STRUMS AND DRUMS

SAN BARTOLOME

About a week ago, Patricio took Steve and me to a small town East of Cuenca called San Bartolome.  Almost everyone in the town makes guitars, but there is one family that has been building them for centuries. I first heard of this town when I read about it in Cuenca High Life, an expat newsletter:

http://www.cuencahighlife.com/post/2012/10/27/The-guitar-makers-of-San-Bartolome-building-a-musical-tradition-in-the-high-Andes.aspx

Another short article - same place:

http://www.enchantedexpeditions.com/uncategorized/guitar-makers-of-san-bartolome/

The guitars, mandolins, and various other stringed instruments they build are beautiful.  I was hoping to talk Steve into buying one as he had sold both of his before we came down here.   He didn’t, but I think we will go back in a few weeks, and get one, as not only are they beautiful, and sound great, they would double in value as soon as we leave the valley, plus I would like to re-learn what I used to know about playing a guitar.  These guitars are world renown and have been special ordered by the likes of Freddy Fender.   Since I once again forgot the camera, a couple of YouTube links that show the exact shop we went to:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZTB1Bg7QGk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyoaxqquC8M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=la0dctp8x2k

The match boxes hold different inlay pattern pieces

And speaking of music (well, more like noise), Steve and I have found ourselves not one, but two drumming groups here in Cuenca.   It started with an announcement in Gringo Tree (related to Cuenca High Life) looking for people to join a drum circle.  I contacted them, and we joined them the following Sunday.  That fairly small group gets together for drumming for the relaxation and healing drumming is known for.  They always have some extra drums along, so we used borrowed drums and had a great time.  Then they told us of another circle that meets directly after theirs a few blocks away – so off we went to drum some more.   The second group is at a park and anyone and everyone is encouraged to stop and drum or rattle or clang or dance or whatever they feel like.  It gets huge.  By the end of the day, our fingers were numb and stiff and we felt jazzed and refreshed.  We have gone twice now, and are actively looking for drums which are hard to find in Cuenca.  Sure miss the ones we left behind.   We did find out there is a fellow who makes drums out of agave roots.   I played with one Sunday and it sounded pretty good.  

We are getting musical again, and we have met some really wonderful people.

INGAPIRCA & BIBLIAN

Last week we took a little trip to see the Inca Ruins at Ingapirca (Wall of the Inca) about 2 hours north of Cuenca, and I remembered the camera!   It was a gorgeous day and the trip was wonderful.  At 10,367 ft. it can be very windy and cold, but we lucked out with only a very light breeze and sun.  Patricio is a licensed guide for the whole country, so we got our own private tour.  The wheelchair made things interesting at times, and I couldn’t get all the way up to the Temple (lots and lots of steps), but Steve took great pictures of it and I got to see plenty. 

We are planning a trip next week to a town that specializes in guitar making.  Steve sold  both of his guitars before we made the move down here as he was concerned they would get trashed – probably rightly so.  I would like to get him playing again.  

Pictures of Ingapirca:

If you look close, you can see the temple just in front of the trees.  The area in between the temple and us is the 'Great Field" where the faithful gathered.

The round structures were storage for Andean cereals when there was surplus.  The walls behind were probably  rooms used for military purposes

Some of the many blocks which had fallen.  Note the holes.

Patricio pushing my wheelchair

Steve was trying to figure out how they got that headstone up there.

Chamber of the "house of virgins".

Top of the temple

Drainage?

 

After the visit to the ancients, we stopped at a beautiful old cathredral built high on - or actually in the mountain.  

The wall in back is the mountain!

The town of Biblian below

Again, the rock wall.  I found a great link to another blog (also using Culture Shock in the name) about this cathedral: http://cuencacultureshock.com/biblian-ecuadors-school-of-wizardry/.

June 2014

June/02/2014

It is cold here today, 59°F.  We are at the end of the rainy season.  They promise us it will be warmer and sunnier after May or June…   We’ll see.  But it is still a whole lot nicer than snow and ice.  

Spanish:

Our 3^rd class of Spanish is winding down – 2 more weeks.  We both feel a bit frustrated with our progress, though I know we are improving – it is just hard to see it.  Our drivers are now pushing us to speak more Spanish, which is great.  Because our drivers have been getting very busy, we have added a third, a friend of Patricio’s who has his own cab.  He is a hoot.  He speaks very little (un poco) English, and so I try to talk with him in Spanish, while he tries to talk with us in English.  Conversations often end with a confused look, but we try and have fun as well.   

We went on a field trip on Friday to an art gallery.  The artist, Miguel Illescas, was as entertaining as his art, which consists of metal objects colored by using chemicals and heat.  He has never taken a chemistry class so it is all trial and error with spectacular results.  He says he has been happily surprised by some results, but then he was unable to replicate the process.  Ah yes, the need of taking notes.   I took a bunch of pictures on my phone, but have never tried to download to my computer until today.  It won’t do it!  You can see some of his artwork at http://www.artcuenca.com/artists/miguel-illescas.  Apparently his web site (www.miguelillescas.com) is down, but he shows up if Googled.  I love the blue footed boobies and the iguanas and the fish and the bicyclers and…well, most of it 

Critters (livestock to Frank):

We added to our family.  Another Gringo had adopted a kitten, then didn’t get her spayed in time and ended up with a bunch more kitties.  We decided to adopt two of those.  We were concerned that they would be afraid of the dogs, or that the dogs would bully them even though both of these dogs have lived their entire lives with cats.  Well, surprise!  Ginger tucked her tail and hid out for a full day.  Gradually she has been joining the family more and more, but she got so upset she chewed a sore on her tail; something the vet assured us happens a lot when a new member is brought into the family whether it be animal or human.  We had to get the veterinarian out to see her, then when it was decided she definitely was infected, had to haul her in to the clinic for lab work.  She is fine – on antibiotics, cleanings and an immune booster, but still not real happy about the kittens.  

Tigre

Tigre & Tizne

Tizne

Pepper is starting to have real difficulties getting up off the floor, even when on a non-slick surface.   It is going to be hard to make the ultimate decision as he is still happy and alert – even wants to play with the kittens.   But once he gets to where he cannot get up on his own we will have no choice, as there are times Steve is not around to help him and I cannot get the right leverage to get him up without hurting his back or hips.  I guess that is the real reason for the additions.  We were/are hoping that they will be company for Ginger when we have to leave for the day.

Phoning Home:

We have been having on-going problems with our Magic Jack.  I finally went on-line and "spoke" to one of their  consultants.  Turns out I have a defective adapter.  She knew pretty quick what my problem was so I have a feeling there was a batch of them.  Mine just took longer to die.  They offered to send me a new one, which is nice, but problematical, so we will just buy one at Radio Shack.  By Wednesday night we should be good to go again.  In the meantime, I am not without ways of getting in touch if necessary (other than by email).  My Kindle and smart phone have the same size adapter as the Magic Jack (she told me that) .  Standardizing?  Wow!