Viernes, 4/3/2016: Tram back on track, Ambassador dedicates library, Palm fronds, Lots of Events

Hola, Todos – 

Pagina cultural –

I think it’s time for a little clarification of what this column does. It’s translations of the Culture Page and whatever else is in El Mercurio that attracts my attention and that I think other gringos might have some interest in. As far as events, I include the what, when, where and how much IF IT’S IN THE ARTICLE. Sometimes this means reading the thing 4 or 5 times to try and find the info.  If I don’t write it, it isn’t there so don’t bother asking for more info.  If you’re interested enough, you can do some work on your own and go to www.elmercurio.com.ec and look at the article yourself.  Or Google the event.  I don’t do research for anyone.

Upcoming events –

An ad for a conference for women, “Mujer, cuerpo y alma II” (Woman, body, and soul II) will be 8/3 at 18:30 in the Teatro Pumapungo.  Free.

Also see the item below about the Alianza Francesa.

Ongoing or finished events –

The “Art-Toy” exhibit – opens Fri. at 19:00 in the Museo Pumapungo. Free.

A correction to a name published yesterday from Victor Hugo Quito to Victor Hugo Pinto.  (It’s still the Victor Hugo part I wonder about.)

Articles about –

The Alianza Francesa, founded in 1966 to promote cooperation, exchange and dialogue between France and Ecuador.   Events planned for the 50th anniversary include:

OSC – in a concert in homage of the 50 years of the orchestra on 11/3 at 20:00 in the Teatro Pumapungo.

Concert – on Sat, 12/3 at 20:00 in the Teatro Sucre with Gabacho Maroc. The group plays traditional Marrocan instruments with a program including African music, jazz, flamenco and more.

“Música antigua” – (old or ancient music) on Thu, 17/3 at 19:00 in the Catedral Vieja.

Bienal – the curator of the Bienal is in Ecuador visiting 18 artists in 25 workshops in 10 days.  These are the artists on the short list for this years Bienal.

The Centro Ecuatoriano Norteamericano “Abraham Lincoln” – remodeled its library which was inaugurated Fri. afternoon with Todd Chapman, US Ambassador to Ecuador.  The library hours are M-F, 8-12:00 and 15-18:00 (A three hour lunch!  I’d say the gringos who run this center have assimilated to the Ecuadorian lunch hour (s).)

Otras cosas –

Titular – La Minas-Tablón-Pucará, a merced del olvido y la lluvia (La (via) Minas-Tablón-Pucrá, at the mercy of forgetfulness and rain)  The project has been suspended almost a year and the work already done to prepare for paving has been destroyed.  (The front page picture shows nothing but potholes disappearing into the mist, but the photos inside are actually scary.  Like the one lane wood bridge with a guardrail made out of 1×3’s and painted yellow – and that rail doesn’t even run the full length of the bridge, or both sides.)

Permanent residency visas – for people with a Visa No Inmigrante 12 XI granted under the Agreement on Mercosur Residency.  Expats (or are they immigrants? and why did you select one over the other?) from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Paraguay, Perú and Uruguay need to submit an application, have a valid passport with at least 6 months remaining, the 12-XI visa, and proof of economic resources sufficient to support the applicant and family, the previous year’s tax declaration, and criminal history.  Cost: $50.00.  (Hey – I see some gringo pricing here!  How come South Americans can get a visa for only $50?  Huh?  Huh?)

Todays sliver of life article is  – the political cartoon  of the day.  It’s a caricature of Trump with him holding a bag labelled “fortune – $4.5 billions” and a peek into his brain with a price tag of $0.  (And then there’s Correa saying Trump would be so bad that he’d be good for South America – as in an easy common enemy to unite the continent.)

Palm fronds – There will be controls against the sale of palma de cera which take 80 years to reach maturity.  You should use laurel, romero, totora or other plants on Palm Sunday.

Tranvía – work will intensify after an agreement signed between the Tranvía and the “frentistas” (the neighbors fronting the work – might as well be your word for the day.  And “ista” refers to someone associated with the part of the word in front.  It’s gone into English with barista and fashionista, for example.)

Bus changes – due to work on Mariscal Lamar.  The 22, 50 and 28 lines will change and use Vega Muñoz and Juan Montalvo before returning to the normal route.

Amenidades – 

Movies – as usual, go to www.multicines.com.ec for show times and locations.  The following movies open this week.
2D Spotlight – Sub.
2D Punto de Quiebre . Esp.
2D Alfaro vive carajo – Esp.
The following movies are continuing.
2D Revenant/Renacido
3 & 2D Zootopia – Esp.
2D Deadpool – Esp, Sub.
2 & 3D Dioses de Egipto – Esp.
2D Cómo ser soltera – Esp

Lo Crudo y Lo Cocido (The raw and the cooked (Sounds like an Anthony Bourdain title)) – will be on TV this Sun. and feature the gastronomy of Azuay.  At 9:30 on gamatv and at 18:30 on rtv.  (I think it might be a series covering all the provinces in which case you should watch for the coastal provinces like Esmeraldas, Manabí and maybe El Oro.)

(Do any of you go to the movies at the Malls?  If not, I’m not going to translate them.  You can go to the website if you want that big screen, tub of popcorn and reclining chair experience.)

Internacional – 

Perú – There was flooding around Tumbes, in northern Perú after 12 hours of intense rain.

And that´s all for today so Hasta Domingo –

Jeanne