

ECUADOR IS THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITIES, AND THEREFORE THERE IS SO MUCH TO "DO" HERE.....WE DON'T DO ANYTHING TERRIBLY SPECIAL, BUT OUR DAYS ARE FULL AND HAPPY....
                                                                  ********

SINCE I LAST POSTED WE TRIED OUT  PEDREGAL  AZTECA  MEXICAN RESTAURANT....     We started out to eat at San Sebas Cafe but they were closed for vacation  (everybody goes on vacation in August) so we started walking....A couple of blocks away I spotted a Mexican flag...........

 PEDREGAL AZTECA IS NEW LOOKING, CLEAN, WITH MEXICAN DECOR TOUCHES LIKE THE LITTLE SKULL PLANTERS....

 I ORDERED THE TACO LUNCH,  RICK OF COURSE HAD TO HAVE A TASTE....

 WE WERE THERE LATE ENOUGH TO SEE THE TABLES SET FOR DINNER.....TABLECLOTHS AND A BOTTLE OF WINE.....

ALL IN ALL AN ATTRACTIVE PLACE WITH DECENT FOOD,  BUT PRICEY!

THIS SATURDAY WAS SUSANA'S BIRTHDAY.... WE AGREED WE WOULD CELEBRATE BOTH OUR BIRTHDAYS AFTER ALL HER GUESTS LEAVE, SO FIRST WEEK IN SEPTEMBER.....ANYWAY,  I WANTED TO GET HER AN ARRANGEMENT SO WE WENT TO THE MERCADO DE FLORES.....

ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES ON EARTH -- SMELLS HEAVENLY FROM THE GORGEOUS FLOWERS,  AND IT'S SO FULL OF LIFE, ENERGY  AND BEAUTY......IT IS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE BACK END OF THE CATHEDRAL IN THE FRONT SQUARE OF A VERY OLD CHURCH....SANTUARIO MARIANO......

THERE ARE FOOD VENDORS, AND STROLLING VENDORS OF ALL SORTS....AND PEOPLE BUYING RELIGIOUS CANDLES AND POTIONS   FROM THE CONVENT "STORES" .....  

I FOUND A FANTASTIC ARRANGEMENT FOR SUSANA, AND THEN I SPOTTED THESE INCREDIBLE ROSES.....I JUST HAD TO TAKE THEM HOME....I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY DYE THEM SO MANY COLORS......

ON SUNDAY WE WENT TO MASS AS USUAL AT THE CATHEDRAL,  BUT DECIDED AFTERWARDS TO GO SOMEWHERE DIFFERENT FOR LUNCH...

AND SO WE WENT TO ROUX.....

 THE MANAGER IS A VERY NICE YOUNG MAN WHO WAS VERY ATTENTIVE...WE BOTH ORDERED THE SAUSAGE AND BISCUITS WITH EGGS.....IT WASN'T VERY EXCITING LOOKING SO I TOLD HIM THAT IT NEEDED SOME GARNISHES, SOME COLOR.....AND I ORDERED A MOJITO......HE CAME BACK LATER AND SAID THE OWNER WAS APPRECIATIVE OF MY COMMENTS AND WANTED ME TO HAVE ANOTHER MOJITA ON THE HOUSE....I NEVER TURN DOWN A GIFT!!

 IT WAS A PERFECT DAY FOR DINING OUTSIDE IN THEIR LOVELY GARDEN,  AND WITH LIVE MUSIC IT WAS GREAT!!

THE LEMON PIE IS TO DIE FOR!!!  WE SPLIT A PIECE AND THEN ORDERED 2 MORE PIECES TO TAKE HOME!!!

ROUX IS A GOOD RESTAURANT -- WE WILL RETURN!

******

MONDAY WE DECIDED TO CHECK OUT THE NEW SUPER MAXI GROCERY STORE AND GET SOME HAMBURGER MEAT....RICARDO WANTED MEAT LOAF.....

WE GOT TO THE THE STORE AND SPOTTED A CHANCO PLACE ACROSS THE STREET....IN FACT THERE WERE 2 WITH THE PIGS ON A SPIT OUTSIDE....SO WE DECIDED TO HAVE LUNCH FIRST....

HUGE PLATES OF CHANCHO, POTATOES AND  MOTE-- WE ATE TILL WE WERE STUFFED AND STILL BROUGHT HOME A BIG PLATE OF FOOD......

THE NEW SUPER MAXI IS SOOOO NICE.......IT WILL BE OUR GROCERY SHOPPING STORE FROM NOW OWN --- GOOD THING IT IS CLOSER TO US THAN THE ONE WE HAD BEEN USING......

********

TODAY WE HAD LUNCH WITH DEAR FRIENDS  JOHN & JOYULA H. AND JEAN L. AT THE TERRACE BAR AND GRILL.....TYPICAL AMERICAN STYLE SPORTS BAR,  BUT A LITTLE DEAR FOR CUENCA.....$12-$13 FOR A HAMBURGER HERE IS HIGH......

HAD A GREAT TIME -- LOADS OF LAUGHS,  AND THEN WE HAD DESSERT IN JEAN'S BEAUTIFUL APARTMENT....SHE HAD A "TO DIE FOR CAKE" AND ICE CREAM AND COFFEE.....WE VISITED FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS BEFORE HEADING HOME.....

ONE OF THE TOPICS OF CONVERSATION WAS HOW MUCH WE ALL LOVE CUENCA AND THE PEOPLE HERE...  HOW WELL OLDER PEOPLE ARE TREATED,  HOW GOOD THE MEDICAL CARE IS,  AND HOW WE CAN AFFORD TO EAT OUT OFTEN AND HAVE LUXURIES LIKE MAIDS AND FLOWERS, ETC.....

AS FOR OPPORTUNITIES....WELL,  THERE IS A DIRE NEED FOR MARKETING ADVICE.....NO ONE KNOWS HOW TO ADVERTISE AND PROMOTE....MOST IS DONE BY WORD OF MOUTH....

I'D LOVE TO SEE A RADIO STATION DEVOTED TO BUSINESSES HERE IN CUENCA WITH ADS AND INTERVIEWS WITH DIFFERENT BUSINESS OWNERS.....

AND TV....

MORE AFTER SCHOOL AND VACATION ACTIVITIES FOR THE CHILDREN.....

PIANO & OTHER MUSIC LESSONS,  GYMNASTICS, DANCING, ETC.

SIMPLE CARPENTRY CLASSES, ART INSTRUCTIONS....

NUTRITION CLASSES, ETC

YOU SPEND A LITTLE TIME HERE AND YOU SEE HOW MUCH OPPORTUNITY THERE IS,  AND HOW SUCCESSFUL AMERICAN TYPE BUSINESSES ARE.....

WELL, LET'S JUST SAY IT THIS WAY.....

RICARDO AND I ARE NEVER BORED HERE!!!