Free jazz concert in the plaza behind Iglesia Todos Santos We continue to be amazed by the amount of free music around Cuenca. A couple nights ago we were walking towards a restaurant and heard a band tuning up. We wandered over a block and found a hard rock band playing on a temporary stage […]
Another Brick in the Wall
The Cuenca Symphony had their first concert of the year tonight and, as always, it was free admission. This is a full size, professional symphony on caliber with any other city in the world. There were 54 musicians on stage, about half string and half horns. The program was varied, running from the classics of […]
Baptism Parade
Iglesia La Merced was the starting point for today’s parade celebrating the Baptism of Jesus Yet Another Parade is almost becoming a mantra around here. Seems every week (day?) we walk out the front door and find a parade under way or in the making. Today it happened again. After yesterday’s small parade and the […]
Jazz Society
Free music is available pretty much any Wednesday through Saturday night in several clubs in town. Tonight we went with some friends to La Vina, where The Jazz Society plays regularly. They are a volunteer jam group that has often have visiting musicians join them when in town. The big names tonight were “Sweet Sue” […]
Evil Is Only Fantasy
The banner says “if there is love, evil is only fantasy” Yesterday was the annual Fiesta de los Inocentes, or “Party for the Innocents.” Originally it was meant to commemorate when Herod decreed that all male children under 2 years old should be killed, after he had heard of the birth of Jesus. Historically, the […]
La Merced Niño Parade
We left the house today heading toward a major festival (see tomorrow’s post for details). As soon as we were on the street we heard music and started walking towards it. We had stumbled upon yet another small parade. We hit these by accident throughout the year. We have never been able to find a […]
Subdued New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Eve day was warm with just enough clouds to add character to the sky New Year’s Eve this year was rather subdued, when compared to last year. All the same activities were there, but fewer of each. Fewer effigies in doorways and on car tops. Fewer neighborhood competition displays. Fewer firecrackers. Fewer fires. […]
Music Everywhere
Brian Gary performing at LaParola We have always enjoyed live music in small intimate surroundings, but we really have rarely gone to them. In Berkeley there were plenty of venues, but they required us getting into a car, driving to a specific destination, finding a parking place, listening to (usually expensive) music, then reversing the […]
Rockets, Dancing, Waffles and Birds
Before we get into today’s adventures, I thought I would give a quick rundown of the progress of my broken ankle. I have been free of any crutches or cane for three weeks now, and can walk unassisted. Progress the first couple weeks was so fast that I thought I would be walking fully normally […]
Orchestra Sinfonica de Cuenca
The Cuenca Symphony put on a free Conciertos Navidenos (Christmas Concert) tonight, so we decided to go see them. We had passed the theater many times while walking in the past couple months, but never realized what it was. They were playing at the University theater, about 6 blocks from our apartment. The announcement said […]