Cars, Kraut, and Paute

During the planning stages of our move, it was decided that a car was not necessary because of the bus and taxi system in Cuenca. It took a very short time for that decision to change. Mick felt that without driving, he had lost part of his independence. He said that he would still use cabs many times, but a car is important. Over the last couple of weeks, the search for a car has been at the top of the list of things to do.

Cars are expensive here and depreciate very little, if any the first two years. There is relatively no negotiating on price. The list price is basically the price.

In thinking about what we wanted in a car, we both agreed on a "fat" car. Many of the taxis require that you crawl in and out. We have had some that we could not even sit up straight. The best and roomiest is the Hyundai Matrix. This model was discontinued a couple of years ago. It is possible to find used ones for sale, but usually with 200,000 km and a high price tag.

Of the "deals" presented, the best seemed to be a Chevy Aveo sedan. However, car shopping was put on hold for the weekend.

Friday evening we met Brian and Shelley at California Kitchen for burgers. The burgers are always wonderful. Conversation was good and we met some new gringoes.

Saturday morning we headed down to the Kookaburra for breakfast. It's always good to see Chris and Jenny. We then headed to the Supermaxi. Even though we're retired, it seems that we always end up at the supermarket on the weekend. In Charlotte, we always shopped on Thursday night because that was senior's night, which included an additional discount. It just seems that here, the need always arises on Saturday or Sunday, when it is most crowded.

Saturday evening, we met Mike and Pat for dinner at Creta, which is at Mall del Rio. The food was wonderful. This is Mike and Patty after dinner.

The setting is lovely. Service was impeccable. There is a gringo that plays piano on weekends, but he is currently back in the States.
On Sunday, as we approached Parque Calderon, there was a protest going on by the residents of Turi.

This little boy was fascinated by the car. One of the photographers has this in addition to the horses.

We had lunch at Raymypampa's with Brian, Shelley, and their friend, Brian. Mick and I had omelettes, which were ordinary, at best. Brian #2 is returning this week to Africa, where he works.

I was cooking breakfast Monday morning when I heard a crash. Mick was sitting at the bar and called me to the window. A couple of dead trees were being felled by the river. This job required 14 workmen. It was somewhat like a city job or one with the DOT in the states. Back in the spring in Winston-Salem, I passed a sign being replace, not the post, but only the sign, that required workmen, 1 to replace the sign and 3 to watch. I suppose this is universal.

This fellow began attaching a rope, to pull it out. He couldn't quite manage it.

The trees are still on the bank. Someone will probably use them for drying clothes, or for firewood.

With the weekend past, it was time to do something about the car situation. Mick and Henry were going out again. Henry's brother-in-law, Paulo, suggested that we check out the Renault dealer. Mick called and said that he liked the Renault Logan. He put down a deposit and a white one is being shipped from Quito. Hopefully, we can pick it up on Friday.

We also had to pay a visit to the migratory police on Monday for more documents regarding our crates. It went very smoothly. On Tuesday, we had more documents to sign at Paulo's office. There is a rather large portfolio that includes everything from a letter from Banco Pichincha to a housing contract, and also, our passports. These documents went to the shipping agent in Guayaquil, who is saying that we may possibly have our shipment by Friday. We're not that optimistic. With the holidays, we're still expecting the crates no sooner than mid-November.

Lately, Mick has talked a great deal about kraut, how much he'd like to have knockwurst and sauerkraut. I had a cabbage in the fridge and decided to put some kraut in to ferment. My parents were from the Sandhills of South Carolina and making kraut was a common task. I helped with many batches of kraut. Mine is fermenting on the terrace. However, in the meantime, Mick felt that he could find some already canned. He said that we could have mine later.

After going to Paulo's office, we went to the area of the German Consulate's Office. If there is kraut to be found in Cuenca, it would surely be in this area. On the ground floor of the office building is a drug store which had sauerkraut ($3.70 per can) and knockwursts ($10.80 for a jar of 4 sausages). The German does come out in him sometimes.

This morning, we met Brian and Shelley at the bus station for a mystery trip, which turned out to be Paute. It's a lovely ride and the flower industry is big there. We will return for plants, but there was no time today for plant shopping.

We had lunch at a lovely little restaurant called Corvel. The ambiance was wonderful, very relaxing. Across the street was this murel.

Here are Mick, Shelley, Freddi, and Brian, as we were leaving. Nick was along, but was assisting with the photography.

In the little boy's room, Mick found this ferocious spider, quite large and furry.

This is the park in the center of Paute.

The church

This is the stained glass in the church.

It was really a lovely day, warm and sunny, not only with the sunshine, but with the laughter of friends. Bus trips are always interesting. You're never sure with whom or what you'll be sharing the trip. On the bus today, in addition to the locals, there was a box of baby chicks, and a serenade by a blind fellow with his guitar. It's all part of the local color and part of what makes it so interesting and exciting to be here.

Until next time,

Mick and Kathy