Tuesday, December 30, 2014

MERRY CHRISTMAS

 It is the day before Christmas and all through the house were only Stan and Sharyl. No grand kids-- no family close by. We in a new home and country. SOOOO--
We decided to explore the old city and check out the doings. What goes on in Cuenca on Christmas eve.
We stared with a bus ride to the old city and found that the cathedral was closed. We expected some kind of service happening or at least it would be open for private prayer. Nope-Nada- not much happening in downtown Cuenca.
We went for Ice Cream! This time we ordered from a picture and everything came as we wanted.
As we left the shoppe, music was heard close by.


A band composed of young people was entertaing.We enjoyed listening.Behind us a platform was set up and a few people were gathering.

FIREWORKS



That was fun
With the show over it was time to catch a bus home. There were others waiting, however no bus came. After about 45 minutes of waiting, our thoughts went to catching a cab. Too late----by this time everyone else had the same idea and there were very few taxis. So , as it was getting late we felt we should begin walking and try to find a bus or flag down a cab as we went. We went and we went until we had walked 3.7 miles all the way home. Another adventure in our new city

 Christmas morning found Sharyl making crepes in the kitchen
 We enjoyed them on our sunny patio and new table.
Merry Christmas To All

The evening brought us to a favorite restaurant " Don Colon" where we enjoyed a Christmas dinner of  Filet Mignon The meal was fantastic.


As we left our dinner,we enjoyed listening to a native musical group playing outside

They were very good and we enjoy the music of the pan flute.

And so we spent a very pleasant Christmas in Cuenca. 

Open for Business--(Visitors)

Stan has completed all projects Sharyl needed to begin making Cuenca our home. She has more on the drawing table  but for now we plan to  explore more of Cuenca.

 Finishing touches
DONE

 Our office 

Sharyl,s sewing table
A Sewing machine would be good

We are now preparing a second bedroom. All is coming together. 

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Furnishing an unfurnished house

The house we rented came unfurnished. Unfurnished also means no stove or refrigerator. So we have gone about buying those things. Our taxi driver who seems to know just about everything and has connections for anything was able to take us to a store where one must be known just to get in where we purchased our new stove and refrigerator . Next to a mattress store. These items where delivered on time. however since we knew a lady who was to recommend someone who would make a bed-frame, we placed the mattress on the floor.
We used our empty shipping boxes for tables.

The lady never came thru with a carpenter, so after several days on the floor, we decided we could make our own frame.We could by a frame for $250. Since  I had found a lumber yard near-by We decided to see what we could do.
Manuel cut all my needed pieces to length and delivered them to our home, just two blocks away
My work shop
I made a bed frame. two night stands, two small bookcases and a larger one just to place things on as we really had nothing, All for $50.
                                              My very first project..
We are truly using what we have. I brought a  box of hand tools only and a drill.The lumber is uneven in width but at least cut to correct length. I converted all my dimensions to metric only to find Manuel preferred standard US and he even used my tape. 


The completed frame and side tables of very rustic but serviceable homestead design
Completed project after painting. We are very comfortable now. 

After this success, Sharyl has several other projects for me to complete. I have completed the engineering and materials list, Two computer desks, a sewing table, and several other tables more serviceable than our boxes to make life a little easier and comfortable. With my help, Manuel will cut all to length and deliver.Working with wood of varying lengths and widths is a challenge. Adjustments have to be made on the spot so everything will sort of fit together.   It is just a very fun way of doing things here. Nothing fancy, but adequate for us.   

Everything goes better with---ECUADOR

Moving to Ecuador may have been the best decision I have ever made. YES one must endure life as it is and make the very best you can of working and enjoying life day to day until you can do EXACTLY what you would like to do. When that day comes what do you make of the rest of your life.
Sharyl and I have never been happier as we forge a new life here in this wonderful and beautiful country full of friendly people everywhere we go.
The food tastes so much better. The fruits and vegetables we purchase and eat the same day; pick today-eat today.Such a variety, fruits we have never seem before and have to learn how to eat.
  Fresh flowers every day for Sharyl to enjoy
 Look what see does with them
 These?-- with such a heavenly aroma---must have around all the time
The fruits even look pretty as we clean them --and the strawberries are to die for.
 Our local panadoria
 With a large variety
Baked fresh everyday

 . The eggs seem bigger and so much more wholesome and tastier.  The weather is almost perfect--cool to cold nights. and comfortable warm days.
Oh there is the negative-car alarms go off a lot-dogs bark a lot-the propane gas man comes by everyday waking us at 7am tapping his horn to announce his presence.  All in all however, we are really enjoying everyday.


Our small , local market run by Rosie. No mre than a block away.

Ther are so many markets all over town Big Markets,with many private stalls Small Markets usually run by a person, a lady, selling fresh food--meats--fish--fruits and vegetables, I have no idea where all the food comes from. We will not go Hungary.

I conquered the Bus before it conquered me.

I must start by saying that Cuenca has a wonderful bus system and it is affordable for all, especially for elders like me. $.12 cents per ride and only $.25 for everyone else and for the most part the buses are crowded. I applied for and was issued a pass that I just wave in front of this small box. It records my fare, deducts the amount and tells me have much money remains on my pass.  The buses go everywhere and they are very frequent. The problem is that there is NO map to explain which  bus goes where. From the corner near us. I have observed which bus numbers go past. Sharyl and I have taken each one as an exploratory ride to not only understand where it goes but to see the city and get a better understanding of what it looks like and perhaps discover places to revisit later. Our last trip, we were on the bus for 1 1/2 hours before we returned to where we started. What a wonderful adventure..

They also have a very civilized manner of making change. You must have the exact amount. If not, you make the over payment, and the next person to get on pays you their fare as a way of getting you your change.Try that in the USA.

Now the most interesting part of conquering the bus system, is the ride.
"Hold on" is the watch word. The drivers seem to have no interest in your comfort. They go fast. They take corners like they are driving a race car. They just barely stop to either let you off or on. I have to wait and make them come to a complete stop as my aging body is not as agile as some of the young folk here who seem to delight  in cheating death as they jump on or off the moving bus. If you have packages and you are forced to stand, holding on is very difficult to say the least. The other day as I waved my pass in front of the machine, the bus started so quickly, I was thrown off balance, dropped my card and was totally unable to retrieve it as I was simply holding on for dear life as the bus raced on to the next stop. A seated passenger had to pick it up and hand it to me.

Without a car, we are mostly dependent on their bus system. Since it is so convenient we do make use of the buses, however, we have learned to avoid those that are crowded. So, having now conquered their we are free to go any where anytime 


The buses travel so fast on these very narrow streets and sidewalks, it is a wonder no one is killed as we walk along