Cuenca holidays will showcase hundreds of vendors; Chordeleg celebrates UNESCO recognition; Taste of France; New hospital will offer doctor’s visit for $10
Bored?
Fiesta cultural en Chordeleg – Chordeleg is preparing to celebrate its 8th anniversary as a Ciudad Creativa de la Unesco
en Artesanías y Arte Popular (UNESCO Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art). The activities will start el domingo, 26/10 a las 10:00 with the “Chorde Urbano” contest in the Musmus sector and in the terminal terrestre. The event continues el viernes, 31/10 with the opening of the Feria Productiva, Artesanal, Lúdica y Creativa (Productive, Artesanal, Recreational, and Creative Fair) at 9:00; an exhibit of art and filigree in the Museo Municipal Casa González at 10:00; a civic parade, also at 10:00; a solemn session in the Santa María de la Esperanza School at 13:00; and an international vallenato show with artist Luis Mateus in the Plaza José María Vargas at 20:00. On el sábado, 1/11, there will be a festival of popular games and a shoe fair <Aha! Now that got my attention. Me and Imelda Marcos — there’s no such thing as too many shoes.>. On el domingo, 2/11, there will be a wooden car festival, the 4th festival of dance and ballet, and a special tribute to the Día de los Difuntos.
Cuenca’s independence holidays will feature hundreds of events, including crafts fairs throughout the city.
Ferias, espacios para celebrar y emprender – As part of the 205th anniversary of the Independence of Cuenca, the 9th edition of the “Siente el Amor por Cuenca” will be from el 31/10 to el 4/11 with over 200 vendors offering products and services from food and jewelry to ceramics, leather and glass products, goldsmithing, wrought iron, textiles, decorative art, and more. The locations for the vendors will be in the Calle de Artista, Plaza San Francisco, Plaza de San Sebastián, Portal Artesanal, Av. 12 de Abril (across from the Parque de la Madre), El Carbón (Otorongo sector), Plaza de Santo Domingo, Plaza de San Blas, Paseo 3 de Noviembre, and Av. Federico Malo. The hours will be from 9:00-21:00.
Viernes Salesiano – The Universidad Politécnica Salesiana (UPS) will have a special edition of its traditional Viernes Cultural Salesiano on el 31/10 a las 10:30. The “Noche de Mariachis” will honor the Independence of Cuenca in the Teatro P. Carlos Crespi with the mariachi bands Mariachi Veracruz, Sol de América, and Mariachi Huasteca. Free.
Hungry?
Un toque francés en Cuenca – Of all the gastronomic options Cuenca has, one of the most asked for are those inspired by France.
Loira is a French restaurant on the 2nd floor of the Casa San José on Mariscal Sucre y Hermano Miguel. Owner Romain de Lamar has lived in Ecuador since 2016. He started his career in a Michelin starred restaurant in Paris and moved to Ecuador and worked in Salinas, then in Guayaquil. From there he moved to Cuenca and opened Loira which offers classic dishes such as French onion soup, lomo fino with green pepper sauce and deboned trout stuffed with an anise mousse. More innovative dishes include Foie Gras with dried fruits chutney, frog legs, duck breast, and lamb. There is also a wine list with vintages from France, Spain, Argentina, Italy and Chile as well as a delicious selection of desserts. Every domingo, Loira has a brunch buffet for $29 per person which includes breads, soups, juices, cheeses, cured meats as well as sweet and salty dishes most representative of French cuisine. <French fries? French toast? French green beans? French vanilla ice cream? I’m starting to feel like Bubba in Forrest Gump.>
Le Bistro, founded by Thomas Bacle y Cecilia Correa in the Seminario San Luis, was created to combine their passion for French food with their love for Cuenca. The menu from chef Erika Bastidas includes beef burgundy, cassoulet, crepes, and quiches. Most of their dishes are made from local products and French cheeses. The specialty of the restaurant is its pastry shop with fresh breads and desserts daily.
Curious?
Consulta en el nuevo hospital valdrá USD 10 (A consultation at the new hospital will cost $10.) – <This is for all of you who are uninsured and might want cheap medical attention.> The new Municipal Hospital in El Valle in the Guncay sector will offer general and specialized medical consultations for $10. The project will be delivered el 2/11 and start providing services to the community in diciembre. Construction is currently 85% complete, and the hospital will have consulting rooms, labs, a pharmacy, hospital beds, an ICU unit and other spaces. The hospital will be administered by the Fundación Municipal de la Mujer y el Niño. Fabián Zamora, General Director of the foundation, said it is filling the first 76 positions of the total 120 jobs from a list of 12,000 applicants. <So it would seem, if the positions aren’t filled with important peoples’ cousins and nephews and in-laws, that you’d be getting medical care from the top 1%.>
