Giving Back and Having Fun

On Thursday Lance and I attended the Hearts of Gold Christmas Party.  The Hearts of Gold is a charitable organization that raises money to help assist existing non-profit organizations in the Azuay Province.  More than 300 people attended this event.  They had a sit down dinner, live music, and an auction and raffle for all the participants.  Even Santa Claus made an appearance!

This photo shows a group of children that performed at the event...

and this picture gives you an idea of what the venue looked like.  As you can see, people really dress up for this affair.  We sat at a table with David and Kathy, who attend Spanish class with us.  David's wife, Claudia was also there, along with several other people.   We had a good time visiting with each other and watching the festivities.  

Friday evening, we attended First Friday Art.  It was held at the Medal Museum and several artists exhibited their work.  We were really impressed with what we saw.  The work below is by an artist named Michael Pinchera and he is from the United States.  All his paintings have bold colors and interesting shapes.  We really liked them.     

Michael sold the picture above 30 minutes before we arrived that night.  He told us that the buyer plans to eventually give the piece to the art museum here in Cuenca. 

 The two sculptures below were done by a different artist.  He had many other pieces on exhibit.

This is just a small sample of what was shown that night.  Along with the art, there was food, wine, and music.  Below are pictures of the band that played.  They were really good.

We happened to meet and talk with the woman who owned the building where this event took place.  She told us that the building was an old colonial home owned by a prominent Spanish family that had a brewery in Cuenca.  The brewery was housed next door to their home and was torn down to build new condos.  She bought the home to save it from a similar fate.  The architect she hired to rehab the building did a great job preserving some of the more interesting features of the old colonial home.

On Saturday, I finally had an opportunity to work at the orphanage.  Bettina, the woman who coordinated this event, and I helped the children make Christmas cards.  We were lucky enough to receive many generous donations from the ex-pat community to make this activity possible.  People gave all kinds of craft items, including fun foam, colored paper, scissors, glue, glitter, sequins, paint, etc.  

I was amazed at how well behaved the children were.  They were also very good at tracing, cutting, and decorating their cards.  I think they really enjoyed the activity.  When they were done, we had a delicious pizza lunch.  I took pictures, but due to privacy rules at the orphanage, I am not allowed to post them online.  Instead, we will print them, and give them to the children as a nice remembrance of the fun day that we had.  Hopefully, we will be able to schedule another craft day soon.

In other news, we had a visit from Tony Bishop, a very talented tech guy, who helped me straighten out some of the problems I was having with my email.  He comes highly recommended and seems to be the "geek squad" of Cuenca if you are having trouble with your computer or other devices.

We attended the Programa de Navidad Divino Nino at Plazoleta San Francisco on Tuesday evening.  Once again, we seemed to be the only ex-pats in attendance.  The program was similar to a church service, with a spirited sing along led by a man who played a guitar.  The crowd really got into the music and it was fun to watch everyone do actions with the words to the songs.

Thursday was our final session of Coffee Club Spanish.  We had a great teacher and met many friendly and interesting people in our class.  Lance will be taking a short break, but I will continue with a tutor starting next week Tuesday.

I think it's safe to say you could easily find something to do every day of the week here in Cuenca.  We love being here.


    

Oh What a Night...

Yesterday was the 15th anniversary of Cuenca's inclusion in UNESCO's list of Cultural Heritage sites.  In honor of this great distinction, the city had a number of events planned.  There was an open air museum at San Sebastion Park, and the city orchestra played at Parque Caderon.  There was also a formal ceremony in the Old Cathedral, along with other events.

The evening started out a little slow for us. We heard at 5:00 P.M. there was going to be an exhibit of pictures showing the Pase del Nino, (which means...Passing of the Christ Child,) but after hiking around El Centro, we couldn't figure out where the exhibit was being held.  However, we did get to see the nativity scene that was set up at San Francisco Plaza.

Instead of wasting more time looking for the photo exhibit, we decided to walk back and watch the formal ceremony at the Old Cathedral.

  

As we approached the cathedral, we could see a band playing behind the gate, and we were encouraged to go inside the church...so we did.  That probably wasn't the best choice.  It ended up being a lot of speeches by different dignitaries, which we couldn't understand due to our lack of Spanish.  After about 45 minutes, we quietly bowed out and decided to head down to San Blas Plaza where there was suppose to be ethnic dancers, some singers, and fireworks.  As we walked down the street, we noticed that the Christmas lights were lit for the first time this season.

  

When we arrived we knew this was the best choice we made all night.  The music was already playing and several groups were getting ready to dance.  The crowd was lively and excited to be there.

  

(Okay...my next few pictures aren't the best.  The main stage had different color lights flashing all night, which didn't help.  Plus, I had trouble focusing on the dancers.) 

Lance and I stood with the crowd and watched as different groups got up to dance.  People danced with baskets, shawls, ponchos, and/or handkerchiefs.  Some wore shoes and others danced barefoot.  Everyone looked like they were having a great time.

In between dance groups there were a couple of singers that took the stage.  There were also two MC's who had questions for the audience.  If you answered correctly, you won a prize!  Toward the end of the evening a long line of students who looked like they attended a military school cleared a spot in front of the stage so people in the crowd could come up and dance.  

It wasn't too long before Lance and I were approached by two young ladies and asked to dance.  The picture below is a photo of one of Lance's dance partners.  Sorry...I don't have a picture of mine.

We barely got back to our spot, when we were asked again by someone else to dance.  This time, I was partnered with a handsome young man.

I know I look like a big blur in this picture, but that is no doubt due to the fact that my feet had to move so fast to keep up with him.  (Just kidding!)  Since I had no idea how to move my feet like his, I had to resort to a two step polka.  The songs were unusually long and it was exhausting...but lots of fun!

When we returned to our spots in the crowd, several of the older ladies cheered for us.  Meanwhile, on the stage the MC's were speaking and pointing in our direction.  We looked behind us, but everyone in the crowd told us they were talking to us and we were to go up on stage.  Yikes...earlier in the evening someone had gone up there and had to do a dance with a very talented older man.  As we dragged our feet over to the stairs I kept hoping we wouldn't have the same fate.  

We walked across the stage and the MC gave a short speech...but I had no idea what he said.  Then, he handed Lance and I a gift and everyone clapped.  What a heart warming experience.  Our best guess is that he was congratulating the two gringos in the crowd that were willing to dance with the others.  How nice to get such a warm welcome from these kind, friendly people.  

When we returned to the crowd we were greeted by a young man and middle aged Ecuadorian woman.  Much to our surprise, the man was a fellow Wisconsinite who lived in Madison.  He was here to do volunteer work for 6 months at one of the orphanages.  While in Cuenca, he was staying with the woman.  We had a nice conversation with them. 

Then...it was time for the fireworks.  What a show...loud, flashy, with sparks flying everywhere...and people running up to have their pictures taken in front of the tower.  

Finally it was time to head back to our apartment.  I bet some of you are wondering what we got for a gift.  It was wrapped, so we had no idea what it was until we got home.   Take a look below...

It was just another wonderful day for us in Cuenca, Ecuador.  Chao!
    

Giving Thanks in Cuenca

We had a wonderful time at Roz and Ken's on Thanksgiving Day.   Ken sent someone to pick us up in a cab around 3:00 P.M.  We loaded up the trunk with plants, and two side dishes, then drove to Gilberto and Elaine's house.  More food, champagne, and wine were added to the car and then all four of us took off for the country.  It was a beautiful day...sunny and warm.

When we arrived, Ken and Roz were ready for us.  Ken had prepared some delicious appetizers, and had the turkey prepped and cooking on the grill.  Roz had the whole house looking beautiful.  Jazz was playing in the background and everyone was happy to be there.  Gilberto opened a huge bottle of champagne, and we all had a toast to new friends and our new life in Cuenca.  We sat and visited with each other while we enjoyed the warmth of the late afternoon sun.

Ken and Roz were nice enough to offer Lance a small plot of their land so he could plant some flowers.  He had hoped to get some vegetable plants, but was having trouble locating them.  Someone at a local garden shop is going to look for them and let Lance know when they arrive.

Nothing makes Lance happier than having his hands in the dirt, planting a garden.  While we visited, Lance worked away in his new garden and Ken kept his eye on the turkey.

As you can see by Ken's face, cooking is serious business!  

Here is Elaine and Ken posing for a picture.  Sorry about the lighting...the sun wasn't cooperating.

 Roz had a beautiful table set for us.  We sat down and all of us enjoyed a fantastic meal.  The turkey was juicy and done to perfection.  The green beans w/ fixings and the mashed potatoes that Gilberto and Elaine brought were delicious.  Even our sweet and sour purple cabbage turned out pretty good.  One of my many favorite dishes was the stuffing...yum!  I've got to get that recipe from Ken.  Roz did a great job on the gravy too!  

After dinner, some played a round or two of ping pong outside.  We enjoyed two dessert's around the fire pit...pumpkin pie and apple crisp with vanilla ice cream.  Then, it was time to go.  Our cab driver came back and took us home.

I wish I had more pictures...but that's what happens were you're too busy having fun.  Thanks Roz and Ken...it was a delightful holiday and we were honored to spend it with you, Gilberto, and Elaine. 

Life has begun to settle down here in Cuenca.  We finally received our residency visa and our cedula, which is the national ID card.  The cedula is good for 10 years.  We started this process back at the beginning of August in the United States and just completed it this week.  Having the cedula allows us to open a bank account in Cuenca.  It also enables us to apply for health insurance...which is much cheaper than in the United States.  We plan to do both of those things on Tuesday.  

The other day as we were returning from getting our cedula, we saw a protest taking place near Parque Calderon.  Actually, that isn't so unusual...we often see protests of one kind or another taking place there.  This one was a little different because it appeared to be mostly college students that were protesting.  They would march along the street chanting, then, sit down on the street.  After several moments, they would stand up and begin to run, then, start the whole procedure all over again.  As far as I can tell, they were protesting violence against women.  The police blocked the traffic from the other streets for the protest and then stood back and quietly watched. 

An hour later, when we came back outside, it was all done.

In town and along the river the lights are going up for the Christmas season.  They will be lit on December 5th.  Carolina, who works at our front desk, is collecting toys for the poor children in some of the rural areas.  We decided to make a donation.  We got fashion dolls for the girls and trucks for the boys.  We also bought some candy.    

Each child will get one small toy and a bag of candy for Christmas.  Her family does this every year.  She invited Lance and I to go with them to hand out the bags.  We are very excited to have this opportunity!  

I also went shopping for art supplies this week to donate to an all girls orphanage that is run by the Catholic Church.  I will hopefully be doing some volunteer work there in the weeks and months to come.  I will be teaching an art class with another ex-pat, Bettina, who comes from Canada.  She has a number of programs that she would like to offer the girls, including yoga, cooking class, and an art class.  

Finally, we heard that the tenant at the condo we are hoping to rent will be moving out on January 15th.  We will move in a few days later and work with a decorator to make some minor changes.  Below is a picture of the place.  It was featured in a local magazine because of it's unique design.  I will post more pictures after we move into our new digs.

I hope all of my family and friends enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving.  It's just a few weeks until the Christmas holiday begins.  It will actually be our second Christmas here, because we vacationed here during last Christmas.  We are looking forward to the big parade on Christmas Eve and hoping to participate in some other holiday events.  Please write if you find the time.  We always enjoy hearing news from back home. 

Our 1 Month Anniversary in Cuenca!

On Wednesday, November 12th, we celebrated our 1 month anniversary of living here in Cuenca, Ecuador.  In that short amount of time, we have learned a lot.  We now know the area where we live and no longer get lost when we leave our apartment.  Grocery shopping takes much less time, because we recognize some of the brands, and know where to look for certain items that we use on a regular basis.  We have visited many restaurants, and met many nice, friendly people that we enjoy spending time with.  Our Spanish isn't great, but we certainly know more than when we came, and we really like our teacher...she is kind and very encouraging.   On Monday we will get our passport back with our Residency Visa stamp on it, and then will apply for our cedula.  Overall, everything is progressing smoothly...and we are having a great time.

Saturday was another fun, adventure day.  Lance and I took the bus with Roz and Ken to a rustic looking Mexican restaurant named Agave, which is located near the town of Giron, for lunch.  We arrived at Terminal Terrestre at 11:00 on Saturday morning where we planned to meet Roz and Ken, then board the bus.  We've never been there before.  Inside the terminal were all kinds of shops selling lots of candy and snacks, as well as books, magazines, etc.

Outside the terminal there were 2 fountains and a nice area where you could sit outside.  We waited there for Roz and Ken to arrive.

Once they arrived we went inside and bought a ticket for 10 cents to go through the turn-style.  Then, we boarded the bus.  If you've never been on an out of town bus in Ecuador, it is quite an experience.  They play lively music, and all kinds of venders hop on and off the bus with items they want to sell you.  They offer all kinds of things, including fruit, candy, baked goods, etc.  A polite, "No, Gracias," will send them on their way to the next person on the bus. 

At one stop, this young man got on and gave a short speech about how he sells candy on the bus to help pay for his college education.  He plans to be an English teacher.  First he spoke in Spanish, and then English for the benefit of us Gringos.  Roz bought 3 candy bars from him to share with us.  Yum!

We settled back for the ride, visited with each other, and watched the scenery.  As we approached our stop, we got ready to hop off.  You pay as you leave the bus.  It was suppose to be $1.00 for each of us...but for some reason, when Lance and I offered the money, the bus driver wouldn't take the payment.  We're not sure why...but $2.00 for the four of us for a 45 minute ride sure was a good deal.

  

Here's a peek at the scenery across the road from the restaurant.  There appear to be many dairy farms in the area.

 Above is a picture of the bar, and below is a photo of the fireplace.

Behind the restaurant is the owners house.  They are a young couple with teenage children.  All the family members speak English because they spent time in upstate New York.  The house is huge, and I believe there might be plans to turn it into a B&B someday.  

This is the outside bar-b-que where they cook the meat.  Lance and I ordered fajitas and they were delicious.  

We enjoyed a wonderful meal, and had fun visiting with Roz and Ken for the better part of the afternoon.  Finally, it was time to go.  To return to Cuenca, we had to stand out on the road and flag down a bus.  It wasn't very long before one showed up.  We hopped on, and settled down for the ride home.  

Along the way, a young family got on the bus with an adorable baby.  The father was holding her, and looked like such a proud Papa.  Ken struck up a friendly conversation with him and found out that he had spent time in New Mexico, but was now living here in Ecuador.   

What a great time we had.  I want to thank Roz and Ken for the invitation and for the opportunity to see another part of this fascinating country.

In other news, we are finally getting around to looking for a more permanent residence.  Last week we saw several apartments, and are hoping to see more in the near future.  No definite decisions have been made yet, but we are considering one of the condos that we saw.  We are hoping for an unfurnished place with a terrace or balcony so Lance can have outdoor plants.

Last week we also went to a meeting at the Cuenca Chamber of Commerce.  Any ex-pats that were interested in doing volunteer work were invited to come.  They had representatives from 4 universities and some government officials there to kick off this new program.  They spoke about some upcoming projects and encouraged us all to fill out forms telling about our skills and talents.  Then, they are hoping to build a data base to match talents with community needs.  I hope to work with small children in some capacity.  In fact, I was approached by someone who runs an after school program, and was asked if I would be willing to help out.  I told her I would be interested in stopping by to check it out.  Lance and I found the school where she works and plan to go there this week.

We are also attending the 4th annual film festival in Cuenca, which runs from November 14th to the 21st.  We have looked over the schedule and found 6 films that are in English or have English subtitles.  The venues are in several different areas, with 4 of them being within walking distance to El Centro, where we currently live.  The best part is that all of the films are free!  We saw our first movie last night and plan to attend another tonight at the university.

I also got my first haircut here.  I went to a salon that Carolina, one of our receptionist at the front desk, goes to.  She works the afternoon hours, after EnZo leaves for the day.  Like EnZo, she is actually trained to be a chef.  Carolina recently was in a contest to be Ms. Cuenca.  She didn't win...but EnZo told us she looked beautiful.  Carolina is very nice and we enjoy having her here at the Gran Colombia Suites.

Speaking of EnZo...we are sad to report that he will be leaving us shortly.  He has a new job at one of the top hotels and restaurants in Cuenca...Mansion Alcazar.  We will be very sad to see him go, but are very happy for his promotion.  He deserves all the best.

Lance and I are becoming quite the cooks here...mostly out of necessity.  We've had trouble finding a spaghetti sauce that tastes good, so we finally decided to make one from scratch.  We bought tomatoes from the market - 8 for $1.00.  We placed them in boiling water for a few seconds then ice water to remove the skins.  After that we threw in garlic, onions and a few spices and cooked them for about an hour.  The result was a tasty homemade spaghetti sauce that we really enjoyed.  Who knew we had such talent?!?

Well...that about does it.  To all my family and friends back in Wisconsin, I would like to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!  I will be thinking about you and wishing you were here with me.  Please write when you find the time.