CUENCA CELEBRATES....

This weekend is the "Fiestas de Cuenca" -- I think it's their Independence Day celebration so there are tons of people everywhere,  art displays and booths selling everything imaginable....

El Cantaro Restaurant (where we ate after Mass) was packed which made Tony very nervous....he didn't have enough help but the food was delicious even tho there was a bit of a wait...

I really like the shrimp  Ceviche at El Cantaro....it's the best in town - I always order it without onions....they serve Patacones on the side but I prefer French Fries....Ceviche here is a cold shrimp or fish soup....really good!!
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Have been working on the yard and the park garden -- put in a few more roses but there is a lot more to do...perhaps later this week Yolanda and I will go for more plants.....

This is my favorite rose....

The weather here is warmer -- it's summer now which means more rain and much prettier vegetation....the growing season is year round, but the flowers flower more in the "summer".......Have had some thunder which in Nebraska would mean a big storm...here it barely rained,  BUT,  we did have an earth quake...5.3 they said.    Rick didn't even wake up,  but I did -- there was a loud boom and then the bed started shaking and the windows rattling....I got up and looked out but it seemed no one else was bothered  (it was 5 am) so I went back to sleep.    They said it was felt much more in el centro.

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The new restaurant I mentioned last time turned out to be VERY good...A delightful young  couple from Venezuela have opened MASTRANTO on Juan Jaramillo 8-21 y Luis Cordero.....He is Marco Acosta and his wife is the chef,  Eros.....

Venezuela is a place no one wants to live, so they leave if they possibly can...

The food here at MASTRANTO  is rather European/Venezuelan  presented in an elegant manner...it's a cute fresh place and they are doing well.....we plan to go back tomorrow night....

Friday night we took Yolanda and Juan Gabriel to Tacanijo...

 For "DIA DE LOS MUERTOS" in Mexico the families set up altars where they place pictures of their deceased family members, and then food, offerings, are placed around to honor the dead....At first (many years ago) I thought it was rather ghoulish,  but I realized that it is their way of remembering....and it's quite lovely...

Juan Gabriel is really growing... we don't get to see him very often because his school hours have changed from mornings to  1 pm - 6:30 pm...they have to do morning and afternoon sessions because there aren't enough schools and the afternoon classes are for the upper grades....

Juan and Yolanda now love Mexican food, AND the hot sauces....it's fun to take them there because you can see how much they enjoy it...

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Had my nails and hair done on Saturday...

Valeria came and cut my hair and curled it and gave me this amazing manicure,  all for $15.... I was in a hurry as Geovanny had invited us to almuerzo at their house -- it was his birthday....

Geovanny always invites me to have a drink of his special whiskeys or wines...he has a nice collection,  and tho I have never been a big fan of whiskey..it's really quite nice when it's a GOOD whiskey!

Geovanny and family --- with Bertha,   and Paul and Dominica Cristina  (Titi)

 Geovanny  serving wine to his mother and sister...

This is the Ecuadorian tamale we had as appetizer....REALLY GOOD!

The main course was chicken in mushroom sauce,  chancho hornado  (baked pork roast)  rice,  and pea salad..... and then there was CAKE!

Similar to a carrot cake, this had lots of nuts and a burnt sugar type frosting -- very moist and delicious!

We have invited Bertha and Geovanny out to dinner tomorrow night to celebrate .....

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Susana went to New York on October 22 to visit relatives and shop....going in October enables her to do her Christmas shopping, and she has a ball there with all the family members,   aunts & uncles, and cousins.....Miss her....She'll be back on the 5th....

We went to San Francisco market before she left so that she could shop for gifts .... I just love this market area...

This photo is taken in the parking lot of the market place.....look at the scenery!!!  

We saw Guido Marquez, my favorite artist  - she got a couple of hand painted glasses from him,   and I got the tiny stool he painted for me..

Isn't this the cutest thing?

Most of the festivities end tonight,  but there will still be some vendors around for another day or two....lots of traffic,  but fun....

Those who live in El Centro definitely see more of the goings on than we do,  but it's nice to live away from the throngs and just go when we want....

WISH EVERYONE COULD EXPERIENCE OUR LOVELY CUENCA!!

BEAUTY SURROUNDS, BEAUTY ABOUNDS.....

It's impossible to ignore the beauty of life in Cuenca...it's all around!!!  It's a big city,  modern in so many ways,  but it has a charming romance that is lovely....in a valley surrounded by gorgeous mountains with old colonial buildings and some funny customs......example...we walked out of our house on Sunday to catch a taxi to go to the Cathedral for Mass,   and there on the street,  a small herd of goats!

Not sure where they were going, but it's just one of the little surprises you see....

Our Sunday tradition is Mass, lunch,  and then the Mercado de Flores...but the Mercado is in front of a very old Church dating I think from the early 1600's.....I had never been inside since we always go to the Cathedral and this Church is right beside the Cathedral, across the street.....one Saturday I decided to go inside.....what a fabulous discovery!!

 The main center altar is very beautiful,  but so are the side altars with lovely realistic statues of the saints....
The choir loft is on the side of the church because the back center upstairs is the place for the cloistered nuns to attend Mass....

 Below the painting is the screened Mass viewing for the nuns who never leave the convent,  spending all their days praying...they are never seen.....

All I could really do was marvel at the beauty all dedicated to the glory of God!!
                                                              
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Outside in front of the Church is the Mercado de Flores....The gorgeous Calla Lillies always remind me of my sister Linda -  they're her favorite flower.....Roses abound .... they're a huge export for Ecuador -- normally buy 2 dozen  (25) for $5 and a lovely rose bush for $2......I'm in heaven!

I usually find some gorgeous cut flowers to bring home...

Sundays are lovely in Cuenca....

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Poor Teresa is always cold so I gave her my mother's mink stole....

Rick fixes lunch for her and the mute lady (sitting beside Teresa) so at least they have one good meal....he puts in all kinds of goodies which will last for more than just one day -- packages of coffee,  dried soup mixes, cookies, pastas, etc.

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And then there are lunches with good friends....

John and Joyula are close to getting their citizenship....

 We always enjoy Tacanijo ....here with Mosquita & Paulo enjoying margaritas and great Mexican food.  Their new place,  Tacanijo #2 at President Cordero 1-77 is only  about 1 block from Mosquita's so it's very easy to meet her there...

 Mosquitas birthday was this week so we're going to celebrate on Thursday....She wants to meet us at Fabiano's....

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The other night Bertha went out with girlfriends so Titi came over to do her homework....
She's such a sweet girl.....

Yolanda, our employee,  just called to say Juan Gabriel's school has something going on so she won't be coming to work today,  BUT she has the utility bills which she will pay and then Ricardo can reimburse her tomorrow!   She is so responsible and takes very good care of us!!   God really blessed us when he sent her to us.....

It's time to change for dinner -- Rick wants to take me out so we will try a new restaurant.....I'll report next time on how and where it is.....


                                                              HASTA PRONTO!!!

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.....

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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.....

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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...

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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!"