Monday thru Wednesday, 16 to 18 of August, 2010
( Lunes por Miercoles, 16 a 18 de Augusto, 2010 )
OK I’m guilty...as I spent awhile absorbing some “sun”
YES…you read right as we do indeed have that
Very Large Bright Yellow Ball beaming it’s rays and
smile down to us Cuencanos…while reading my
book in Parque Calderone.
By the way…if it seems to you that I spend a lot of
time in Parque Calderone…you are right and I do so
with good reason. You see…El Parque is exactly
one-half block from my apartemento. Being that the
green grass and trees are so very close…I now
consider this “hallowed ground” area to be my
(almost) personal “back-yard” J
In either case…while taking in the “rays” and diligently
reading my book…my friend Jim happened to appear
while at the same...time casting a friendly shadow on
guess who and 'yon book.
As friends sometimes do…we just sat and caught up
on the comings and goings on in our "retiring"lives.
Now...while in the middle of our ”very important
jabbering” ...along comes my neighbor Pete who aptly
joins into our exciting conversation.
This highly productive give and take exercise...went
on for quite awhile until the appetite “alarms” starting
to increase in intensity.
Considering that we were literally across the street
from Raymipampa Restaurante and/or Tuttta Freddo...
we had a choice. Well not really as…Raymipampa
had no available seats. So off we went to Tutta
Freddo for what Jim said was possibly the best
(believe it or not) Pizza in Cuenca.
At this point in time…and until further notice I am
remaining an “open-minded” skeptic!
The resulting pizza (although nowhere compared
to my Brooklyn Italian Pizza in N.Y.)…was indeed
acceptably good. By the way…
I opted for the “personal” [like we had a size choice]…
Pepperoni Pizza.
Pizza aside…the best part of the meal was “the
company” as we had quite a bit in common and
pleasant un-rushed conversation.
Next stop...was later [6p.m.] at Carolinas Bookshop…
about which I mentioned in my previous “blog” for more
food and yakking J
"Time Jump"…
and it’s about two days later and the story continues
it’s flow (so to speak..for better or worse).
The Bookstore get together was pleasant with a
chance to catch-up with a few acquaintances and
where I also met a few new possible-friends-in-
the-making!
OK now bare with me folks...
we're moving through time and it's now the next
morning as in 5:30 a.m. Tuesday and...it's travel-time!
The gathering of “Cedula seeking Expats” trip is now
under-way…and once again...it's up and across
Cajas National Park and heading into Guayaquil for the
express purpose of picking-up of our much sought after
Certfied Cedulas!
Finally. after 3 ½ travel hours…we "once again"
entered “The Registration Office” and well…I’ll spare
you the ins 'n outs and give you the...short version!
We explained our reasons for the visit...gave our
names…sat down for ten (10) minutes and…well...
we were now newly Registered Cedula holders…
Signed...Sealed and Delivered J J
After a relaxing (and for Ecuador and us…
an expensive ”hotel”) lunch…we were then “headin’
on back”...through Cajas and on to Cuenca!
With the above…now said and done…my next big
(must do) thing is to finally make my reservations for
my approximate…three (3) week visit to the states.
More on this as it develops.
But...as for now…
Adios Mi Amigos y Amigas
Hey Barry - Congrats on having your cedula.
ReplyDeleteDid you really get from Cuenca to Guayaquil in 3 1/2 hours? That's awesome. Is all that road construction finished? No waiting for the single-lane traffic from the other direction to pass?
- Gerard
Hello Barry,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your cedula!
And thanks for the blog, which, as a single person, I found particularly helpful :-)
Have not read all of your blog yet, but did read of your move to the center of town and of your present playground :-)
The proximity to the park and center sounds wonderful. Would love to see the pictures of your apartment and to know prices, etc.
I will be in Cuenca September 21, 2010. Will need a place to stay for 10-11 days then. And then, uhopefully shortly thereafter,upon my move to Cuenca, will need a place to live.
Also, if you or any other reader, know a hotel in GYE to stay for a night, would be grateful for the recommendation.
Please answer either here or to ideamerchant at gmail dot com