Cuenca Welcome...June 2013

From the Pacific port city of Guayaquil, we traveled over the Andes to Cuenca, a city of half a million located in the Ecuadorean highlands at 8300 feet.  Cuenca is touted as one of the best retirement spots in the world, boasting a perpetual spring climate, low cost of living, and cultural riches…its old city center (photos to right) a UNESCO World Heritage Trust site.

 

Within two weeks of arrival in Cuenca we moved into a lovely new apartment, where we enjoyed about a week of peace.   Then our landlady informed us we would have to pay more---to cover the cost of a 24/7 security guard for the building.  The rent was already high, so a week later we moved to a less expensive apartment in the same building.  

Journal entries:

June 9, 2013

Here we sit in our new home [first apartment], with morning tea in our incredibly comfortable bed delivered yesterday, looking out the window to rushing waters of the Tomebamba River…whose music lulled us to sleep last night.  We're bone weary from days of walking to explore things and find what we needed..and negotiating prices and delivery of appliances and bed.  

View to river from our bedroom 

Installing washer and dryer in our first apartment

First apartment

This place combines memories and links to so many places of my past…the Eucalyptus trees of Sikalongo (Zambia), the mountains and streams and vistas of Colorado, the river walk in Alexandria, Virginia, the cool rains of England, the animals of Haiti….we saw a woman leading a cow down our main road of Gonzales Suarez the other day, as we are on the edge of the city near farming lands.

June 21, 2013

Deeply moved listening to Schubert with Mischa Maisky on cello…a much-loved CD long lost, but here on Bill's iPod.  Evoked thoughts of family and loss and tears of both sorrow and joy. Bill [who was ill] is better…and we walked [along the river] to the mall where I got a haircut and style for $10.

Walking from our apt. to the nearest mall (20") along the Tomebamba river

Wednesday (June 19) was a watershed in that our documents were accepted for [our pensioner's] visas!  I celebrated by spending $40 at Supermaxi on fun food...wine and pistachios, chocolate, etc. and some staples…like black beans which I used to make bean/barley mix for tortillas and a yummy bean and vegetable soup.

June 23, 2013

Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations…reading from Psalm 90 this morning reminds me that there is no better place to dwell than in Him…and I would take a shack or a tent with Him if that is where He leads, but this place seems to be the provision for now, and I am filled with gratitude for this abundance.

Direct view to the river from our second apartment

Second apartment