Bus companies reduce hours as fare hike talks stall; Conaie strike raises prices at city mercados; Fonseca in concert; Julio María Matovelle’s life on exhibit

Bored?
Fonseca promete “fiesta inolvidable” – Colombian singer Fonseca is bringing his “Topicalia Tour” which has been acclaimed in places such as Colombia, the US, Central America, and European cities to Ecuador with concerts in Guayaquil and Cuenca. The show fuses cumbia, vallenato and Caribbean rhythms. It will be in Guayaquil el jueves, 2/10 a las 20:00 in the Coliseo Voltaire Paladines Polo and then in Cuenca el viernes 3/10 a las 21:00 in the Coliseo Jefferson Pérez. His band will have 12 musicians.

The program will include many of his classic songs as well as new singles. Tickets are available at www.ticketshow.com.ec and payments can be deferred for up to 10 months without interest with Produbanco cards. <Do you really need to go to this show if it’s going to take you almost a year to pay for it?> You can also get tickets at the Sala de Bolos at the Mall del Río. Ticket levels are general, preferred, and box. <No prices given so my guess is they’re going to be really expensive.>

The national strike is boosting prices at Cuenca’s seven public markets.

Exposición de arte destaca a Julio Matovelle – The Museo de la Catedral Vieja de Cuenca is planning an exhibit titled “Dos corazones, una nación: arte y fe, inspirados por Julio María Matovelle about the life and work of the Cuencano priest. The exhibit will open el 7/10 and run for a month. It will use modern technological tools to offer an innovative experience in which a virtual tour will complement the physical exhibit. There will be many religious works belonging to the reserve of the Congregación de Padres Oblatos. School and other groups should go to the administration of the Cathedral to make reservations. Cost: $3.

Curious?
No habrá buses urbanos después de las 20:00 – The Cámara de Transporte de Cuenca changed its schedule el noche de martes, and suspended night service in Cuenca after 20:00 or 20:30 due to a lack of resources and subsidies. The CTC said that the demand at those hours does not permit the operators to cover their operating costs. Diego Idrovo, president of the CTC said he met with Mayor Zamora and has been asking for a fare adjustment for at least 2 years and did a study a year ago for the fare adjustment. He also said that the CTC is waiting for the National Government to transfer $700 per bus which was offered as compensation for removing the subsidy on diesel and that the current 30 cent fare plus 4 cent subsidy is not sustainable with companies running in the red. The U. of Cuenca suspended in person classes after 19:00. <So if you’re in the habit of going out at night and depend on the bus, better make your destinations within walking distance, lean on friends with cars, or shell out for taxi fare.

Pocos productos y caros – The current situation in Ecuador has gotten more complicated. In the last few days the national strike has increased its impact with multiple road closures along roads connecting the country. Highways norht and south of Azuay Province are blocked. Vendors in the markets are seriously concerned since products such as plantain, yuca, tomatoes, onions, and others have decreased, causing increases in prices. One vendor said she used to buy a sack of oranges with 180 to 200 fruits for $20 and now they cost $25. She also said products such as plantains from the coast that used to cost $1 for 3 are 4 now cost $.50 each. Other vendors had the same experiences for different products. <You know that the minute you stock up on perishables, the strike will end the next day. Better buy a big soup pot while you’re stocking up.>

Diego Cedillo, director of Mercados de Cuenca visited various mercados and platforms and said that as of now, there is not a total shortage and sales are proceeding normally. But he did recognize price increases, especially in products from other provinces. Vendors buy directly from producers who come from the Coast, northern Sierras, and Amazonia. The strike and the increase in diesel have affected this dynamically. He said that so far basic necessities are available, but could not say how long this will last. Cuenca has 7 mercados <a gold star if you can name all 7>, 7 itinerant platforms, and 4 plazas with sales being maintained in normal conditions. <Abnormal would be food riots?>