On Tuesday, May 24th, 10:55am in Atlanta, Georgia, we boarded the plane, ultimate destination.......Cuenca! With 6 suitcases in tow, and two carry-ons, we felt more like over packed vacationers instead of new retirees about to start an expat adventure. The reality that we were headed to a new life seemed surreal. After 5 days in Cuenca, we're beginning to realize we really are home.
Our three bedroom, two bath apartment, located in a beautiful building overlooking the river, sits unfurnished. With nowhere to stay, one of the ex-pats we've been corresponding with on line for the past nine months kindly invited us to stay at his apartment until our place is move in ready. Ken Merena has been in Cuenca for nine months and loves it. Fluent in Spanish, he has been a tremendous help and has become a good friend. His apartment boasts gorgeous views of the Andes mountains and this beautiful, historic city.
When the plane landed at the airport, Ken and I both felt Cuenca was even more beautiful than we remembered! The sun was shining, and there was a gentle breeze with temperatures in the low 70's. We praised the Lord for a safe trip and all six pieces of luggage in our possession. How we were able to fit our clothes, sheets, towels, kitchen items, toiletries, and more, in six suitcases is a miracle within itself. Talk about simplifying your life!
Friday, we bought the first items for our apartment! On our ex-pat blogs, we heard about a place called Su Casa, where many ex-pats shop. Our friend Ken brought us there and much to our delight, there was a great sale. Being the frugal folks we are, we purchased a set of dishes and place mats. What a thrill!
We also shopped along side Ken in the supermarket called Supermaxi. It was clean, large, and very well organized. The produce was beautiful, and the prices extremely reasonable for most items. Imported items were high priced. The major difference between this market and those in the US, was the limited choices for each item. We couldn't help but notice how very friendly and helpful the staff were. You're not allowed to bag your own items. All of your parcels are placed in a special cart and wheeled out by one of the staff to the curb where they help you flag down a taxi and load your groceries. The $.50 tip is very much appreciated and produces a broad smile.
Can't wait to share one of my most favorite things about Cuenca! Come on back now, you hear!
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