OUR BRAVE NEW WORLD: June 2015

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Most wonderful Fathers Day

Coming to Ecuador and living in Cuenca has been an adventure of a lifetime Becoming immersed in the culture is not so easy because of the language barrier. But our lives have changed dramatically over the last several weeks.

I decided on a whim to learn to make Ecuadorian food. I visit the local markets regularly and have often wondered just what all the different foods where and how they were cooked. SO, I asked our landlords wife if she would help me learn. What a wonderful and exciting plan that turned out to be.
I never thought that the simple idea of learning to cook would lead to such a marvelous wonderful and emotional experience that has transpired .

We start by visiting the market on Wednesday when all foods are fresh and plentiful. The locals bring all there locally grown produce and we have it all to choose from. She tells me what it all is. ( and I have to try to remember all those strange names) Then we decide what we wish to make and purchase the ingrediants and carry it all home to cook. The first week she suggested a fish stew.

My special person, Lupe

The fish a tuna called

We then travel on the bus to home and make the most wonderfully tasting stew

The following week we make ceviche with shrimp and.some humitas . Foolishly, I forget to take pictures as I am so engrossed in learning the process. We will repeat this lesson as humitas are absolutely out of this world. I love 'em

For this cooking lesson she brings her children, whom we had previously met. Her husband is also invited to enjoy the meal along with her sister and her two small children.

Our New Family

All the young children now call us Granma and Papa
Aren't they all so beautiful?

After the meal and the wonderful time and conversation had by all. ( Felex and his daughter, Erica 16 on his shoulder speak english) , we are invited to join their whole family to celebrate Fathers Day with them at their home in the community of Valle . Brian 12 , the young man on the right, decides he wishes to spend the whole weekend with Sharyl and I .

Sunday arrives and we travel with Brian by bus to their home

The house Felix built

He is proud of the views he has

Brain and Erica are proud of their rooms

Fathers Day was celebrated with most of Lupe's family . Sharyl and I were included and treated as family. . It was so very special.

Lupe's sisters in the kitchen preparing the meal. There are three sisters.

Felix and I rounding up the unsuspecting chickens.

Dinner. All together we enjoyed 8 of these fresh chickens.

At about 1pm we started with a wonderful chicken soup. There were at least 40 people attending including all the children. 4 of Lupe's brothers and their wives also attended .The red drink is called Horchata
Made from special herbs and flowers all fresh from her garden..

Lupes Mom and Dad with Lourdes, a daughter-in-law

The bar-b-Qued chicken was enjoyed at 6pm

Prepared by Lupe's brother Patricio

NO! No Sharyl you can not bring them home......

SOME I have no idea how many , of our new grand children

A very very happy ending to a sad story. Their prodigal daughter, Gabriela,(23) whom they had not seem in over 13 months, showed up to help celebrate.

I was overwhelm with joy at being included with this family on this very special day.Because of language, I wondered if a day such as this would ever happen. But it did and I will never forget the warmth. It was very touching and natural

DRAMA......DRAMA......DRAMA

Cedula The national ID card everyone must have and we have been striving to secure for seven months. Our visa's were granted several weeks ago and we have been waiting for our facilitator to arrange a trip to Guayaquil to pick up our NEW RESIDENT VISA'S and then be granted our cedula's. Well, it so happened that she Katy, was robbed walking along the main street in our fair city. They rode by on a motorcycle and snatched her purse right off her shoulder.I guess the police came and found her purse minus $600. A great lose and horrifying experience, that has delayed our travel to Guayaquil.With cameras around, the thieves have been identified and maybe she will get some of the money returned.

The way the system works, after we have jumped through all the hoops and provided all the required papers and they have been submitted, we are notified by e-mail our visa is granted. Then, it is not required that Sharyl and I return, only our facilitator, Katy, need return to Guayaquil with our passports to have the actual visa placed in our passport.We are given a receipt and a-- not before-- date to return to pick-up our passports and THEN go to another building to receive our cedula.

So our long awaited trip took place yesterday. With great anticipation, we awoke at 4am for a 5am departure and at long last receive our cedula along with 7 other excited companions.
We stand in line, get a number, sit and wait for the number to be called. I cant wait to take a picture of the three of us with our new cedula. Our number is called. We quickly walk to the assigned window. As the three of us, Katy, Sharyl and I stand in front of the widow, the lady asks " How,many passports are you picking up" "Two we respond " " I only have one" she says. "WHAT" I think " "Just a minute" the lady says and disappears through a door. We look at each other as panic sets in for me.The lady returns and says "We can't find the passport. We are looking for it. Come back in a little while" She does give me mine however.

As all our other companions are given theirs, all the what if--- thoughts are going around and around in my mind.

Since we all must go to another building to acquire our cedula's and there is usually a long wait , it is decided to do that and return later for Sharyl's passport. So off we go and we do successfully receive our prized cedula. They did find Sharyl's passport however, because of the time of day, she was unable to achieve the prize and must return again. It so happens Sabrina etal arrive in Guayaquil this coming Tuesday. We will combine picking them up with picking up the missing cedula ( I hope)

As I have said before " PATIENCE" is a wonderful attribute to acquire here in Ecuador

LONG AWAITED VISA

MUCH PRIZED CEDULA

Sunday, June 14, 2015

Quaint Cuenca

Have I told you that latley that I LOVE CUENCA. I spend hours just walking around and make new discoveries all the time. Sharyl and I have enjoyed several days discovering new coffee shops. Stop here and there to enjoy a relaxing cup of Ecuadorian coffee. As I stroll around I come across the many homes both new and very old. They all just add to the charm and interest .
Side by side, the various styles of architecture,join together to create this charming city.

There are apartments---

There are newer homes--

There are some fancy homes---!

---and bigger fancy homes!

---and even BIGGER fancy homes!!

Then we have older homes!

--and older homes with the best views!

some colorfully decorated!

Then there is the unfortunate home which, when being remodeled,
collapses and a workman killed

Saturday, June 13, 2015

WHAT FUN IT --TIS

What more can I say about Ecuador. It keeps amazing me. Another day another very fun and interesting chapter. This evening several of us had a unique experience by going to an authentic artisan pottery shop. This gentleman, Ivan, makes pots the old fashioned way--by hand-- The whole process from beginning to end has been passed down to him over several generations. He was very willing to share his techniques with us as he helped us through the steps of creation.