Friday, January 6, 2023
Cuenca Perspectives by Jim: LATTER CHRISTMAS SEASON 2022
Cuenca Perspectives by Jim: LATTER CHRISTMAS SEASON 2022: LATTER CHRISTMAS SEASON 2022 Well, life is always full of surprises and the unexpected. We started off the Christmas season in the previo...
Monday, January 2, 2023
LATTER CHRISTMAS SEASON 2022
LATTER CHRISTMAS SEASON 2022
Well, life is always full of surprises and the unexpected. We started off the Christmas season in the previous post, and this post presented us with the winds of fate moving us in directions not anticipated. Our friend Danielita and her husband Javier and their five children invited Gringo friends to their home for an early Christmas dinner party, which they have done on several occasions.
The dinner was fabulous. I had my first Johnny Walker Red and was amazed at how smooth it was. I was expecting a real harsh whisky taste going down, since I never liked whiskey per se. Daniela did a superb job with the turkey and all the trimmings. As their children grow older, I enjoy getting together with them more, because they are more enjoyable to talk to and less rambunctious.
In the above photo on the left is Janet and Buddy McGehee, toward the back is Daniela and her daughter, Paulina, Javier is holding their son, Julian, and has his arm around Wendy, who until recently was the youngest daughter. Scott Pryor is next to me. His wife, Rachael, took ill and was unable to attend.
Below, David is the eldest of the five hijos, and is sixteen now, and goes to a technical school for electronic engineering. David is a fine young man, and I enjoy my time with him. Slowly but surely he is learning more English. Thank God for cell phone translators and Spanglish.
Javier and Danielita are just above me. I never noticed before how much the eldest daughter, Paulina, who is fifteen, looks very much like her mother. Paulina loves futbol and I mean she loves playing futbol. She plays for a futbol team, and to think just a few years ago she and her younger sister, Wendy (13 years) were taking ballet classes until the plandemic hit. Paulina is dedicated to becoming very good with learning English.
Below is the little guy, Julian, who is four years old. How he got to be four so fast is beyond me. It seems like he was just born. Kids don't stay babies and toddlers for very long. He's a cute kid with lots of energy.
Last but far from least is the new addition to the family, Isabela. She is four months old, and until the week before Christmas, she did nothing but sleep all the time. I guess she wanted to be well rested for her first Christmas. She is such a precious sweetie.
The guests were enjoyable, and we had a good time. Danielita looked radiant that evening, little would we expect that she would be in the hospital in a few days.
Javier called me at 11:00 at night last Thursday, the 22nd, to say Daniela was in the IESS hospital, and except for given her some medication to calm her, after hours of being there, the staff for whatever reason was doing nothing. Daniela was having a severe gall bladder attack and a belief by the doctors that she was also suffering from an inflamed pancreatitis. Daniela was in such severe pain, that Javier wanted to remove Daniela from the government IESS hospital to a private hospital.
Luckily, Mathias went with me, so he could handle all the transactions and translations, since Javier speaks very little English and no one would give me any more than a participation trophy for my Spanish level achievement. An x-ray was taken, and then Daniela was scheduled for surgery at 10:00 the following morning. Mathias and I returned to the apartment at 4:00 a.m. Next day was a sleep recovery day. Mathias is the energizer bunny, so it is not very often he sleeps many hours. Me, I make up the difference between the two of us.
Daniela's surgery went just fine, and with the removal of the gall bladder, her inflamed pancreas almost immediately improved, and nothing more had to be done. Daniela is a great mother, and has such love for her children. She was especially concerned about the four month old, because the baby was still nursing. Luckily, the baby took to the bottle while Daniela was in the hospital. The doctors wanted her to remain in the hospital another night, but Daniela wanted to be home with her family, since it was the 23rd and Christmas Dinner and opening gifts is mainly celebrated in Ecuador the next day on Christmas Eve.
This year our Christmas Dinner was taking place as last year at the Rios' home. Maria Rosa was to fix a roast pork since we had turkey for Thanksgiving and I had Daniela's Christmas turkey. The pork never got cooked on Christmas Eve, nor did we get to see the Viajo Nino Parade, which had been put on hold for three years because of the plandemic. Maria Rosa took sick with severe stomach pains. We were not all together at the time, as Mathias took his mother to the hospital. They spent about four or five hours in the emergency ward, and finally Maria Rosa was given injections and different medications to take. When she and Mathias arrived home, it was about 11:00 p.m. Luckily, Pizza House was open and we had delivered a family size pizza, fries, and alitas (chicken wings). Believe it or not, I actually think as I recall that Maria ate some of those fast food items.
I guess the only thing that could have topped our Christmas Eve dinner was to steal a scene from "A Christmas Story", when the the dogs entered Ralphie's home and ran off with the cooked turkey on the dinner table. Ralphie and his family had to eat Chinese in the only restaurant opened on Christmas, while being caroled to by the Chinese staff in broken English. It was the first time Mathias and Esteban saw the movie. They enjoyed it, and it left us with a great sense of a Christmas spirit.
To look at that smile, it is difficult to believe that Maria was just in the hospital with serious stomach pains. Now, she's ready to put
away an entire pizza. Only kidding. Like Danielita, the doctors wanted Maria Rosa to stay overnight for observation. "No way, Jose," Maria was spending Christmas Eve with her familia.
The next day
Maria Rosa felt well
enough to cook the roast and the boys helped her get everything
ready. By evening, Sherry and I arrived, and we sat down to the Roast Pork that had been soaked in tequila. The roast was well worth the wait, and Sherry Nadeau's desserts are always to die for. She is a master at making pastries especially cakes, very moist that just melt in your mouth and are full of flavor.
I enjoyed the way Maria Rosa had all the side dishes of pastas and vegetables arranged on the meat platter.
Above is Mathias Rios and Sherry Nadeau. Mathias has a pose like he is doing some profound mathematical thinking.
We joined hands and gave thanks for our many blessings, that Danielita and Maria Rosa were on the road to recovery, and the fact that we all have each other.
Esteban and Andres Rios
After a sumptuous dinner, we went into the living room to open gifts, while Mathias played the piano.
Esteban was ecstat-ic with his new Tom Cruise "Top Gun"(Maverick) Pilot's Jacket, with all the insignias on it.
Esteban is looking forward to be an airline pilot someday.
It is almost impossible to get Esteban to take off his jacket. He said it was only a problem, when he showers while wearing it.
Andres is thirteen years old. When he was still an infant he fell on his head, went without oxygen for a time, and almost died. He miraculously survived, but he has not been able to learn like other kids his age. Since he entered puberty, he is beginning to show greater brain improvement. He actually speaks a great deal of Spanish, which I was totally unaware of during my first year of knowing him. Now he even throws in a few phrases of English and uses them correctly. He gets shy and self-conscious around strangers, so he doesn't always demonstrate what he knows.
The piano was Mathias' idea, since Andres showed quite an interest in playing on Mathias' keyboard. It will take time for Andres to follow the notes, but he shows promise. I am hoping that Andres' practice will help him to develop more neurological pathways that will allow him to experience more mental success. Andres can't read or write.
The equivalency of Special Ed here in Ecuador would put him in a class of thirty-five students, which is almost impossible for a student to accomplish much. That type of classroom had never worked out for Andres. There are private schools for students like Andres, but the tuition is $5,000 a school year, and with all my other expenses, it is more than I can afford. In the last year, it has been amazing how much he wants to imitate his older brothers. He does the dishes, sets the table, and helps out in anyway that he can, often without being asked. It gives Andres a feeling of competence and accomplishment. We hope Andres will show the same desire to continue to imitate his brothers in learning to play the piano. The big question now is can Andres improve his long-term memory?
So as another Christmas Day came to a close, our thoughts began to focus toward the New Year. Last night, ten of us gathered in Jerry Ramos' apartment in the Palermo. He is located on the 16th floor of what for the time being is still the tallest residential and commercial building in the city. The 17th floor has the pent houses and most are two stories. Therefore, we were well positioned for the midnight fireworks, as we arrive at 10:00 p.m. to enjoy snacks and side dishes everybody brought. All but one of the guests were friends who live in the Palermo. Unless someone lived nearby or has their own car, the taxis are impossible to get as drivers are home with their families enjoying the nighttime festivities.
During the afternoon of the 31st, Maria Rosa, Esteban, and Andres went to El Centro to see the monigotes, which are made of paper mache, stuffed with rags, saw dust, and dressed in old clothes. They can represent people one would like to forget, especially certain politicians, enemies, negative concepts and feelings, whatever allows a cleansing out of the negativity from Viejo Ano, the Old Year. The Monigotes are usually burned on the streets in the evening, and especially around midnight when the fireworks begin to usher in the new year. This year had a new twist, and if it were not for the fact that I lost everything I typed the night before for this blog post in another strange twist of fate, and had to start all over I would have gone with the three of them, but at least, that to Maria Rosa, you can get an idea of what the Manigoties are all about from her three brief videos below.
Certain spots in El Centro have monigotes setup in scenes. I hope they expand this concept next year. It was great. I would not be surprised if some of these monigotes find their way into the January 6th night-time parade, which begins about 9/10 p.m. and ends about 1;00 a.m. I developed my hacking dry cough again last night after I thought I finally had it all behind me, so if it gets better by Friday and if it is not raining that evening, I hope to catch something of the Christmas activities with the big night-time parade. I have missed so many activities this holiday season, mainly due to illness that now I hope next year will be a different story.
Here are three brief videos of the Monigotes in El Centro:
Link for the video of Monigotes at DownTown:
Link for the Video of the church lights display:
Link for the video of burning Monigote at Palermo Building:
https://youtube.com/shorts/MACpz79C3vk
2023 Greetings TO Family and Friends Alike. May we all enjoy prosperity, find unity in working together, and recognize that without Jesus Christ as the center of our lives, everything else is meaningless.
Friday, December 16, 2022
Early Christmas Season 2022
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 tranvÃa route, so it should help the tranvÃa with more riders, as well as the tourists who should have an easy time to arrive at Mira Flores. The tranvÃa 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:
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.
 |
Looking a little squeamish, are you Cameron? |
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."
Monday, December 5, 2022
THANKSGIVING 2022
Happy Thanksgiving 2022
Well, Thanksgiving came and went before we hardly knew it was here. We had a nice Thanksgiving with thirteen in attendance. Unfortunately, colds hit us fairly hard. Maria Rosa who did a spectacular job cooking the turkey and dousing it well with brandy which turned out to be a stroke of genius, and everybody oohed and aahed over the taste and flavor of the moist turkey. The stuffing and dressing, and all the side dishes were superb as where the desserts.
As I said, colds hit us hard. It was amazing Maria Rosa carried on as well as she did, yet she looks good in the photos, and I was so tired by the end of Thanksgiving evening, I was in bed by ten Thanksgiving night and slept through for thirteen straight hours with no desire to get out of bed the next day. Kent was down with a cold as well, and Esteban was also sick, but being almost sixteen, he bounced back in two days. Maria finally visited a doctor. Her medication seemed to help her the most, so I picked up the same medication, and after two days of using it, it seems to be working.
Hopefully, after three weeks of illness we will be doing well, especially since we have a big dinner party planned this Friday at Tiesto's to celebrate Esteban and Sherry's birthdays, which are both on the sixth of December. My birthday is on the twelfth of December. Lots of Sagittarians in this group. Cameron, after practically a year in Cuenca, will be returning home on the fourteenth to New England to visit with family for a couple of months before he begins his next adventure in Argentina.
Below are a few photos after a very brief video of the Thanksgiving festivities.
Also in attendance but were not in the video are
Paul Tacuri and his novia, Jesse
Above is Andres stealing the scene.
We hoped you had a great Thanksgiving, but on a healthier note than ours was.
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