Catching Up on January

For various and sundry reasons, this is the first post for the new year; therefore, there is a bit of catching up to do. As the year ended, there were a number of efigy burnings on our street which began in the afternoon. The workers at the construction site near us went to great efforts in preparing not only bodies, but a truck.

Their work day actually ended at noon; however, the workers stayed around, consuming beer, with the blaze occuring in mid-afternoon.

To celebrate the new year, a number of us had reservations for the party at Hotel Oro Verde. The term "party" is a bit exagerated. There was a luau theme which ended with the distribution of leis and the staff's Hawaiian shirts. The food was mediocre at best. Our group left before the new year arrived. On our way home, we drove through town and found things to be quiet as well. Here are some pictures from the Oro Verde.

Mick and I watched the city exploding with fireworks, as it ushered in the new year from the terrace. New Year's Day is not only the beginning of the new year, it is also our wedding anniversary. We have been married long enough not to be embarrassed by each other, not to take arguments or disagreements seriously, and to laugh at each other without offending. However, we have still not been married long enough to tire of each other, to have nothing to talk about, or to want to be without the other.

Through the years, Mick has been everything that I am not. He has remained constant in a world of variables, always level headed. He has been the equalizing force during our crises. Always he is my north star, preventing me from losing my way. He has kept me sane. We still have not been married long enough.

Shortly after the first of the year, we made our way to Guayaquil in order to claim our passports. In order to receive our crates, it was necessary to relinquish our passports to the aduana. They had to be claimed in person. We flew down for the day and were picked up at the airport by our shipping agent, Patricio. Patricio took us to customs office at the port, gave us a quick tour of Guayaquil, and then dropped us off a mall. Here is Patricio, Mick, and Henry.

At the mall, we had lunch at TGI Friday's, shopped a bit, visited McDonald's, and returned home.

The airport in Guayaquil has a very nice koi pond filled with large fish.

Recently there was a morning spent in Banos at Piedra de Aqua. By Cuenca standards, the entrance fee was pricey, $30 per person and truly was not worth the cost.

There is something unfinished looking about the facility. In addition to the mineral water, there is a restaurant.

The surroundings are bushes and houses.

The caves are actually man-made.

The first pool that you encounter is the mud bath, which was not what we expected. Here are Mick, Rhonda, George, and Carol. You enter the pool and are then presented with a dish of mud to smear on your body.

There are sweat boxes for those who are not clostrophobic.

The grotto has two pools, one hot and the other containing cold water. You alternate between the hot and cold. Susie and George were in the hot pool.

On Sunday, we accompanied Jim and Angie to the Cajas in their new vehicle. It was a lovely day for a drive. We stopped at the Virgin of the Cajas Sanctuary. There are a number of pieces of religious statuary.

There is a chapel where mass is held on Sunday mornings. That is Jim and Mick on the bench. The sanctuary is quite lovely and has a huge number of visitors. As you approach the entrance, there are a number of vendors selling various types of wares. This little guy and his mom were preparing to open for business.

After our visit to the garden, we went to Hosteria Dos Chorreras for lunch. The setting is beautiful and is a lodge as well as a restaurant.

In recent days, a great deal of time as been spent continuing to unpack the cartons from the crates. Furniture and drapes were ordered as we prepare for the arrival of our first visitors, Dale and Joan. The guest room is almost complete. Life is great!

Until next time,
Mick and Kathy