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.

Thursday, April 20, 2023

Cuenca Perspectives by Jim: THE PACO'S BLUES PERFORMED AT JOHN VITALI'S 80th ...

Cuenca Perspectives by Jim: THE PACO'S BLUES PERFORMED AT JOHN VITALI'S 80th ...:                                THE PACO'S BLUES  PERFORMED AT  JOHN VITALI'S 80th BIRTHDAY PARTY FRIDAY, APRIL 14, 2023 Barbie De Pa...

THE PACO'S BLUES PERFORMED AT JOHN VITALI'S 80th BIRTHDAY PARTY

                              

THE PACO'S BLUES  PERFORMED AT JOHN VITALI'S 80th BIRTHDAY PARTY

FRIDAY, APRIL 14, 2023

Barbie De Palma threw an 80th Birthday party for her hubby John and about 100 guests in the course of the afternoon were in attendance for the afternoon festivities.  John and Barbie are known for entertaining, and John's party was a smash.  There were lots of very friendly folks, some of us not having seen one another in years.  Great food and desserts, as the ribs and chicken by the hosts were complemented by the side dishes and desserts brought by the guests.   

The event was blessed as for the second day and evening in a roll  Cuenca was without rain, which has become an oddity as we transition out of the La Nina into the El Nino weather pattern. Yet a cloud cover help to keep the Equatorial sun from beating down on us, which made for perfect atmospheric conditions for the afternoon backyard festivities.

The kickoff and finale for the party and everything swinging in-between were the Paco's Blues.  I assume most of the guests heard Paco's Blues in one of the venues in town, but it was my first time.  I had met the drummer, Jeff Jones and his wife, Mary at various occasions and over short conversations on the street, but I never heard Jeff play.  The rest of the band was new to me.  Wow, were they dynamite.  I enjoy the blues, and everything the Paco's Blues played was top notch.  It was a lively party, and I was amazed at how they played for three and a half hours and only took one ten minute break.  As you will see these guys are not kids, so their stamina was very impressive.  Most of all, they were really enjoying themselves, which put the entire guests in a big party and dancing mood.


Awesome, is the vocal singer, Roxie. Besides being attractive, as I sat next to her eating a plate of food before the music began.  I was informed by her or other people at the table that she was the vocalist.  Roxie is not a large woman.  I was amazed at the power that came from her voice.  She did a James Brown number, and I thought James Brown had spirited down to the stage for an encore performance.  Unfortunately, the two numbers I enjoyed hearing her sing the most, and neither were the numbers I recorded.  I encourage you to see the last video link in particular.  Roxie has more than enough energy to energize the entire planet.  I also must admit that Paco. the other lead singer and one of the three guitarists in the group has put together an excellent band, and I hope they stay together for a long time.  I asked my two jovens how old they thought Roxie was from the videos they saw her in this blog?  Both of them, without hesitation, said sixteen.  Whether it was her youthful looks, her enormous energy, or a combination of both; compliments to Roxie.  


Not everything this sensational group plays is strictly blues, there's room for rock, r&b, and soul.  I apologize for not having the names of every member in the group.  I tried to find them on their Facebook page, but they must be a modest group.  Paco's Blues is all I can find after the founder of the group.  Maybe, a stalwart fan can fill me in on the names of the two other guitarists.  At which point, I will update my blog post.  This group is best to hear live.  The sound leaves something to be desired on a cell phone and even a laptop.  I have my laptop also connected to my television, and the television or a bose-type speaker is the way to go for real sound enjoyment of the group.

 



John Vetali and Barbie De Palma


The Paco's Blues




Their next appearance in Cuenca is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. at Common Grounds on Thursday, May 11th. 













Maria Isabel Latta


Jim Mola, blogger, and Marie Isabel Latta






















John Vitali's 80th Birthday Party, Paco's Blues Band - Part 1

Roxie, Linda and John Lewis, and Maria Isabel Latta wishing everybody greetings at the end of the video.

https://youtu.be/SOveU24zwdU



John Vitali's 80th Birthday Party, Paco's Blues Band - Part 2

https://youtu.be/1HgvnMCwu7Q



John Vitali's 80th Birthday Party, Paco's Blues Band - Part 3

https://youtu.be/Nm8UirwsZe8



John Vitali's 80th Birthday Party, Paco's Blues Band - Part 4
https://
.be/5cy9eVvmI3Y



The Paco's Blues version of Happy Birthday, while John and Barbie get down.

John Vitali's 80th Birthday Party, Paco's Blues Band - Part 5

https://youtu.be/uZ_ym8bI3uk



John Vitali's 80th Birthday Party, Paco's Blues Band - Part 6

"Rolling on the River"

https://youtu.be/h8ReSb9uoDc



John Vitali's 80th Birthday Party, Paco's Blues Band - Part 7

"Ain't No Sunshine When He's Gone"

https://youtu.be/MRlhuCFPJXM



John Vitali's 80th Birthday Party, Paco's Blues Band - Part 8
https://youtube.com/shorts/5qcaZdIcYdw



John Vitali's 80th Birthday Party, Paco's Blues Band - Part 9
https://youtu.be/kyevHNWEdhY



John Vitali's 80th Birthday Party, Paco's Blues Band - Part 10

"Mama, I'm Coming Home"


https://youtu.be/QoGbp_R9jtY



John Vitali's 80th Birthday Party, Paco's Blues Band - Part 11

Roxie on fire.

https://youtube.com/shorts/7sqgAzrLzQ8












Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Sunday, March 19, 2023

GRAFITTI; MIAMI WYNWOOD WALLS MUSEUM FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023

 

In late February and early March I spent ten days in Miami. I enjoy Miami a great deal this time of year before the heat and humidity sets in.  Temperatures in the upper 70's into the mid 80's were ideal.  Most of all not a drop of rain the entire time I was there. When I returned to Cuenca, the city more than made up for the rainless days in Miami.  Oh God, how I love the sunshine without the excessive heat and humidity.


My favorite place to visit in Miami is the Graffiti Museum known as the Wynwood Museum and the first in the world to be devoted to graffitti and their artists.  When I first visited the area a few years ago, it was dead.  I wasn't totally secure in feeling it was the best neighborhood to park in and to walk to the museum, which is basically outside with walls to protect the graffiti from tagging and any other destruction.  Last year, I would see gentrification taking place and knew it was just a matter of time that it would catch up to the museum area.  I wasn't sure what they would mean for the museum and immediate shops in the area. This year I was amazed at how the high rises, mainly condos, completely engulfed the area.  Fortunately, the museum, the stores, restaurants, and clubs all survived, and the museum has become the nucleus for generally more sophisticated, vibrant area that was just filled with people, and yet attempts to keep a kind of hippy vibe feeling, that reminds of those days in Old Town in Chicago back in the late 60's.


Every six months new graffiti is presented, so one can visit the museum twice a year and see new offerings.  Here, unlike the collection last year, I did not provide information about the artists.  I am just letting you enjoy the images as presented.  Every kind of material imaginable is used to created these art forms.  See if you can figure out what some of these materials may be.



















































































The above is my favorite.  More for the subject matter than just the art, although the art definitely brings out the beauty of the subject matter.
































































I find the next three photos spooky.  The kids are wearing these goggles as if they no longer function in the physical world, but perceive their reality through their technology.













These kids look almost robotic.  The synthesis of man and the machine.








Notice the high-rises in the background, which were not there a year ago.



























Below are three links to my videos of the museum:


Graffiti Museum Miami Part 1

https://youtu.be/APeDHnRGKOg


Graffiti Museum Miami Part 2

https://youtu.be/H89GIxpB6V8


Graffiti Museum Miami Part 3

https://youtu.be/uPturkn7xyQ



For those interested in the exhibit at last years Windwood Museum, here is the link:


https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/311130598749211263/9201378172075024225



Tuesday, February 14, 2023

Cuenca Perspectives by Jim: CUENCA: JERRY RAMOS; A CELEBRATION OF LIFE

Cuenca Perspectives by Jim: CUENCA: JERRY RAMOS; A CELEBRATION OF LIFE: English followed by Spanish translation: Life is full of surprises.  Many people like to believe they are in control of their lives, but the...