Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Wednesday September 30, 2015 Pumapungo

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Wednesday September 30, 2015
Natalia was sleeping for about 18 hours so we left her alone and we did get away to the huge mercado, Feria Libre, today.  Wednesdays and Saturdays are the big days there with all the fresh product and hundreds of vendors. and the gals went crazy buying bagloads of produce and meat.  Lugging that load bag home was a chore.
We had a lovely almuerzo at home before going out to the Pumapungo Museum and Inca ruins.  We saw the doors blocked off to the museum and the guard said that it is closed for a while for fumigation.   We definitely could smell chemicals in the air.
Oh well, even though the sky was threatening we decided to walk down the ruins.  The gals were excited to see the llamas staked out near the huge sundial and we continued on through the lovely plant area on the east side.  We skirted the south side in a small drizzle and made it over to the aviary.  It is hard to take photos of the lovely birds because of the security barrier and all the wire over the cages.
As we got to the west side I dragged the girls with me through a little passageway that leads to where they house the peacocks.  Maybe the peacocks knew we were coming because they trotted out in front of us and the male performed a mating dance ritual to a seemingly indifferent female.  He had his feathers all fanned out and was shaking his butt and twirling around and she acted as if she was ignoring him...  Then he switched his attention to Natalia, who didn't mind....
On the way back on the bus 2 Colombian entertainers got on, one with a guitar, and I thought we were going to hear some singing, but the other guy just talked to the music, not even decent rap, so they didn't collect much change from anyone.
I hope you enjoy the photos.  That was the day's excitement,   Cheers, Al 

Choices, choices, choices at Feria Libre

Wednesday is a good day for fresh meat, fish and veggies.

There are about 100 aisles of products and clothing

It doesn't take long to start filling bags and the backpack

Buying some ribs....

Some guy was selling disgusting grubs for medical purposes

Fresh and organic is the name of the game

Checking out an Inca home replica

Very colorful

Memories for Natalia and Adiela

One of the 8 llamas I spotted 

Interesting plant life being grown here

Gorgeous colors too

Ducks and geese are in the pond area

Are these Wood Ducks??

The Inca ruins

Varieties of ducks here

Mr Toucan

One of the many bird varieties here

The girls clowning around

A more serious pose

Cristina and her Canadian

I am a lucky guy


One of the raptors here

and another raptor

This guy was in a separate area altogether

Isn't he a beauty??!!

He was very aware but unafraid

The peacocks knew we were coming...

Let the show begin...

A lot of strutting that she ignores

He's saying "Hey, look at me.."

He even gives her a 360 view

Do ya think I'm sexy?

I love that big gold area on the back

How can she resist his charms?

She is not giving him much attention

Mostly she is playing hard to get

He is in fine form though

The show must go on

He is confident

Now he is showing off for Natalia

Yet another raptor..

Bad Colombian entertainment on the bus

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Tuesday September 29, 2015 Tour 2

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Tuesday September 29, 2015
Cristina and I were up early to head to the Immigration Office to find out what it will take to get her a Cedula, the official residency identity card.  We were dismayed to find out that people with a Mercosur visa (for people from surrounding countries) are not allowed to get Cedulas, they have to get one of the other available visas, such as pension, professional, investment, or get piggy-backed on a spousal visa.  That was not the news we were hoping for....
Then we went for my appointment with the chiropractor, Rob Annis, and was pleased to find that my shoulder has almost equal range as the other now.  But I needed some adjustment to both shoulders because I had really strained them carrying heavy backpacks, luggage, dog crates and groceries.  My hands are really beginning to bother me so we took some extra work on those with the electroshock machine.
Then we bused back home for a delicious lunch that Adiela had prepared (she is an awesome cook) and then we all took the bus and got off near the Clinica Santa Ana and began a sightseeing walk.  The weather today was vintage Cuenca, blue skies and tremendous weather.
We crossed the Tomebamba and went by the Broken Bridge, where nothing was happening, and headed for the CIDAP Museum next to the Escalinata.  Normally they have pretty nice exhibits but this month is only textile weaving from around the world and it was pretty boring stuff.  We crossed the river again and headed to the Planetarium in Parque De La Madre.  We caught the free show at 3pm which is a video presentation about the Universe.  I almost fell asleep because I am so tired and I think Adiela actually did nod off.  Every other Planetarium I had been in had some decent interactive exhibits of some kind, but this one has nada, zip, zilch.... just a video room where you sit in recliners and watch the presentation on the curved ceiling.  So we crossed the river again and walked towards the Inca ruins at Pumapungo.  For some unknown reason they had the lower gates closed, and we could only enter if we walked up the hill to Banco Central and come back down...  So here we were, 4 for 4 on the boring scale.....  If is wasn't for the great weather and the stunning views, the day tour would have been a complete bust...
Then we missed our bus and had to catch a cab home....  
I hope you enjoy the photos.  That was the day's excitement,   Cheers, Al 


Killing an hour at Parque De La Madre while at Immigration

Cristina was slumming with Ronald

We came back later with Adiela and Natalia

My 3 lovely companions at the Puente Roto (Broken Bridge)

It was really quiet around here in the gorgeous sunshine

Natalia is a natural little model

Maybe she gets that from her Mom

Nice Tomebamba backdrop

Couldn't resist this colorful shot

Another rock, another pose

Sisters Cristina & Adiela watching


They say that if you have to pick a clown, go for the juggler..

The gorgeous CIDAP Museum building

A boring cock-fight on the lawn

Oops, how did this shot get in here?

And this one too...   Lucy, you got some 'splainin' to do

Back to Parque De La Madre and the Planetarium

Adiela showing us how to exercise

3 mothers and 3 kids

Todos Santos taken from the other side of the Tomebamba

A shady stop at a chair made from the tree stump

OK, we need a posed shot

Huayna capac is enjoying the blue skies

The Pumapungo ruins