Zahra (my seamstress friend) and I drove down to Melindas cute hostel (Pequeo Paraso) to measure for curtains and Mel made the most amazing brunch!
Hello Friends! Fasten your seatbelts because this blog entry has a LOT going on!! Ive tried to put the photos in some sort of order, but my life is kind of right now and so is my brain!! My home patas arriba (paws up) as they say in Espaol which affects my thinking and my daily routine, but Ill make it through. Keeping my eyes on the prize!
I had the good fortune to participate in birthday celebrations with several different friends! Also, special visits from other friends. My social life is reactivating a bit...and it feels good. My seamstress friend, Zahra and I drove a down to just past Rio Verde where Melinda and her partner Franco have a sweet little hostel and campground called Pequeo Paraso. Mel wants to update the hostel rooms so Zahra brought her trusty tape measure to determine what would be needed to spruce up the window dressings and bed covers.
My lovely Israeli friends, Daphna and Rami have lived in Quito almost 10 years but since they often travel internationally, they had never been to Baos!
for guests of the hostel. Three kinds of homemade bread (to die for!!) as well as several spreads made of figs, beets, chochos (lupine beans) and so much more yummy stuff. CiCi had a wonderful time playing with the dogs there and she taught them how to muddy in the marshy creek. OY!! Oh well, it was almost time for a grooming anyways.
A wonderful visit from friends Rami and Daphna, an Israeli couple who have lived in Quito for almost 10 years but had never been to Baos! They travel internationally almost half of every year...to the US to visit grandkids, to Israel to see other family, and they rent an apt in Florence for a month each summer so their Europe friends visit with them. Well, yet another silver lining of COVID - since theyve been unable to travel abroad theyve delved into exploring more of Ecuador.
I had gotten to know Daphna better over the years as we often met for brunch or lunch when we were both in Quito (a rare
When Pam and Carol came to visit from Cuenca, I invited Shana, Julie and Flo for a lovely ladies lunch. Flo and Julie are my yoga buddies 3x a week.
occurence!), but I didnt know Rami as well. A retired pediatric oncologist my first impression of him was that he was rather cerebral and serious...but as we descended the waterfall route, stopping for photos and hikes along the way, I saw his joyful, playful shining through. They were both so excited about discovering the natural marvels surrounding Baos. We shared lovely meals and fun times!!
Baos friends who moved to Cuenca (sisters Carol and Pam) were back for a visit! Theyve hosted me twice in Cuenca since they moved there at the start of the pandemic so the least I could do was to throw a luncheon in their honor. My yoga buddies, Flo and Julie came as well as Shana and I hosted a scrumptious ladies lunch for six. I enjoy entertaining, using my beautiful tableware and making special dishes.
Shanas actual birthday was a sushi lunch...her favorite meal. (scroll to the end of the photos to see pics of her enjoying her sushi). A few weeks after her actual 81st birthday the driving restrictions
We rented a cabaa with private jacuzzi on the edge of the jungle in Misahuall. Heres Shana lounging in her birthday suit!
were lifted so that we could take a trip down towards the jungle. When she first arrived in Ecuador in 1970, Shana lived in Misahuall. We planned to spend her birthday there for several reasons - our favoriteBaos tapas restaurant had moved to Misahuall, and the best hotel/restaurant in Puyo, El Jardn, recently opened a jungle lodge in Misahuall as well.
I booked a luxury cabaa for the three of us (Shana, Maricarmen and me). The booking included dinner and breakfast (world class dining!) and our stunning cabin overlooking the river had a private jacuzzi on the edge of the jungle.
