Cumbaya Ecuador

It has been 20 days I have been in Cumbaya, and I can not wait to get back to the beach! It is a nice little town, with weekend nightlife and a pretty little park. I know I said in my last post about the weather, it gets down to 40's at night, and slowly warms in the day. 50 is still too cold for coffee outside, (at 8am) I want the beach!!!

I had a german friend come up for almost a week, she was shopping for things not easily found in SC, but alas...even tho this is a bigger city, it is still Ecuador, and some items are just not available. Nicole and never been to Quito, but I was not interested in sightseeing, as I did that last year, and the altitude does effect me, so we just hung out around Cumbaya. There is an old railroad track they made into walking paths, and is very nice.

Visited the german bakery and had some good sausages, another day had some disappointing Shawarma. Thought about having Sushi, but sticker price won out, and we ate at home. Friday we decided to check out the nightlife, we sat and enjoyed some live music, but the beers were expensive, so we headed home before 9pm. Nice outside patio, was beautiful when I ate lunch there the other day.

I get reports from home, Perry is fine and all is well. One more week and I will be back home and in my own bed. So, stay tuned, the adventure continues!

House sitting in Quito

My friends who lived on the boca in San Jacinto moved to Cumbaya, just southeast of Quito in May. They knew they had a trip planned to the States in October, so booked me to house and dog sit, and here I am. I tried to find a cheap ride, so I could bring Perry, but it was not to be, so he is staying with Jerri and Dottie. I got a $10 bus and $15 taxi from the station, and 7 or so hours later I had arrived. My friends did not fly out for several days, so we got to visit and they showed me some of their favorite places. So many choices!

The blue dot, is where the house is. I will have to walk over and check out the resevoir, they said there are walking trails. The weather is crazy to me, I have been living on the coast where the weather changes very little, here...it gets down to 47F at night, then up to almost 80F in the day, if the sun is out. I am going thru multiple clothing changes in a day, and often cold in the house. It is dry as well, my nose, lips and skin are screaming. The altitude too is troublesome, not as bad as Quito city, we are lower, but stairs, and walking up hill is a chore. Moving too fast, makes me winded.

The first couple days were beautiful blue skies, but this week has been overcast with slight showers. I am longing for the blue sunny skies again. It is so quiet here, I realized yesterday when I heard a gardener, I have not heard any street vendors loud speakers, but hear weed eaters and lawn mowers instead.

Daisy has the right idea, and anytime the sun is out, I too will be sitting in it. Time flies, and I know I will be back to the beach soon enough...but brrrrr!! No gusta. Making plans with Lucia, my friend who lives near here and have a couple friends who say they will come visit for a couple days...so stay tuned, the adventure continues!

Happenings

Not too long after my mom left, we had an event scheduled, that I really could not get my head around. Our “president” of the town asked me to help gather donations for what he said was 500 dancers who were coming to the old school for a dance competition, I was able to collect a small amount (the money went for buying medals for the winners). The day of the competition I went down and was surprised to see the competitors were childrens dance troupes. Some teams were large, some small, some had custom costumes, and some only had matching tshirts, some were pretty young, and up thru high school age.

I found my friends Leo and Rene, they were upstairs, with a great view of the dancers and crowd. The music was loud, and dancers were fun to watch. After each age group, they awarded medals, and at the end they awarded large trophies. Some teams competed in more than one genre of dance, some had gymnastics thrown in, much like cheerleading competitions, and others were purely dance.

After several hours, we decided we had enough, and left before it was all over, but I do think everyone had a good time.

Last weekend the neighboring town of San Clemente had their annual festival and the expats were invited to participate in the parade. We finally got the catepillar train and for a mere $5 per person rode it thru town throwing candy to the spectators.

As we were sitting at the starting point, waiting for our turn, the Police chief’s wife and daughter walked by, and asked if Domenica couldnt ride the “worm” with me...of course!! Later as we went thru town her dad got to see us, and I felt pretty special having her sit next to me.

The same weekend there was a surfing competition, and another parade of more than 100 horses!

After the friday afternoon parade, I stayed for dinner, but got the heck out of San Clemente, their parties are bigger and have waaay more people than my little San Jacinto one in August, and too much for me. I stayed away the rest of the weekend, but know it was a good time. The Caterpiller was in town all weekend, and many of the expats rode it thru the streets and down the malecon with lights and noise blaring.

The next events are in Charapoto, our nearest stop light, the town is turning 484 years old this month, and they have been doing a lot of work in their town square area. Of course it is also time to start gearing up for Christmas, and neighborhoods are holding Bingo and raffles to collect money for gifts and food for the needier families. So, stay tuned, the adventure continues...

Visitors

A couple weeks ago I was sitting in my reading nook on the patio, and noticed tiny inch worms...everywhere! They were on the table, on the chairs, and even hanging like streamers from the sky.

At the same time I noticed, more than usual, leaves from the tree behind the patio. I was mortified to see what state the tree was in! These inch worms had eaten all they could, and that is why they were venturing into my patio, looking for more food. Yikes!

This tree should look like the one in front of the patio...

A quick Google, and I found out that the inch worms will become moths, and the tree is more than likely not dead. But what a mess, I couldnt walk outside with out running into worms on strings, and even opened my door to a friend who found one hanging off my ear like an earring. Had to hold off doing laundry, as they would be all over the clothes drying on the line. The Gusano (new word) are gone now, but the litter from the tree is outrageous.

Another visitor as of late is a friend of Perry’s. This little dog lives nearby and started coming almost everyday to play. He would stick his head thru the doggie door, and Perry would go out to the street and play.

Then next thing I know, I hear wrestling in the house, and they are puppy fighting in the living room!

I have named him Retaco, shorty in Spanish, and he is NOT shy. He has a home, his nails are trimmed, and he is of healthy weight, but like many ecuadoreans...you give him a finger and he takes your shoulder, hahaa.

Now his is coming into the patio, jumping on my reading nook, even found me this morning in bed with my coffee! What a goof ball, he certainly craves cuddles and affection, and Perry is happy to have a friend.

Doesnt everybody like having friends? Speaking of friends, I had a Hair day in Crucita last weekend and made some new friends, and I painted murals the last couple days, in San Clemente. Today is a day of rest, but I promised Perry a beach walk, so Stay tuned, the adventure continues!

Six months of projects

Looking back thru my photos, I realize it has been quite some time since I shared my art projects with you. Some have been commissioned pieces, and others gifts. At the moment I am working on a sewing project, cloth napkins for my friend Cynthia’s jungle hotel, and a painted piece for my bestie Leo.

All these fish I took to the Crucita Art fair, and only came home with a few.

This was a commissioned piece for friends from Canada, who were here for several months, but alas had to return to The North.

Circular one was commissioned, and the other I did as a companion piece. I have at least a few others planned, as I hung these in a small gallery format at the homeowners.

Regalo for Leo’s mom, this is her favorite Bible passage. And a birthday present for another friend in San Clemente

Another sewing project, again for Cynthia’s jungle retreat. Eleven yoga mat covers. She brought the pads, and fabric, and I did the rest. It was a very rewarding project, very pleased with the outcome.

Edison, the shrimp vender needed his sign revamped, so I traded paint for shrimp.

A sign I made for the back of my new bike. (Friends got together for my birthday and bought my a trike)

Another gift I made recently is a jewelry holder, took a piece of broken plastic trashcan, and attached to the board. Earrings can hang on the plastic, and hook hangers for necklaces and braclets.

Next week I am painting two murals in San Clemente, need to finish the napkin project this week, and also in September am having a Spa day in Crucita, new hair clients with hopes of bringing in manicurist and massuese in November. The sun is starting to burn thru the marine layer, and it looks like another beautiful day...so I better get to sewing. Stay tuned, the adventure continues!

Moms trip Part Four

Our last night on the road was in Puerto Cayo, a tiny fishing village an hour and fifteen minutes south of Manta. We got up said good bye to Senora and headed north, saw parts of Manta one doesnt usually see while going to the airport, and arrived at the fish market around 10 am. Here on the coast a favorite breakfast food is fish soup, they say it is a must for hang overs, and makes All the men strong. The best and first Encebollado I ever had was at the Manta fish market, so I shared that experience with mom, Jhonny and Vicente.

After our breakfast, we walked the beach and saw the big boat repairs being done. I never get tired of seeing the maestros at work.

A short drive and we were home in San Jacinto, said goodbye to our drivers and friends, Jhonny and Vicente and settled in for a low key afternoon. Mom was to stay with me a week, and I had some plans, but not much. One thing I arranged was a boat tour up the PortoViejo river with some friends.

I coordinated with Pasqual the boat captain, and with a moto taxi guy, and we had about 14 people from San Clemente and San Jacinto. We met at the “boca” at 4pm, with drinks and snacks, and had another fun trip. My friend Leo was with us, so he was able to translate what Pasqual was saying, and that meant we got to ask questions too. Learned about the various birds and life in mangroves.

Pasqual said the top tree was probably 150 years old, and he motioned over these crabbers, so we could see what they were catching.

About thirty minutes up the river is a small riverside village, and we passed many a boat, as it was “rush hour” and the men were going to work. I love this little area, and if I didnt mind being so secluded, I could live there.

The trip was $3 a person, and a little over an hour, well worth it. Dinner in San Clemente afterwards, and a good time was had by all. Another day Mom and I took the bus to Sosote, for tagua jewelry and some plants fo my patio, she adopted my outside reading nook, and read three or four books while here, and of course we beach walked. A very nice trip with lots of down time to visit. Next year...maybe an Amazon trip, so stay tuned, the adventure continues!