An average day....retired in Cuenca

Blogging can be tiring, after the newness has worn off, what do you blog about? When we were full-time RVers, we had the same issue. We didn't travel every day, we didn't sightsee every day, we still had the same errands, chores, duties that we had in our previous (housebound) life.

Now that we have settled here in Cuenca, after 17 months many days fall into a routine. For example, here is what Sunday was like for us.

• Get up and enjoy french toast and bacon, lovingly prepared by Stu
• Strip the bed, put on clean sheets
• Gather all the laundry, sort and start the first load
• Make shopping list for Stu, need veggies for soup fixings
• Stu cuts up frozen chicken breast for soup
• Gather other soup fixings and discover "almost empties"
• Fill the salt, pepper and various spice containers
• Start the soup (broth, tomatoes, chicken
• Stu back home, put away the groceries while he cleans the gum off the floor that came in on his shoe
• Clean all the fresh veggies (vinegar water)
• Cut up veggies and toss in soup, add seasoning
• Time to check emails and Facebook
• Continue doing laundry
• Write three blog posts
• Stu napping in front of the TV
• Finish laundry
• Finish soup, dish out for dinner and freeze the rest
• Another email, Facebook check and then play some games on my iPad mini while Stu watches some of his car or woodworking shows

I walked over 5000 steps without ever leaving the apartment!

So not every day is exciting, not every day is different, not every day is something you want to read about (but if you got this far, you just did). 

Yes, we are living our Grand Adventure, but life does go on!

Ciao for now!

Weekend in Cuenca

Well, it actually started on Friday and Sunday I was in bed with a headache all day but a blog title of "Friday and Saturday in Cuenca" didn't sound as good. LOL!

We grabbed a taxi and headed to the gathering spot for those going to the Newcomer Lunch at La Yunta. I had been to the first newcomer lunch at Don Colon's while Stu was in the US, so this was his first. We had eaten at La Yunta on other outings and the choices this time were roast beef with pasta or fish and chips. I had one and Stu had the other, both were delicious as well the two dessert choices.

But the day was really for the families with kids...and there were a bunch! What fun to see them all playing together, riding the horses provided for the day and whacking the piñatas to get the candy.

Here are a few photos, the rest are in our SmugMug album.

We even had an adult Piñata!

We had a blast, meeting friends old and new, barely making it home before the sky let loose. Great day!

Then on Saturday, I had been craving a Cuban sandwich ever since watching the movie "The Chef" (four times). Several folks had told us Domesan restaurant had the best Cuban in town. So off we went....sorry for the bite already taken out of my sandwich, I was hungry!

We went for a walk afterwards, it was a gorgeous day. I had to take a photo of this Royal Enfield - love their classic looks. And of course we had to make a stop at La Fornace for ice cream!

It was good, the French Fries were delicious but it wasn't the traditional Cuban sandwish I enjoyed in Little Havana (Miami) many years ago. According to Wikipedia, this is the contents of a Cuban sandwich:

A coat of yellow mustard is spread on the bread. Then sliced roast pork, glazed ham, Swiss cheese, and thinly-sliced dill pickles are added in layers. Sometimes the pork is marinated in mojo and slow roasted.

Some of the ingredients were missing but I still enjoyed it. In fact, we have plans to return on Tuesday for lunch with some other new folks!

Ciao for now!

July 6: Sunday Sundry Photo

Mi madre says this store will be mine one day!

NOTE: Many Ecuadorian women take their children with them to work. This little one was at Mall del Rio in front of a clothing store. Her mother was working with the window display and gave me permission to take her photo. Of course the smile disappeared when it came time to snap the shot.