A week of mundane things and FRIENDS!

We've been busy with everyday things...running errands, shopping, prepping for Stu's impending US visit the end of the month and, of course, meeting up with friends (old and new).

We had two gorgeous sunny days, back to back, my camera was charged and ready to go - I snapped a lot of shots. Most of them are in our SmugMug album for May but here are a few to whet your appetite (as always, click for a larger view).

Walking to lunch at the Loft, we saw this adorable little Schnauzer puppy in the window, quietly watching the world go by. Lunch was good and we soon headed to get our bus. We ran into this little old man on the street, walking carefully with his cane and when I greeted him, he proceeded to tell us about his four weeks in the hospital for his bad knees. (This was as much as I could decipher from his Spanish.) He then went on to ask for money to get to Paute...Stu gave him a dollar and I asked if I could take his photo. He agreed and squared himself and put on his serious face...when I really wanted his smiling face, full of character. Oh well...

We also made another trip to Casa de la Mujer and the Santa Ana Market (Hippie Market) where we bought some gifts. Of course I didn't come away empty handed. [grin] The necklace is two sided and the bracelet is adjustable. These are the first earrings I have bought here...a little dangle plus some color. $12 for the necklace, $6 for the bracelet and $6 for the two earrings!

More about this week in the next blog....

Local photos from our walk

I promised you some of the photos we took on our most recent walk to Popacuchu and here they are!

Yanuncay River running high and fast after days of rain

You can see the water line (mashed grass) from the night before

Little cafe around the corner from us, always clean looking. Will try it soon.

Their baños (bathrooms) have a little boy or girl doll on the door.

Beautiful hibiscus flower - they bloom year round here.

We pass several automotive shops on our walk. This one is set back but always has something interesting like this Studebaker.

This little girl was sitting outside and I asked if I could take her photo. She nodded yes but still wouldn't smile, SO serious!

A little less shy, she posed a bit. I always carry some Werther's Toffee candy with me (individually wrapped) just for times like this. When I offered it to her as we left, I got a smile as she tore into it.

That's is for today. Ciao!

Friends, Food, Pastries and Popacuchu

As most of you already know, I'm pretty open here on the Internet and that especially applies to Facebook. I rarely turn down a friend request unless we have no obvious mutual interests or friends.

This means I have a lot of "friends" on Facebook that are researching Ecuador. Some come for a visit, others take the leap and move here. One of our favorite meeting spots is Popacuchu since we get to show off their amazing pastries with the added bonus of it being close to the house (a one mile walk).

Our latest meet 'n greet were with new expats, George and Chad, who relocated here from California. I've been online friends with George for over a year, having connected via his fabulous website - EcuadorGeorge.com

We arrived at 11 am and it turned out that Stu was the only one who had eaten breakfast. Stu and I ordered a cup of the soup of the day, Chad got the soup in their trademark bread bowl and George ordered the cup of soup and half sandwich.

Not sure how we managed to keep talking through the delicious food. Soon we decided it was time for desert with Stu being the abstainer. I got my usual apple strudel, George got a decadent chocolate cake (he asked for the richest, sweetest thing they had in the case) and Chad got something that we never learned the name for but everyone fell in love with. Here's a photo of George getting ready for his bite of Chad's desert.

We continued to chat until well after 4 pm - what a delightful day, both the food and the company. Our topics ranged from writing to pets to apartments to weather to back in the US to food to exercise to movies to The Church Lady to computers/printers to...well, you get the idea! LOL!

Tomorrow I'll post the photos I took on the way to meet up with new friends, George and Chad. We know we'll be seeing them again!

Where is your favorite spot to meet new folks here in Cuenca?

May 11 2014: Sundry Sunday Photo

Happy Mother's Day from the flower market in Cuenca, EC
 

Two benches down, two to go!

Some of you saw Stu's wonderful bench for me that he did in the furniture workshop held by our friends Kathy & Sara. To keep it simple, he bought a new bench at Rotary Market even though we already had three at home to be done.

We have a small one at the top of the stairs where we can dump our bags, backpacks, coats, etc. We have a medium sized one that sits in the hallway (wearing my shawl to give it some color) and we had a large one at the end of the hall.

Well, the large one is now in our guest room since his GORGEOUS bench from the class now sits at the end of the hall.

His next project was the small one at the top of our stairs. Here are the photos of the process. Since it's always covered with STUFF we opted for no decoration since it would always be hidden.

When we first bought it, back in January

Sanded and priming

Paint touch up left to do

All painted!

Adding hooks on the sides to hang things

Back in place - perfect size, colors and functional

Now on to the hallway bench...

Now I can have my shawl back!

Sanding started

Jewelry I've bought

I haven't bought a lot of jewelry but wanted to post about what I have bought, for those interested.

The first piece is made out of Tagua nut, it's the South American Ivory even though it's actually a vegetable. You will see necklaces, pendants, earrings in the jewelry line as well as a wide variety of carvings. I bought this last April/May from a gal selling inside San Sebas restaurant (they are too busy now to hose this type of event but I enjoyed browsing her goods).

I also bought my first Saguaro beaded bracelet from the same gal. Here is a close-up view. I think I spent $12 for both pieces.

The next two (actually three) pieces were bought from Saguaro ladies, one at the Casa de la Mujer artisan shop and one at the big celebration at Otorongo Plaza last month. I love them both, I have a hard time resisting these pieces.  I even had one converted into a hatband! Each necklace was $12 and it cost me an additional $3 for the adaptation to a hatband (made it longer and adjustable). I also bought a beaded hummingbird from the Otorongo vendor, they were asking $5 for it. I got the hummingbird and this necklace for $15. I rarely negotiate with artisans unless buying more than one item.

Another one bought recently, fell in love with it at the same Saguargo vendor in Casa de la Mujer (upstairs, towards the front). I think it as $5 or $6...

This one was bought from a street vendor while wandering around. I really don't remember where in Cuenca nor how much I spent but I am sure it wasn't more then $15.

This piece I picked up at what is nicknamed the Hippie Market. A couple dozen vendors sell mostly jewelry, most of it the same, but I found one piece I really liked. It appears to be made of mother of pearl, but one side seems to have been inlaid with a mosaic of multi-colored pieces. Very unique and he made me a lace that is adjustable.

When we were at the Hippie Market, I saw a necklace made of some type of seeds (or bean) and fell in love with the bright orange/red color. But I didn't ask the price, suspecting it was more than I wanted to pay. By the time I got home I realized I really wanted it and decided to go back and see how much it was. I was willing to pay up to $15. Imagine my surprise when it was only $5! So happy....

Next I will be looking at earrings, there has to be something I like out there! LOL!