VIVA ECUADOR Two years later

LOVE THE LIFE

TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY

Hard to believe that it has been two years since Sharyl and I made the decision to pick up and move to ECUADOR, but here we are with no regrets 

I came to Ecuador ...........for the standard of living. I can live much better here than if I had continued residing in Arizona or any other state in the US. The value of all our essential needs is much lower without having to sacrifice anything. Now many non essential items are more expensive, but we do have enough extra income to choose or not to purchase them.

I came to Ecuador............for the birds, my passion. Ecuador has the greatest diversity of birds of any other country for it size. I have enjoyed already, travelling here and there to watch and enjoy them.

I came to Ecuador.............for the adventure, enjoy a new culture, speak a different language, and the adventure continues to  happens every day.

TRIBUTE TO SABRINA

In Tucson, one of my joys was riding my bicycle. Arriving in Cuenca, I was of the opinion that I would not be able to ride a bicycle. The drivers here seemed to be quite manic, and very macho in their driving attitude. I was not as flexible as I was several years ago and was concerned that I would not be able to be safely aware of the cars around me.

However the idea kept gnawing at my mind. A friend had his bike and had been riding it many places and telling me how fun it was and he was now able to get more places more quickly.

THEN, I was talking to his friend who also had his bike. I asked him about his experiences and telling him about my concerns. He explained to me that the drivers here seemed to be aware of bikes and were giving him a wide berth. That he was very comfortable riding around.

So now I was really thinking about bringing my bike down here after all. We had been trying to sell it with no takers. So---- Sabrina was planning a visit---- so I broached the subject with her. Could she possibly think about bringing my bike with her. She said she actually had considered it,BUT between the cost of packing it and the cost of bringing it on board the plane it was going to be too expensive. That perhaps just getting  a bike here would be more cost effective. To say the least I was very disappointed. No bike here was as nice as mine nor as comfortable to ride  and they were not cheap.

What I did not know at the time I talked to her, was that she was already bringing my bike as a Fathers day gift. That was why she already knew so much of the cost. She already knew what was required to be able to bring the bike on the airplane. In fact it had already been boxed.

So imagine my joy when she quietly comes off the airplane and I discover that one of the pieces of luggage is "MY BIKE" I was speechless and overcome with excitement.

HEY

LOOK

AT ME NOW

 I have been happily riding my bike all over town ever since

They have special bike lanes on several of the main thoroughfares

---even some sidewalks will accomodates bikes

------and beautiful  bike paths along the rivers and parks

---and many of the roads are plenty wide enough to allow me plenty of room

So I am now comfortably riding to do shopping at the Mall where they have provided bike racks enabling me to lock my bike,( Sabrina even thought to bring a lock). Riding to visit friends and riding just for fun.

Life here has now taken on another whole dimension for me 

I will be for ever grateful to Sabrina for her Fathers Day surprise and the effort she made to transport " MY BIKE"

ANOTHER PAMPA MESA

Interestingly enough, I was invited by my landlord, an Ecuadorian, to join him and his family at a fiesta. Turns out the fiesta was for the baptism of several young people. One  was the child an indigenous family with whom they are very close.

The native family on the left and the In-Laws of my friend becoming God parents for the little boy.

After the ceremony, the family will put on a "PAMPA MESA" and feed   everyone and I mean everyone. There must have been well over 100 people who through out the evening arrived at their home to participate.

 The home 

 Food being prepared

The kitchen with more food cooking.

A simple table

With everyone gathered around to eat..

Now understand, I was the ONLY gringo attending this gathering of family members, close friends and it seemed like most of their neighbors. The food arrived in front of me. A full plate of rice-potatoes-shredded pork- and sitting on top was a "CUY"

Cuy is the national dish of Ecuador and is------

Thats right---Guinea Pig!!!!!!

Now I had never before eaten this animal  and really was not sure I wanted to, but what was I to do. There were at least  15-20 people watching this Gringo. What would he do ??????

Eat it of course-----

 This " delicacy" was enjoyed by everyone

-------especially my friend Felix

Me--not so much. I thought it was very salty and wondered " where is the meat"

Afterward we all danced the night away until 4am.

 This beautiful lady is teaching me some Ecuadorian dance moves 

Unfortunately this is where my camera battery died so I am unable to document the rest of the story.

However I am told that  I danced with almost all the ladies there including some elderly ones wearing their traditional dress, ---some younger ones who were even carrying a baby strapped to their back and best of all my friends teen age daughter who said to me " Where did YOU learn how to dance."

Now this was an experience of a lifetime. 

PAMPA MESA

The City Government of Cuenca does an absolutely wonderful job of providing very special events for all to enjoy. One of the most fun, that I have really enjoyed has been, FREE, a bus ride to near-by communities to see their town and their special history and culture. I have now joined 6 different trips so far.
One that was particularly fun and interesting arrived in a town called"Llacao" From there we were asked to walk along a long windy road  to a sacred area called a PACHAMAMA or mother earth. The place was located on the top of a flat mountain  with a just gorgeous overlook back to Cuenca.

 One of two buses transporting us around

 The town dancers put on a show for us

After the dancing., we were asked to walk along a dirt road to the top on the mountain  The hike took us about 45 minutes to arrive at the top

 A look back from where we came. It really was a beautiful walk and
spectacular view when we reached the top

 Standing on top of the Pachamama

The city of Cuenca is located in a wide valley know to locals as "The Basin"

At the top a number of Indigenous people had assembled

 This gentleman was giving a very impassioned speech. From what I could understand and was told, he was saying that many years ago, the city wanted to build its airport here on their sacred land . They defeated the plan at the time, however the city is again trying to  revise the idea and he was advising us of the plan and asking no, pleading for support

Afterwards a Pampa Mesa was prepared. A Pampa Meas is a "common table" A mat or cloth  is spread on the ground and food is placed on the mat.Everyone sits around and  shares what they have. The mat is narrow enough so that all can reach the food and eat any and all  that  they wish 

 Prior to partaking of any of the food, the gentleman in this white on the left, asked for the oldest person to come forward. This person happened to be me.Now,  I was one of only a small handful of  gringos on the trip of two bus loads of people.

  As soon as I " volunteered" a little old lady was so happy to take my hand and lead me around the "table". She had in her hand a small pot into which we gathered small portions of most of the different dished spread before us.

The food was blessed with a small ceremony and we then dug a small hole and buried the food. The Ecuadorians present certainly enjoyed my participation and were all over us taking pictures.

After our "feast" we hiked back to our buses using some remaining portion of the Inca Trail. It was now apparent why we were asked to walk up on the road Walking on the Inca trail and participating in this special " Pampa Mesa"
What a special experience for me. 

GONE NATIVE

One of the many reasons we decided to move to and live in Ecuador was to be able to enjoy the huge variety of fresh fruits and vegetables  available. As we explored the markets and learned about the medicinal benefits of many herbs as well, we discovered Coconuts . Many people we talked to were extolling the benefits of this seeming wonder fruit. Drink the juice, eat the meat, AND cook only with the oil.

I have never been fond of coconut in any form, but after learning more about the benefits and learning that it might help with Shary,s health, we decided to try to use the oil. Coconuts are readily available in the markets, however the oil is not. A small amount when it can be found is very expensive. We did purchase some and started to use it. I was totally won over after frying some eggs with this oil. It was sooooo delicious. We started using it for cooking almost everything, including just melting a little on toast. BUT with the expense, we had to cut back somewhat. 

Then , while talking to friends of ours from Jamaica , she said making the oil was not hard and she would show me how. So she did. 

THIS IS WHAT I LEARNED!!!

Start with the brown or already husked coconut

Then drain the milk by poking one of the three eyes. There is always one that is very easy to open Then drain the juice. 

Then gently, using a hammer, bang on the shell until it cracks. You really do not have to hit it very hard

 After just a few hits, the shell cracks

....and bingo its open

Now, almost the hardest part , is separating the meat from the shell

There is probably a better tool, but what I have is a box cutter to score the meat---

...and a screwdriver to separate it from the shell.  

---They work---a bowl full of coconut meat

Now, using a blender, fill with some of the meat and add hot water

Blend it up

Strain

Then use a coffee filter to ---

---wring the most juice out of the meal

Last step is to boil the milk down

Takes about 2 hours

and then it is done. The water has boiled off, the oil has risen to the top and there is a sweet residue remaining

Pour the oil into a jar and I have a weeks worth of wonderful, marvelous coconut oil.

Cost: Each coconut cost $1.25 x 4 = $5.00 and about three hours of my time. 

We also have several big jars of coconut milk, which would cost  $5 which we use in our healthy smoothies. 

The above jar ,if full, would cost $30. My cost $15.

Sharyl is experimenting with the dry left over flour for baking,

So  with the oil and the juice, and the dry coconut flour, we are ahead, AND so much more fun and a great accomplishment. 

Who said you cant teach an old dog new tricks!!!!!