Miércoles, 9/11/2016: Number of doctors in Ecuador up 135%, Electric bus talks

Hola, Todos – 

Pagina cultural –

Today’s agenda events –

Foro (Forum) – There wsas a forum to talk about Cuenca Wed. in La Terraza.

Upcoming agenda events –

Danza – The Compañia de Danza Contemporánea of the U. of Cuenca is premiering the work “De abandonos, encierros y soledades” (Of abandonment, confinement and solitude)  (That sounds like a stray dog in the pound.  I’m guessing this is not going to be a happy dance.).  It will be Thurs. at 19:00 in the Alianza Francesa.  Free.

Magia – There will be a magic show on viernes at 20:00 in the Teatro Casa de la Cultura with DDiamantes, MMagoo & Jgonzalez.  Tickets in La Fornace.

Música – The band, “La trova de Édgar” will play bolero, jazz, salsa son, rumba and latin pop on viernes at 21:00 in República Sur (Pres. Córdova 5-55).

Articles about –

Feria de Arte AQ Quito – The art fair organized by the Pontifica Universidad Católica del Ecuador (PUCE) opened Wed. in Quito.  Artists can show their work either as an individual or as a gallery.  About 50 artists are participating including several from Cuenca and abroad.

Ceramics workshop – Mau Macedo, a professor at the U. of Okayama in Japan and an expert in prehistoric South and Central American ceramics, gave a workshop in the studio of José Encalada in the Convencion del 45.  He spoke about Japanese ceramics, some of which are similar to those produced here, and about Chinese ceramics.

Short film contest – The Consejo de la Judicatura (Judiciary Council – here’s where you need a real translator who could tell you what the equivalent council is in English.  All I can do is translate each word literally.) is inviting students in design, communications and visual arts to make short films that contribute to peaceful co-existence and a culture of peace.  Go to lucescamarapaz@gmail.com to submit your work before 2/12.

Theater/circus – The show will include airdancing or air acrobatics, trapeze artists, lira (the artist manipulates a big hoop from the inside), and clowns.  It will pre-premiere Thurs. at 19:30 in the auditorium of the Museo Municipal de Arte Moderno (MMAM).   (So is a pre-premiere like a dress rehearsal?)

Opening – Artist Paula Montesinos will opened her show in the Galería de la Alcaldía.

Otras cosas – 

Titular – Trump is U.S. president-elect. I’m sure your info on the elections is much more current. (I’m self medicating with chocolate and some single malt I’ve been saving for a time of great need. I don’t think I can make it last through the next 4 years, though.)

Vía a Guangras será realidad (Road to Guangras will be a reality) – This community has been trying to get a road for 16 years.  The nearest road is a 5 hour walk or horse ride away. In 6 months there will be a road that is carrozable (motorable  your word for the day.  And that carro better have 4 wheel drive.)

Médicos – The number of doctors in Ecuador has increased 135% from 2015 (?). In 2005 there were 12,492 doctors and in 2015 there were 29,374.  There are currently 18.04 doctors for every 10,000 residents. Specialists in the country include 4,686 dentists, 1,237 psychologists, 16, 931 nurses, and 2,148 obstetricians.

Electric buses – A Chinese locomotive company (it seems to have branched out since its naming) met with the board of the Cámera de Transporte de Cuenca to offer to sell and finance electric buses.  The head of the Municipal Transit Department said that the city has the conditions to incorporate electric buses which could operate on “horizontal” routes.  (If you’re up in the hills your bus will probably still be diesel.) He said that after negotiations with the Government, there will be a study completed by the end of the year about implementing the electrical infrastructure to power the buses.  (Good thing there are all those hydroelectric power plants coming on line. Sounds like that was the plan all along.  Build them and the customers will come.)

Bus route – The number 12 line (Baños-Quinta Chica) went back to its original route where it turns from Vega Muñoz to Juan Montalvo.

Textbooks – Complaints about the lack of textbooks is continuing more than 2 months into the school year.  Many students have not received the book kits or they have been incomplete, and parents are suffering economic hardship in order to make copies of the books.

Matriculation – The numbers of vehicles registered in Cuenca rose from 2014 to 2015, and then fell this year.  The total number in 2014 was 84,176 and rose to 89,864 in 2015.  Year to date registrations are 72,376 in 2014, 79,332 in 2015 and 75,517 this year.  The Genl Mgr of EMOV explained that many people go out of town to register their vehicles to avoid the Vehicle Inspection and the Tasa Solidaria (road improvement tax) even though they do all their driving (and polluting) in Cuenca. There are about 111,000 parking spaces in the city.

Amenidades – 

Beauty contest – The contestants for “Miss Turismo Latino Internacional” are in Azuay.  They spent yesterday in Gualaceo and Chordeleg and will be in Cuenca tomorrow.  The election of Señorita Cultura and Mejor Traje Típico (Miss Culture and Best Traditional Costume) will be in the Museo de la Ciudad and the final election gala will be on sábado, 1/11 at 20:00 in the Hostería Caballo Campana.

And that´s all for today so Hasta Mañana –

Jeanne