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.