2012 Cuenca Perspectives Collage

2012 Cuenca Perspectives Collage
VIVA CUENCA

VIVA CUENCA!

My mission in publishing this blog is first to provide a living history of my settlement and life in Cuenca, and to provide myself and the reader with a journal account delineating my reasons for why I have chosen to settle in Cuenca. Second, the posts are my way of staying in contact with family and friends back in the states, and to provide them with an understanding of a country and culture that most North Americans have little knowledge and awareness. Third, the blog is open to one and all who wish to compare and contrast the experiences of expat bloggers living in Cuenca, so that you can determine whether or not from your perspective Cuenca is an appropriate move for you. Fourth, my blog provides another example of how expats view and interpret life in Cuenca. Ecuadorians and Cuencanos who may read this blog are especially invited to post comments that may enhance all expats understanding and appreciation of Cuneca and its people, or to correct any misinterpretations in my assumptions and perceptions of Cuencano culture. Finally, I hope I can convey the feeling of love and appreciation that grows within me each passing day for this heavenly city nestled in the Andes and its very special people.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Palermo: Part II Condo Photos UP-DATED 12/30/13

I did not realize until recently that my photos on the link were not available.  At least 200 people have clicked on to this site since my computer was hacked in May of 2013, and after reading the text could not access the link photos.  Unfortunately, not one viewer informed me of the lack of access.  I found out only by accident.  Last June I experienced a major hacking of my emails.  I finally had no choice but to close my Yahoo account completely.  Little did I know that when I closed down Yahoo, I was also closing my Flickr account.  I only used Flickr for three blog posts.  I discontinued my use of Flickr, because I thought it was the worst photo system I had ever used.  I have since become quite proficient with Picasa, and since I did not have backups to my original photos, I have re-shot the entire apartment.   If you would like to see the changes to the apartment's interior or if you could not access the photo link before, I will place it just below here for you.  After you click on the link and the photos appear. click on the first photo for an enlargement, and to be able to read the commentary with each photo:


https://plus.google.com/photos/111741036841400152108/albums/5964399097072666225



It's been a long time in coming.  There have been people temporarily visiting Cuenca, who visited my condo and asked to be sure I did a post of my apartment, once I had all the furniture and decor in place.  I don't have all the decor in place yet, but it will be months before I get the job completely accomplished.  Then there are people I have never known who reading my posts about the Palermo have wondered what my place looked like to have a better feel for the real-estate market, and what you can actually get for a particular price range.  Finally, there are some of my friends and family members who wondered when I would post some photos of my condo.  In fact, they would have been excited if I posted photos of anything about Cuenca.  Slowly but surely as I trudge my way through photo posting hell, I am beginning to show signs of some success.  Now if I could just accomplish the entire photo process from beginning to end without it taking up a good chunk of my life.

At any rate welcome to my home.  I don't think the photos do it justice.  I'm proud of what I've accomplished in choosing the furniture, decor items, paintings, and the color schemes; and synthesizing them into well-defined  patterns of distinctiveness while still blending everything without clashing styles and colors.  It's been a hoot selecting, matching, and procuring all the items that have gone into making a condo my home.  There are also three links of previous posts that may prove to be very helpful to those of you who are newbies or soon to be newbies to Cuenca, in getting the help you need to make your initial run in settling in as smooth and stress free as possible.

"Making Life Easier in Cuenca"
http://cuencaperspectivesbyjim.blogspot.com/2011/05/for-those-of-you-who-are-seriously.html


"Transversing Through the Maze of Finances"
http://cuencaperspectivesbyjim.blogspot.com/2011/05/transversing-through-maze-of-finances.html


"A Potpourri of Activities"
http://cuencaperspectivesbyjim.blogspot.com/2011/06/potpourri-of-activities.html


I don't want you to think I did the buying and interior designing all by myself:

I owe a great debt of gratitude to  Fabian Bojorque, who assisted me in choosing my appliances and getting me a good price. (091 078 135)

I can not begin to express my gratitude to Martha Abril, who helped me and advised me on so many levels too numerous to count.  (099959996)

I also greatly appreciated help from a good friend, Lourdes Saneque, who introduced me to an excellent furniture designer and maker, and contributed her artistic eye particularly to spatial design and color matches.

The young ladies who are daughters of the owners of "Luriq Furniture" in El Centro were a class act, which you can read about in "Transversing Through the Maze-of-Finances".

Finally, I owe a debt of gratitude to my friends here in the Palermo, Gil and Deborah Castle, who when I had a brain freeze, and with tunnel vision had decided that a particular work of art would go on a particular wall; Gil and Deborah encouraged me to consider other possibilities that allowed me to consider a major rearrangement of my wall decor.

There are wonderful bi-lingual Ecuadorians and expats here, who can be a cornucopia of help and support to you here in Cuenca.  You can read a good deal more about some of the people I mentioned above, as well as others who can provide vital assistance to you whether you now live in Ecuador or plan to soon settle in this beautiful city by just clicking on the three links above.

While my brief career as an interior designer is about completed, the most important thing is to choose according to what makes one feel most at home.  I love my selections, because they are a projection of me and my life experiences.  I greatly enjoy how as the natural lighting outside changes, the color and tonal dynamics of my art pieces change as well.  I am in an invertible space of frequent change of visual stimulation, and it is exciting.  Yet at the same time, our possessions are only things, transitory like life itself.  They are nice to have, and to enjoy for the moment, but they are not the essence of what makes life.  Our things, even the people who make up are lives, even our very experiences are all temporary, and  ultimately are simply on loan from God.

The telephone number at the Palermo is 0774073267.  Senor Estuardo Rubio is the building administrator.  Senor Rubio is normally in his office until 4:00 p.m.  His English is limited.  One of the three security guards will answer at the security desk, whenever Senior Rubio is not present, or they will transfer you to Senior Rubio's office phone when he is present.  Once again, two of the three guards speak no English, and one speaks only a little.  To those who are English speakers only, it is best to have a Spanish speaking friend to contact the Palermo for you.  Unless you only need to give the name of a tenant/owner and apartment/condo number.

If you wish to see an condos available for sale or apartments available for rent in the Palermo, contact Pepe Ajorgudo at joardudo@gmail.com.  Pepe is the contact person for most sales and rentals in the Palermo.  Pepe lived in the United States.  He speaks both English and Spanish, and he also lives in the Palermo.  With approximately 165 units in the Palermo, there are always a few units for sale or for rent.







10 comments:

  1. Jim,

    I enjoyed looking at the pictures of your newly-decorated home, as well as reading your description of your home and the building it's in. I wonder if I might ask you a question: do you have an idea of how good the electrical wiring is?

    Thanks, and I've enjoyed reading your blog.

    Sincerely,

    Tay (from Texas)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Tay,

    All I know is that we are on the same circuity and voltage as the U.S.A. No adapter is needed in Cuenca. As for the method for the installation of wiring, and the type or quality of wiring used as compared to U.S. standards; I have no idea. The quality may also vary with the age of the building, and when the last time a building has undergone electrical upgrading. In the six months that I have lived in the Palermo, I don't recall ever dealing with flickering lights due to electrical circuity. I have never experienced an electrical shortage or blackout in the apartment. Sorry, if my response is not very helpful. If I learn more, I will attempt to provide a follow-up comment to your question.

    Thank you for your kind remarks about the blog. I appreciate knowing that it provides useful information, and hopefully a sense of the spirit and beauty of Cuenca and its people to the reader.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for your reply, Jim. (Sorry I'm so long with mine; my computer's been on what I think is call the "fritz.") And thanks for your comments about the electrical. I'd asked because I'd read in other blogs about the electrical wiring standards of some buildings in Cuenca, and wondered how they might be at the Palermo. From what you say, it sounds like they're pretty high.

    And yes, your blog has both been helpful and has indeed given an idea of, as you wrote, the spirit and beauty of Cuenca and its people. Thanks for writing it.

    ReplyDelete
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  9. Jim I enjoyed looking at your apartment nice colors what a great Job .VIVA CUENCA
    Filomena

    ReplyDelete
  10. Bienvenida Filomena,

    Somehow your comment slipped through the moderation filter. I didn't know until now that you had posted not once but twice. By now you must be in Cuenca. I hope you have found a place to live. Did you check out the Palermo? I hope your search for living accommodations, and getting settled is going well.

    ReplyDelete

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