A few more things I like about Cuenca

My very favorite place to go is Feria Libre,a market where  country farmers bring their produce to sell. The place is fascinating. So much food and so colorful. Many in their native dress. They resist having their pictures taken,BUT someday---They sell almost everything there.It is so interesting to just walk around and get lost among the various stalls. Haggling is expected and I do. I have to be careful as you get so much for your money , Sharyl and I will not be able to eat it all before it goes bad. I usually make some kind of soup or stew and have that for several days at a time. Just throw everything in, cook it and eat it.

To give you some idea

All for $.50 cents

and they are soooooo  fresh soooooo good

The whole bunch for $.50 cents. (21 bananas)

They are smaller than the states and taste sweeter

The bag---- you guessed it --- $.50 cents

this basket $3.50

We mash them- delicious-- and we also make potato pancakes for breakfast

These will last for almost a week

Beautiful and so good tasting--$1.

I also bought 25 apples ( several different kinds)  for $1 / 5 . They make a wonderful applesauce.

And then we need a break 

These delicious sundaes are $1.20 each.

Care to join us!

 

Silk & China

We are so glad we made the effort to bring our special kitties with us to Ecuador. Several of you have asked how the were doing.

                                                              Any more questions??

                                                         

                                                            We purchased a new couch

                                         
                                                                Silk thought it was for her

                                                                Then we purchased a rug

Silk again made it her playground. The living room is sunken about 8 inches.The rug does not have any padding so it slides easily on our floor She lines herself up , crouches down, wiggles her rear end and then--jumps.

She will do this over and over giving us lots of laughs

Silk would wait by the front door for me in AZ

She does in Ecuador as well

China, being the more adventuress of the two loves to be able to wonder in and out to our 

enclosed patio. We therefore MUST leave a widow open to permit her to be able to roam whenever she wants.She will let us know when the window is closed.

Outdoors is her playground

So our special kitties have ajusted quite well. Don't you think?

I Had Them Rolling in the aisles!!!

Remember I told you that I had conquered the buses, WELL maybe not.
Sharyl and I went shopping for our fruits and vegetables the other day. We spent all of $10 for more than we could carry. Sharyl wanted a basket or two in which to store some things under our bed. (Closet space is VERY limited.) So we made the purchase of two baskets
 I thought, well we could now carry all our stuff in these baskets. So we did and off we went and on to the bus. It was not at all crowded. I placed my basket full of veggie's on the empty seat next to me. At the next stop , the bus driver jammed on the brakes, my basket fell to the floor, lots of  potatoes went rolling under the seats and down the aisle. I jumped up and ran after them and tried to collect them all. As I was doing this people could not get on and perhaps were just so shocked and wondered just what I was doing. Potatoes were everywhere. Some people did understand and picked some up and gave them to me.  Once I collect my potatoes then people could continue boarding. A Little embarrassing, but a great part of our adventure

                                                          One of our markets

The markets are so colorful

Here I find our dry beans and rice, even oatmeal

                                                   You can find most anything here

Even a basket or two

                                                 And here they are--- potatoes et al

All for $10

That is peanut butter in the bag

The baskets were extra $8 each

La Posada The passing

It is so much fun to discover another countries customs. This past Sunday, we heard music, the sound of a band playing. We were able to see the parade from our windows looking out on a main street close by. I picked up my camera, ran to the street and watched several parades go by. Very colorful with people dressed in their native clothes, dancing, and there even were cars decorated. A very festive atmosphere.
La Posada depicts as I understand it, The baby Jesus passing by your home.There were many women carrying dolls depicting the baby Jesus.

The parade goes to a local Catholic Church where there is a ceremony and then they march back.  This is a custom only in Cuenca and some of the near-by areas. These ceremonial parades will now happen every week-end throughout Cuenca until Holy week

FELIZ ANO NUEVO

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!!

What fun it was to spend New Year in Cuenca. They have a wonderful tradition here that we were able to experience first hand right outside our balcony.

Our observations started the day before when I came upon a stand selling dummies. I had no idea what this was all about. From a distance it looked just like a small group of people , gathered around watching ???. As I drew closer it was more obvious that a young woman was selling stuffed dummies, but for what purpose.

Further along my walk I came upon another stand selling face masks

This young man was very proud of his masks

                                 I was reminded of Mardi Gras, but that was not for several months yet.

Later in the day, as Sharyl and I were riding the bus to town and we noticed that there were stands selling dummies and masks everywhere. It seem almost every corner. 

We learned later that this is a Cuenca tradition. They celebrate " Ano Viejo"  Old Year.

The tradition involves dressing a dummy ( Monigotes or puppet) with a mask that resembles a bad or good person in your life., or even yourself.They become effigies. They are made from cloth and usually stuffed with saw dust. You then write a note about what was good or bad in your life. 

These effigies are placed outside your home

I saw them on the front of taxis and buses and tops of cars.

I even saw them in the backs of pick-up trucks.

These effigies are then burned on New Years eve signifying the passing of the old year and beginning of the new.

On New Years eve I walked around several blocks of our neighborhood. There were house parties happening all over with very loud music, dancing, and lots of fireworks.People were laughing and having a wonderful time.

At midnight we were treated to this tradition right below our balcony.

The puppets were stacked

Then set on fire exactly at midnight. This is happening all over Cuenca.

All kind of fireworks are set off. Some of the " dummies" have small exploding noise makers stuffed inside

As the flames reach higher, there is another tradition of jumping the flames three times for good luck. I did not see any women doing this so am not sure how good your luck will be without the fairer sex joining you. 

ONE

TWO

THREE

Then everyone hugged one another and waved to us and wished us 

Happy New Year

WHAT A VERY SPECIAL AND FUN EXPERIENCE

TO ALL 

A HAPPY NEW YEAR 

FROM THE YOUNGS

 IN CUENCA.