The journey continues...

Aaaahhh, the sunny days in South America are filled with pleasures and adventures.

It's been ten days since I posted to the blog, again because of computer problems. I have my computer back from the repair shop...for the third (hopefully the final) time. My system crashed horribly from the receipt of an "Olympic Torch" virus. This was the WORST. It infected and destroyed things to the point where I had to have a new hard drive installed. Be careful folks! It came to me as a facebook friend request. Don't open ANYTHING you're not sure of! It's cost me several hundred dollars so far, not to mention the data and picture loss and weeks of worry. However, I am cautiously optimistic that perhaps things are fixed now.

When I picked up my computer today, this was the sign in the sky that keeps me cautiously optimistic...

Pictures!

I'd hoped this post would be about the amazingly beautiful churches and cathedrals hereabouts...but the virus ate all those pictures. I'll collect more over the next couple of weeks.

Meanwhile, let's begin with some flora and fauna. Apart from the vibrant hibiscus, I have no idea what these beauties are, but they ALL grow wild around the streets of Cuenca, leaving me with smiles after every morning's walk. I can garden all year 'round here...hmmm...

These are flowers from hedges all across the city. Now these are not your ordinary hedges folks...these are between ten and fourteen feet tall, and FILLED with these beautiful blossoms.

This is a tree outside my computer repair shop...where I've spent a LOT of time lately...

Hibiscus...how beautiful...

These little things grow in the cracks of sidewalks!

This is in a park...not sure what it is...

Aren't these just so CHEERFUL!?

A double hibiscus in the garden where I'm staying.

Last Friday, I wandered through Parque Caledron, in the old city, near the cathedrals (more about those next post...) when these young people spontaneously started playing the most WONDERFUL Spanish music! I wish I'd have figured out my camera's movie clip recording so you could actually HEAR them....maybe next time...



These pictures are from events leading up to "Carnival..." a celebration lasting till lent...these Spanish Catholics KNOW how to PARTY! Actually, the parades and festivities are all to honour Jesus.

The children are...spectacular...

These children were sitting in the back of a (decorated) pick up truck...

This was at the top of one of the vehicles...

Horses...lots and LOTS of horses!

The pageantry is mind boggling!

Ecuadorian soldiers add music to the festivities...here they are on a well deserved break!

Friends and I travelled to Chordeleg, about an hour outside Cuenca, to visit silver jewelery markets. Jewelery shops here are called "Joyerias..." GREAT name 'eh!? And yes, we DID contribute to the local economy, like good tourists. Here I am with Jan (from California) and Linda (from Missouri)...a couple of the dozens of older single women (like me!) who travel and socialize together. Life is...GOOD!

That's all for this time.

Future posts will include photos of my week in Puerto Lopez...just click on the coloured link to see where I'm going. It's an eight hour drive away from Cuenca, along the Pacific Coast, in the midst of Machalilla National Park.

Tomorrow my landlady Rucchi is taking me to a very old ceramics workshop. (I am SO lucky to have found this apartment. Rucchi is part of a very old Cuencana family; she's given me wonderful history lessons, and has become such an integral part of this adventure, taking me places and suggesting sites I would never have considered...and helps me continue to cultivate the daily attitude of gratitude.)

Thanks for stopping by. Hope your days are filled with people you love and the things that you need.

Hasta luega!