COST OF PRODUCE IN CUENCA - More on our frugal lifestyle!!!

Mango, parsley, chard, pineapple, plantains, garlic, cucumbers, carrots, green peppers, peas, beets, avocados, broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes.  All this for $12 - Really?  Yes Really!!!

I remember reading different blogs and looking at photos of Cuenca's mercados when Bo and I were planning to relocate here.  It was one of the first things I looked forward to doing once we landed - finally, going fresh produce shopping at the various Mercados.  Here we are, 3-1/2 months later, still loving our almost daily shopping trips to the wonderful colorful and abundant markets in El Centro, and also shopping from the street vendors along the way.  We have our favorite vendors now whom we know by name, and we get lots of special treatment and favor.  You can see in the photo that the pineapple is perfectly peeled because one of our favorite vendors takes care of us.

Here's a breakdown of what this produce cost us which should last us several days:
1 Pineapple (sweet & juicy)    $1.25
2 Mangos (huge & meaty)        1.00
7 Carrots (sweet & Fat)             .50
Peas (shelled, bagged)            1.00
7 Tomatoes (huge)                  1.00
5 Avocados (delicious)             1.00
7 Beets                                   .50
4 cucumbers                          1.00
Garlic (peeled cloves)               .50
4 Plantains (ripe)                    1.00
Chard (large bunch)                  .50
Parsley (large bunch)                .25
Cauliflower (large head)           1.00
Broccoli (large head)                1.00
11 Peppers                               .50

Our Ecuadorian families tell us how much more we can get for our money if we would go to Feria Libre (some think we are getting gouged).  Soon, we will trek out there for a shopping trip with our friends who will show us the best vendors to buy from (we've been there but not to actually shop).  We will do a price comparison to see if it's worth it to save a few dollars.  However, for the convenience of being able to walk four to eight blocks to the markets from our apartment, and because it's only the two of us and produce here is fresh and organic and spoils if not eaten quickly, we don't know if it's going to be worth the long trek to Feria Libre and back.  We'll see.  For now, we enjoy knowing our vendors and feel we are getting a lot for our money.  It's also rewarding to frequent and bless our favorite vendors.

This is the 9 De Octubre Mercado which is very close to our apartment.  It is a very busy, clean, and abundant market that has wonderful meats, seafood, vegetables,and fruits plus food and juice vendors.  We sometimes shop here but enjoy the 10 de Augusto Mercado and their vendors more, where we mostly shop since moving to El Centro.

It's the 16th of March, and so far we've spent a total of $121 of our $289 food budget in groceries, household, wine, produce and protein (poultry, beef, seafood and shrimp).  We've had several dinners at our home with friends.  We cook most of our meals and eat in more than we eat out.  Our food/household bill for just the two of us back in the USA was between $600 and $800 dollars.  We purchased organic meats and produce (so spendy there) and the cost of groceries and household items was so much more.  Here, we eat even healthier (we do not buy prepackaged or canned foods) and spend less because we only buy what we need as we run out of that item.  Living in the heart of the city prevents us from having to stock up on items because we can walk out our door and find a tienda close by to pick up what we're out of.  This, I love about living in El Centro.

We recently attended a party where an ex-pat couple shared with us that their monthly grocery bill runs $700 to $800.  It's just the two of them, but they say they entertain a lot and shop mostly at SuperMaxi.   They also expressed that their monthly living expenses were in the ball park of $3,000 or more a month.  I share this because it will become a personal budget for each and everyone coming to live in Cuenca.  No one can say how much it is going to cost another person for groceries, housing, transportation, medical, etc.  We, ourselves, can live here on less than $1,300 a month because we are purposing to live frugally.   It is our desire to eat healthier, live a simpler less costly lifestyle as we continue to learn about and explore this area and culture to see if it truly is where we want to plant ourselves for a long-term commitment.  Remember, we did not previously visit Cuenca to know what to expect.  We just packed our bags and came!  

We continue to document our daily spending, to shop daily at the local markets (Yes, we buy our meat and seafood at the open markets, and yes we're still alive and well), and to purpose to stay within our monthly budget.  My really fun frugal shopping trip today landed me in a second-hand store (and I read there weren't any to speak of here!!!) where I found 5 pair of fabulous practically new designer jeans, perfect fit (I've lost 10 lbs of ugly fat since being here - woohoo) for guess how much?  $28, really?  YES REALLY!!!

I told you Cuenca has everything one could possibly need!  Even a thrift store!!
I'm happy and I love Cuenca city life more each day.

One of Bo's delicious salads we love to munch on - Avocado, Tomatoes, and butter-fried platanos (plantains) - with fresh limon, a drizzle of cold-pressed olive oil, and sea salt.  YUM!  Walking miles and miles each day and eating mostly Paleo is our choice for a healthy lifestyle.

Bo's Beef Bone Broth simmers on our stove daily - and this is one of Bo's bone broth soups - with beef, potatoes, and fresh chard.  WE LOVE CREATING DELICIOUS SOUPS!

Living in Cuenca Ecuador - It's All About The People We Meet........

After our morning workout, we walk over to Sra. Marianita's Juice Stand at the market.  We tell her what we would like in our Jugo, and she runs it through her juicer and blender.  Today we had Jugo de Borojo (borojo Pulp. The borojo fruit is famous in Colombia, because of its aphrodisiac and health properties. It is highly energetic, with very high protein content - http://www.borojo.net/) Alfalfa, y Zanahoria (carrot).  Two juices are $1.00. That's Bo getting his morning "Jugo" fix!!

Sra. Elena always has a smile for us when we visit her Cheese Stand.  She sells fresh Queso Pensado (salty and like Mozzerella) and Queso Molida (like Feta but not as salty) amongst other kinds of cheeses.  We are getting to know our special vendors and frequent their booths.  (Notice the children of vendors playing in the aisles while their parents sell from their booths.)

I've added Chanco to my vegetarian diet!  Dona Elsita (no photo yet) and her daughter, Delia (in photo below) always greet us with warm and loving words as they give us tastes of their succulant Chanco (pork) and Chicharon (crispy skin), while serving us a huge $5 plate for two.  Their Batata balls and pickled salad mix top off this regular amazing lunch.

Sra. Delia marinating their to-die-for Batata balls.  Colorful pickled salad mix in front!

This vendor (whom we have not met) specializes in selling cooked hominy, beans, and other varieties of legumes.  Some of the vendors are warm and embrace us, some are shy and humble, some do not make eye contact with us, and few are grumpy and almost rude or indifferent.  A dear Ecuadorian friend told us not to take things personally here, and to accept the culture and way of her people, and especially not to get angry or impatient.  Daily, Bo and I observe these poor and humble people working from sunrise to sunset, setting up their booths, waiting for their daily bread in sales, and many still out late at night until there is no one around to sell to.  To see some of them carrying heavy loads on their backs and walking all hunched over down the narrow busy streets truly breaks our hearts.  Yet it is their way of life and what they know and do proudly.  It is the Christmas season, and the streets are busy with Ecuadorian families and tourists shopping.  I'm sure many vendors are anticipating greater sales this time of year.

Daily we see an old and poor Ecuadorian on the street who quietly asks us for some help.  We are always blessed to give them a coin (dollars here are coins) and squeeze their hand (and quietly pray for them).  Since we've been here, it seems rare to see beggers on the streets.  Yet, it's easy to give to those unfortunates we've encountered, because they are truly in such need and incapable of working. 

 The other night, as Bo and I walked the dark city streets, we came across this homemade barricade behind an abandoned street kiosk.  We met Sr. Luis Garcia, a shoeshine man, who greeted us with an aged handshake and a big and genuine smile.  He was eating a bowl of soup in the dark night, all alone, and he seemed anxious to talk to us, so I asked him specific questions about his life.   We learned that he lives in that kiosk box by his shoeshine stand. He told us his wife used to help him, but she fell right there 4 months ago, and she is now in a care facility, which he visits every morning.  We hope to see him again - and again. 

Mr. Diaz said he has been working on this corner for 64 years!  He is now 94.  His home is to the right of his stand, inside the abandoned kiosk.  Yesterday, when we stopped by to say hello, he told us to be careful that no one robbed us, to have a loving Christmas together, to eat well, and to take care of each other.  he said that since his wife fell and is no longer with him, he has nothing anymore. 

Our friend, Sr. Diaz

Today we received news from back home that someone we were very close to has been diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer.  He is only in his 50's.  Life is precious.  Our days are precious and unpredictable.  We should daily count our blessings - and those blessings truly are the people we know and the new people we will meet along the way. 

As we journey through our days in Cuenca, we have no idea how long we will be here.  What we do know is that it's all about the people we are privileged to meet, to smile at, to show concern towards, and to give to - and may we be grateful each day for the important things:  our health, our loved ones, and every new person we meet and are touched by along this Ecuador journey.

SHOPPING AT THE MARKETS IN CUENCA ECUADOR - Our first MARKET DAY in Cuenca!

We finally dragged ourselves out of bed to start our first full day in Cuenca.  It may take us a few days to recover from that long journey and catch up on our sleep.  We haven't felt any altitude affects, and that's a good thing!  After tidying up and more unpacking, we grabbed our produce bags and headed for the Mercado 10 de Augosto.  Our condo is about two blocks away.  As we walked into the Mercado, Bo's words were, "I'm liking it here already!"  Woohoo!!!  We walked around looking at the beautiful produce, then decided to go upstairs so Bo could have his coffee fix.  We were so graciously served by a beautiful Ecuadorian woman.  I asked her (in Spanish, of course)  if she put any sugar or water in her juices, and she assured me they were pure blended fruits and vegetables.  My order came and it was DELICIOUS - Zanahoria (carrot), Pina (pineapple), Y (and) Papaya.  I savored it.....

Bo had two Cafe Con Leche and a roll.  We paid $2.25 for everything.  Off we went to begin our shopping.  I'm so ready to use my Omega Juicer after hauling it over 4,000 miles.  Both my Vitamix and Juicer adorn the kitchen counter ready to perform for me.  (Oh, Elizabeth and Caroline, you would both appreciate this fine produce for your juicing.)

There were hundreds of vendors selling meats, vegetables, grains, fruits, and on and on.  I can't even begin to mention all that our eyes feasted on. 

I imagine we got charged a bit higher from some of the vendors (we're Gringos), but I was sure to speak Spanish and compare some of their prices.  Some wanted to charge $1.50 for a pineapple, and others $1.  Guess how much I paid?  We're here to live with and pay as the locals.  It will take time to know the local prices, but that will happen.

These are all the fruits and vegetables Bo and I hauled home - back to front:
2 huge bunches of Chard, 2 heads lettuce, 1 each cauliflower, broccoli, red cabbage, 2 bunches (8) beets (50 cents each) two large bags HUGE carrots ($1 each), pineapple ($1), 6 mango ($1), 10 apples(1), 2 huge bags tomatoes ($2), 10 red onions ($1), 4 HUGE cukes ($1), 3 large avacado ($1), Bag of already peeled fresh garlic (50 cents), 20 limes ($1).  GRAND TOTAL $15
We're Happy!

After we put away our beautiful produce, we headed back out towards the grocery store SUPERMAXI.  As we crossed the bridge, I stopped to capture a photo of Cuenca's beautiful Rio Tomebamba.  We still have much to explore along this river walk.  We finished our shopping at SuperMaxi and then took a taxi back to our condo.  The rest of our day was spent cooking and relaxing.  We had a fabulous salad for dinner, and Bo is making healthy beef broth, soaking brown rice and black beans, and he's back into his joy of cooking.  

Tomorrow, we hope to get our cell phones taken care of so we'll have our Ecuador phone numbers.  We're thankful we have high-speed internet and can still stay in touch with our family and friends back in the USA.  In the evening, we will be going to DiBacco's for dinner to meet a couple whom I've been corresponding with for a few weeks.  It will be nice to finally meet them in person.

It was another day in Cuenca paradise.  I can't wait to get up and juice that yummy produce.  Time for more sleep.