RENTALS IN CUENCA ECUADOR - SIMON BOLIVAR - A View From My Window!

A VIEW FROM MY WINDOW

My office is in a room with a fabulous view of the old Cathedral.  The sounds of a busy city fill my ears while I spend time at my desk each day.   Its been almost four months of being El Centro apartment dwellers, and city noise is now so familiar and an almost pleasant sound for me.  Strange, how after living 39 years in the quiet peacefulness of a country setting, I actually enjoy the extreme contrast of living in a city apartment overlooking one of the main and busy streets of Cuenca - Simon Bolivar.  The constant sounds of night traffic rushing by, the continual bleeping of the corner's changing street light, click-clacking heels and rushing steps of passing pedestrians walking beneath my window, Spanish chatter and laughter, yelling vendors, the rare sound of a crying child, and the sudden sound of a triggered car alarm blaring until someone finally deactivates it are a few of the constant noises I listen to as I sit at my desk and wonder why this extremely different lifestyle is so okay with me.

Maybe it's a part of the adventure of living here - something completely different than how it used to be back in the states.  Living in constant noise vs. living in ultimate peacefulness, walking along streets crowded with passersby vs. walking along solitary country roads, riding taxis and buses vs. having the independence of my own vehicle, Smelling city bus fumes vs. smelling fresh country air, city apartment living vs. a 100+ year old to-die-for country home, paying monthly rent vs. living in a mortgage-free house, Listening to and speaking Spanish more than English vs speaking and hearing familiar English, not working anymore vs. being productive and earning a living, starting all over in unfamiliar territory vs. having 39 years of predictability and a sense of security.  Why?  I still ask myself, why?  Then I answer myself, why not?  Why not do something completely different and opposite - something so beyond my wildest imagination and something I couldn't even wrap my mind around when my  husband suggested it back in 2009 - expating!

Things change!  Sometimes not for the better.  Health issues suddenly appear.  The changing economy destroys security and plans and dreams.  Loss of jobs.  Aging and living in a rut.  Questions about sudden and unexpected changes arise.  Some begin to look outside their box and take big risks.  Others work things out right where they are - or they don't.  Still, things change!  They changed for us.  Unlike some, we embrace change - but this was big.  Am I sorry I'm here living in a city apartment?  Not really.  I do miss aspects of my life, my beautiful home, and especially my mom back in Oregon.  But, there's so much I don't miss.  I ask myself, am I really content here in Cuenca?  I can answer honestly, today, yes.  Life for me anymore is day by day.  I don't know if I'll feel the same in a week, a month, a year, or five.  Today, yes I'm content here.  It's about the journey - the adventure.  There's a big world out there.  Cuenca is my world for now.  Early, from my upper window, I watch the city waking up and beginning to rush by.  I watch the people walking by.  I watch the workers and the vendors doing their daily work to earn their "plata" so they can care for their families and eat.  Sometimes I sit on the window sill and just watch.  Then I wonder, "Who is that person?  Where is he/she going this early in the morning?  Where do they live?  Who is their family and what is their family life like?  Are they content?  Is this the rest of their life?"

Late at night, I listen from my desk as the city noise gradually subsides the later it gets.  Still, there are the occasional sounds of cars driving by, late-night walkers passing by, always the never-ending sound of the corner street light bleeping, and the occasional distant sound of a horn honking.  Finally, Cuenca sleeps!

I'm thankful that I've had wonderful opportunities in my life, including several out-of-the-ordinary adventures.  I count living in Cuenca as another opportunity and adventure and one I'm glad my husband and I both decided to finally do together, in spite of the obstacles, challenges, and doubts we've faced and will continue to experience along the way.  We live here now, city dwellers, and each day will add something new to embrace and be thankful for - all a part of life's journey.

LOOKING OUT MY WINDOW 

Last night while at my desk, I could hear a loud generator running as the evening street cleaners scrubbed and power washed the city sidewalks below my open window.  Was it loud?  Very! 

But when I went to the window and poked my head out, I smiled knowing these "yellow men" were working hard to keep my Cuenca city clean.

The first thing I do when I arise every morning is walk over to my office room, pull up the wooden blinds to let the bright light in and open the window to let in the sounds of the early morning city.  I will hear church bells chiming in the background and the familiar sounds of another busy day beginning....

A door-to-door news vendor is carrying Cuenca's periodico "El Mercurio" with the day's headline, "EL PAPA ES LATINO" (The Pope is Latin).  Her working day has begun.....

I love watching this corner street vendor from my window.  She sits there all bundled up from early morning until late evening selling her magazines and papers.  Her location is prime and her sales are constant.

This fruit vendor is rushing to her daily spot somewhere along the city streets.

On the way to her regular location she stops and sells her fruit to the corner newspaper vendor..... 

..........her fruit sale is completed and she scurries down the busy street below my window to who knows where!

I enjoy living in the heart of El Centro and getting acquainted with new streets, hidden shops, interesting people, hard-working vendors, and embracing the noise and energy each new day brings.  Yes. Noisy Busy City Living.  It's right for us, today!

Cuenca's El Centro Sidewalks - CUIDADO (BE CAREFUL!!)

The Sidewalks of El Centro

Jagged pipe sticking out of sidewalk right in the path of a doorway!

 In the USA, the sidewalks of El Centro would be a lawsuit waiting to happen!  No words can help to visually describe the unexpected obstacles and hazardous objects protruding along the sidewalks and streets.  One has to come here and experience it for themselves.  It's a miracle I haven't yet broken a leg or taken a nose dive, and only because of Bo continually watching out for me and catching me many times.  Even when I'm paying attention, I find myself tripping along, catching myself from hitting the bricks, and I'm constantly amazed at how clumsy and unsteady I feel in my daily walking treks through the city.

I've learned to wear the proper shoes for long walks.  I've learned to be more cautious about paying attention when I'm sight-seeing along the way.  A friend gave me some good advice.  She says she stops when she wants to look at something (that's because she learned this after breaking her foot her first week here - ouch!)  Bo and I are continually amazed and have to laugh when we see yet another crazy object to add to the many we've become used to and cautious of.

I had to take an afternoon and go out and photograph what I'm talking about here.  In all my researching to learn about Cuenca before Bo and I came here, I never read anything nor saw any photos of the condition of the historic streets and sidewalks.  Therefore, I've focused on taking closeups so someone never having been here can be forewarned.  When you first walk these streets, keep your eyes ahead and continually looking down before you take each step.  Do not look up without stopping!  Pay attention!!  They don't do lawsuits here - so you won't be collecting from the city if you take a nose dive and injure yourself.

I love that there are no city ordinances for every little thing, no permits, warning signs, rules and regulations that make one feel like they have little freedom or that give them an open option to sue.  Even though there are death traps along the streets of El Centro, there is a freedom in our steps knowing that we are responsible, and that's a good thing!

Ecuadorian women love their tacones altos (high heels)!  These are nothing compared to some of the heels I've seen click clacking down the hazardous streets.  Well-dressed women fly by the pipes and holes and uneven sidewalks.  Not me, I'm in my athletic shoes!

I'll be walking along an even-tiled walkway and all of a sudden!

This little girl is looking down and paying attention!

Double Whammy - A pipe and a whatever that is! 

Athletic shoes, business shoes, and more tacones altos rushing through the surprise streets of Cuenca.

These two rows of concrete posts are to keep the traffic in line - I think!  I saw a gentleman actually trip over one of these.  He did, however, catch himself.

Sidewalks will suddenly narrow (PHOTOS above and below), and some will have to pass by via the street.  Just hope a bus, taxi or car doesn't come too close to the curb!

I hope this pedestrian isn't looking up!

The balls (whatever they're supposed to be for) are no longer in these three places, BUT, the protruding spikes are.  Did they leave them there for decoration?  I think NOT!

(PHOTO above and below) Holes like this are everywhere on the street of El Centro.  If you're not wearing athletic shoes or flat-sole shoes, CUIDADO!

This walker has enough sidewalk area to go around.  There used to be a tree growing here, surrounded by fencing, but it must have died and they forgot to fill in the hole and level it out - again I think!

 Okay, that's my story on the sidewalks of El Centro - and my message to those coming here for the first time (or second, or third.....).  Don't say I didn't warn you!!!