A Short Walk On The Yanuncay River

Our rental unit is 20 meters from the Yanuncay River.  Everyday I walk along the river to get to El Centro.  Today, I had my video camera and I saw something unusual. Washing clothes in the river is almost always a family event. Today, an elderly woman was washing her clothes alone.  Seemed very sad to me.

Further down the walk I noticed 4 German Shepherds being trained what seemed to me to be "search and rescue' techniques.  Enjoy the video

Lab Tests In Cuenca

As I previously mentioned Sharon and I are members of the Coopera Health Insurance . Our premiums are approximately $4.75 per month and that gives us just under $1000 of medical benefits per year.  The doctor's visit at the San Jacquin Clinic is a $2 co-pay.

I needed some blood work for a cholesterol check. On Monday I walked to the lab  Mt. Sinai Hospital and had my blood drawn at 9:30 am My veins are not prominent and when I had blood drawn in the States I was always jabbed 3 or 4 times before they found a vein.  I was dreading this visit since I didn't think I had enough Spanish to explain about my weak veins.  The lab tech got the vein on the first try and I had to look twice to see if blood was flowing because I didn't even feel the needle go in.  There was a total of 11 tests and the bill came to $29. I had the lab results in my hand at 3:00 pm that day. The next day I saw the Coopera Doctor to go over my lab tests.  The doctor took me at 3:00 pm sharp and I spent twenty minutes going over each test.

Below is a picture of two of my favorite churches

Arie & Gary's Art Gallery Opening

For the past 3 weeks Sharon has been taking drawing lessons in a class with 5 other students taught by Gary Myers. Last night was the students showing. The event also showcased Arie and Gary's new studio. About 30 people attended.  Sharon also had her quilts on display.

Shopping At The Mercado

Every Saturday morning Sharon and I go to breakfast at Bananas Cafe and then to the Diez de Agosto Mercado on Calle Larga.  Just before we got into the Taxi we noticed a lone Campasino woman doing her laundry in the Yanuncay River.  Notice how swift the river is flowing.  Today's bargain at the Mercado was 30 great looking limons for a dollar.

Cuenca Street Scenes

Me gusta mucho Cuenca.  I  like taking my camera with me on my walk and capturing street scenes especially street entertainers. In the video below one young man is juggling machetes and another couple is entertaining the traffic juggling their top hats.

Clases de natación

I just finished my second swim lesson.  I'm taking swim lessons from Emilie, a superb Instructor from Canada.  She is helping me with my conditioning and mobility.  Since my total hip replacement my doctor ordered me to do less walking and more swimming.

The lessons with Emilie are one to one in the Cuenca Olympic Pool.  The lessons are very reasonable and the pool is practically empty at 10:00 am.  I have a lane to myself. Today we were working on strengthening my flutter kick.  Admission to the Pool is $1.50 and you can buy a month's pass at a substantial discount.

I am still finding muscles that I haven't used in years but today I felt great and probably could have walked home.  Oops almost forgot there is a third pool where the water temp is 105 degrees F.  A soak in that felt really great.

El hogar es donde está el corazón

"Welcome Home Guys".  That was what the handsome young man at the Miami Airport Customs said to Sharon and I as we handed him our passports.  I thanked him and thought for a moment.  I was real eager to see my son his new wife, my two step kids their spouses the 3 grandchildren and friends in Oregon but my home was now Cuenca, Ecuador.  


I was born and lived for 45 years in New York City.  I moved to Oregon and lived there for 21 years. Oregon felt like home after a short time and now Cuenca feels like home.  ¿Por qué  It may be a cliche or corny but home is where the heart is.  My heart is in Cuenca.


Sharon and I had a wonderful trip. I got to buy my new MacBook Air and Sharon got to bring back all her fabric for her quilting projects.  We visited with friends and family and met Connie, Robb's new wife. 


We  flew on 12 planes traveled two continents, 3 countries, 4 states and 3 cities.  I got to overdose on Pad Thai and Peets' Caramel Lattes.  It's back to Español,  pitahaya and maracuya.

Faces Of San Diego

Sharon and I had a great time visiting our grandchildren and their parents in San Diego.  It was my first time seeing Kathy and Tyler's new house.  It was an event filled 4 days.  Soccer games, Cupcake Drive, Open House at the school and eating great Asian cuisines.