It was a great weekend as we celebrated Esteban Rios' birthday (December 6th), my birthday (December 12th), and our farewells to Cameron Neeley as he began his return to Connecticut and family on the 11th of December after a sporadic year of traveling about in Ecuador, with most of the time spent in Cuenca.
By this weekend the Christmas decorations were up in Cuenca. and the main computer tree was located this December in Parque Mira Flores. In recent years the tree is always away from the centro area in outlying neighborhoods where few tourists even know where to find it. It also makes it inconvenient for many Cuecanos because El Centro is the very center and heart of Cuenca, which is the ideal location for the tree. This year, however, the park is near the tranvía route, so it should help the tranvía with more riders, as well as the tourists who should have an easy time to arrive at Mira Flores. The tranvía is proving to be a big success. The government has already been able to reduce the subsidy to cover the cost of running it.
Additional meters were also added to the Christmas tree this year, so Cuenca could continue to brag about having the tallest Christmas tree in Ecuador. More meters required thousands of additional lights to further illuminate the tallest Christmas tree in Ecuador. We are looking forward to seeing what kind of computer program will be used on the tree this year, as it varies every Christmas season.
A number of my friends and I finally were all well again from the grip or whatever respiratory ailments we endured especially during the month of November and the first week of December. We celebrated at Tiesto's Restaurant, owned by Juan Carlos and his wife, of which Juan Carlos is also the chef. A favorite restaurant that practically any tourist looking for an exquisite meal visits while in Cuenca. We wanted this to be a memorable meal, especially since Cameron was returning to the states and had not yet dined at Tiesto's. Neither had Jerry Ramos, and the Rios trio were quite young when they last remember eating at Tiesto's. In a Catholic country like Ecuador, not to dine at Tiesto's is a mortal sin and rightly so. In fact, I would say that it is down-right sacrilegious to visit Cuenca and not dine at Tiesto's.
Below are Andres Rios, James Mola, and Mathias Rios
Below are Regina Urgiles and Cameron Neeley enjoying
as an appetizer, the logistinos (large prawns). All of us ordered a plate for the eight of us so we could each have one to eat. Not only are they splendidly delicious, which is the only way Tiesto's can prepare them, but also when they come out steaming hot and sizzling, we know we are in for something very tantalizingly special.
- Link for the video of the Langostinos:
The steaks are tender and succulent at Tiesto's. By now, Juan Carlos knows what I intend to order when I bring guests better than I remember. I love the medallions of steaks where each guests can order steaks, medium-rare with a different sauce, and there are enough medallions to go around to each guest. Steak in blue cheese sauce, steak in mustard sauce which is very good, steak in Mora (blackberry sauce) for a sweeter taste. There is also a type of Italian red sauce, and the Tiesto Special, which is also very good. Of course, if a customer wants to order just a full steak without the sauces, the menu calls for that as well. There are many other dishes on the menu. Tiesto's is not solely a steak house.
- Link for the first video of the meat:
- Link for the second video of the meat:
- Link for the video of the happy birthday song by the staff:
- Link for the video of the cake for the birthday guys:
Jerry Ramos; Regina Urgeles; Cameron Neeley; Maria Rosa; Birthday Joven Numero Uno, Esteban Rios; Andres Rios; Birthday Boy Numeral Dos, James Mola; Mathias Rios
After we celebrated at Tiesto's, we walked to Parque Calderon to see what decorations had been installed for the holiday season.
One of the three domes of the New Cathedral
View along Simon Bolivar in El Centro
Views Along Parque Calderon
Gazebo in Parque Calderon featuring Mathias, James,
Cameron, Esteban, and Andres.
Esteban, James, Cameron,
Andres, and Mathias standing
in across Simon Bolivar from
the Vatex Galleria.
Vatex Galleria is Four Floors of Men's and Women's Wear in an
Old World Eighteenth Century Elegant Setting.
This Year, the Galleria outdid itself in its Elaborate Christmas
Lights on One of the Most Ornate Buildings in El Centro.
In the photo below, on top of the Vatex Galleria is
Negroni's Restaurant (One Can See the Canopies on the
Roof for Outdoor Dining on Three Sides) which Includes a
Central Interior Restaurant as well. Negroni's is one of the
Best Upscale Restaurants in the City both for Cuisine and
Service, and with the Best Views of the City of the immediate
Parque Calderon and Surrounding Square in the Very Heart of
El Centro.
The Christmas Tree here in Parque Calderon is not the
mammoth Computerized tree located in Parque Mira Flores.
The New Cathedral can be seen in the background.
The next day I get a call, let's go eat cuy, the guinea pig is considered a delicacy in the Andes. The coastal Ecuadorians look their noses up at the thought of eating guinea pig.
Even Regina, a Cuencana, who dined with us at Tiesto's the previous evening had exclaimed, "No cuy. Cuy is a rat, I will not eat a rat!" The waiter at Tiesto's overheard the discussion. So when he brought the covered tiesto to the table with one of the steak medallions, he jokingly announced cuy. Jerry said that's not ours, we didn't order cuy, and Regina said, "Oh no, not cuy!" The waiter got the last laugh when he uncovered the medallions of steak in mustard sauce.
Well, cuy is in the rodent family, just like rabbit and squirrel. I've eaten cuy so many times now, that for me the fuss is much to do about nothing. It just has to be prepared properly so it doesn't grill too dry, or come out to greasy. Cuy, to me, tastes like a cross between chicken and pork. So off we went to Guajibamba Cuy Restaurant in El Centro on Avenida Luis Cordero, which was the same restaurant I had taken my son, Marc, to when he visited seven years ago, and had his first experience with cuy.
Now to look at the photo below one would think that Andres would rather die than eat cuy, but don't be fooled by his dour expression. He loves cuy.
Delicious crispy skin cuy. The little feet can be used as paddles to help you hold the cuy steady while you eat it. The cuyes are usually cut in halves or quarters. They are farm grown, so they are fed a good diet.
Our main reason for eating cuy that Saturday afternoon was a
farewell dinner for Cameron Neeley has he would be returning to
his home in Connecticut, and he had not eaten cuy yet. No
one should be permitted out of Ecuador until they have had
their passport stamped with an official cuy label verifying that
they had eaten cuy.
Ready, set, go, Cameron!
Cameron displays the head of the cuy in the photos below. You
can see the teeth.
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Looking a little squeamish, are you Cameron?
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Cameron was having the time of his life, although I don't think that he would vote cuy as his favorite dish. I also forgot to tell him as well, that when a person eats cuy it changes a person's gnome structure. One becomes part cuy and part human. Also the head isn't usually eaten, but we didn't tell Cameron that. It is said that if you eat the head, it will bring you very good luck, if it doesn't kill you first.
Esteban takes his stab at the cuy's head.
Esteban, being a true Cuencano, loves cuy too.
What seemed like three years ago is now seven years since my son, Marc, visited Ecuador this time of year during the Christmas season of 2015. Where does the time go? I met Marc at the airport in Quito. We spent a few days there, and then we picked up with our excellent guide, Milton, and traveled to Banos-Ambato which was wonderful experience. There is so much to do there, and the highlight is the Devil's Cauldron. Then onward to Chimborazo, which was one of the greatest experiences of my life. Moving southward to Sayausi and what was then the Devil's Nose train, then to the Inca ruins in Ingapirca, and our arrival for almost week in Cuenca, which by now had its Christmas decorations up, and finally a ride through the Cajas to Guayaquil. The Malecon was awesomely decorated, and we luckily were there to see the night time Christmas parade with marching bands, floats. balloons like in the Macy's Day Parade, but not so many stories as high. It ended a perfect two weeks before my son flew out of Guayaquil the next day.
My best time in my life with Marc was his visit to Ecuador and then in 2017, when I visited him in Beirut, Lebanon for two weeks. I was very enamored with Beirut and I owed that to Marc. To this day, I am still very saddened over the harsh fate that Beirut continues to suffer, just when it appeared to be getting back on its feet.
December, 2015
A Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to
Friends and Family !
John 3:16
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."
