Cuenca Christmas

Well now is is Christmas Day in Cuenca. The season is so festive here. People dress in native costume and there are many parades all over town. It is hard to believe that we have been so busy visiting our friends and having several groups over that we have not been out to enjoy all the festivities.

Real trees are not allowed in Cuenca

Sharyl does such a beautiful job decorating 

 We went to two dinners today. The first with our Ecuadorian Family. We enjoyed very much a typical Ecuadorian Dinner

Dinner arriving

 Dinner being made ready by all the 5 sisters

Erica,The Mom Lupy and Gabriela 

Mote

Typical Ecuadorian dish of  boiled corn 

The whole family sitting together

Our hostess Lupy

So much food but so delicious

After eating we travelled to a grigo gathering

Here I met a friend with whom I went birding in Tucson

Can you believe that!!!

Another interesting story of my life. I introduced myself  to a couple waiting with me for the bus Turns out they were from Phoenix. Bob & Kathy. we spoke and parted when their bus arrived. Two weeks later I thought they were riding the same bus with me so I spoke to them again and said " Your from Phoenix , Right" They said " Yes how did you know" " You are Bob and Kathy Right" " No  We are Gina and Dave "  What a surprise we all had But now I know another couple. They had been talking together and although I had no idea about what, I knew they were having a bad day and I wanted to offer them a glass of wine and some friendly conversation figuring they were the people I had already met. Unfortunately they were not able to accept right then, but at a future date they will get the wine and conversation.

TO ALL MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY FOLLOWING MY LIFE IN ECUADOR 

I WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A JOYOUS NEW YEAR

HAPPY BIRTHDAY---------Ecuador One Year later

So hard to believe it has been a full year already. A very fabulous year at that.We have conquered the Ecuadorian bureaucracy,( We were issued a cedula), found a place to live and made it our home, made some great friends,both from the US, Canada and New Zealand and from Ecuador ( wonderful people) and had some time to visit other areas of this beautiful country. I really did not expect to enjoy this new life as much as we have.
 I have even learned to cook " Ecuadorian Dishes".
We have had friends and family visit with several more to come.( We welcome all and encourage you to visit).My best birding friends are visiting after Christmas for two weeks. I have enjoyed several classes about the Ecuadorian birds and plants.I have been hiking up high in the Andes ( 13,500ft) and in the Jungle ( Oriente). I have been able to pursue my passion ( Birding) in some of the best places to bird in the world.In fact, after I participated in the birding class , the Professor asked If I could assist with the second one

How Great it is

To so enjoy my passion and share it with others

Several weeks ago I invited 20 people over for my Moroccan. Dinner. I made a list of friends and realized that I knew more than 60 people so I did the dinner two Sundays in a row. It is a big undertaking, so even though I wanted to do it a third time it was just too much .

Living and enjoying Ecuador continues to be an adventure of a lifetime. We do invite any and all who wish it visit to come on down, We have plenty of room.

Fun Days

It was great having the family and two of our grandkids visit for almost a month in July. They are growing up so fast and becoming their own persons. They, of course, wish to all those exciting things young people enjoy . They are offered in  Banos , a small town about a 4 hour bus ride away .A place  where many of those adventure they wished to enjoy could be found; Zip lining, climbing ,repelling, ATV driving, hot springs and a very,special, exciting Casa de Arbol. A big swing that gets your heart pounding as it carries you out over  an incredible drop over the edge.
Brianna had researched Banos and planned our sojourn to  ahead of time and was so excited to get there. Right away, off they went to repel down inside a waterfall. They did this by themselves as none of us adults were interested. We instead chose to take the sightseeing tour bus.

                                                                A very cute town

                                                                   Lots of water falls
            The bus ride took us to several waterfalls and overlooks of dramatic mountain scenery

                                            Then came to several zip lines spanning deep gorges.

This was what the kids wanted, not me . However one was advertized as the longest in Ecuador so why not ,I thought to my self. So Off I went......

                                                                          I suited up......

                                                                          Safety check

                                                                Get Ready...... Pull back

                                                                         Big push.........

                                                                  ....... and off I go

                                                          Seee meeee.... I am the white dot

                                        Heading to the gray spot just in the bend of the river
                                                                     No worries

                                                     The " Kids " got their ATV

                                                             We had fun with this .....

                                                           Off to the BIG swing

                                                      This girl is quite adventurous

                                                                Then Brother went

                                                                      Then Mom

                                                               Then Granpa

                                                               

                                         We did have a wonderful day full of excitement

GONE FISHING

Sabrina,Brianna, and Josh have come to visit for a whole month. High on their list of things to do was to take Josh fishing. So, we all decided to take a class in fly fishing. A two day trip to the local National park with James, a gentleman I had met hiking . He has a class in fly fishing. So after the family spent a few days trying to acclimate to our 8200ft altitude off we all went to try our hand at fishing.

FIRST learn your equipment and some safety

Classroom # 1

Students

Success

"Fish On"

Cant touch it

  Great Technique

What have I done

Dont you just love how proud she is

I'm getting it

Class room #2

The kids loved it!

All in the family

It is cold at 13000 feet

Even I caught one

Happy Days

They were good tasting too!

                                  Cant thank James enough for this wonderful and such a fun time