Monday, November 11, 2013

November 1 to 10- Wonderful New Happenings in Salinas


In the last few months, Salinas has had some wonderful new stuff going on.

 Remember back in April I was lamenting having no exercise/yoga classes, well, now we do. A wonderful young woman called Rowan from the US who lives in Salinas now with her husband and young son, is giving  yoga classes every Tuesday and Thursday 8:30AM to 9:30 right across the street from us at the Hotel Amira. The location may change soon- still a walk from our house- but the intense but much needed exercise and stretching will stay the same. Below is her Facebook page regarding the yoga- Yogarobics: Fitness Fusion Fun

https://www.facebook.com/groups/545430385493649/

                                                                     Rowan leading our class

There is also a new Salinas Cultural Society whose members are into photography, painting, quilting, acting, you name it, there will be a place for you. Facebook page below:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Salinas-Cultural-Society/229899337134350

 I joined and attended the second meeting at Chris & Pia’s house. They have a beautiful house in Salinas full of Chris’ amazing paintings- more on this later. At this particular meeting we had a world renowned sculptor and his wife, Paul and Alicia Palacios, join us. He has some amazing works all over Ecuador including this one in front of the Santa Elena church.

 
We look forward to his participation and hope that he will provide some instruction for us all.

During this meeting we achieved a lot. Picked a president – Donna & Terry joint- a new secretary- Raquel -and some of us were assigned parts- not me-LOL- in a play which we will be performing at the end of January.

                                                             A picture of our entire group

 
Last Saturday, those people interested in photography met Mary on the Malecon at 7AM. Yes, you read right, 7AM. Something about the light being better at that time- LOL

We walked along the many back streets in the poorer barrios and we all took some great pictures- eve me with my cheap underwater camera.
                                                                Some of our group
 
 
 
Mary tends to be friendly to everyone and after telling one little older lady what a beautiful garden she had (in Spanish of course) we were all invited in and allowed to take all the photos we wanted.
                                                                  Mary, our group leader

 
                                                                  Our very friendly hostess

 
                                                 Her beautiful flowers all over her tiny yard


 
                                                              And chickens for eggs

 
The people in these back barrios are very poor but so amazingly friendly. This woman knew none of us but invited us into her home to show off what little she owned. Now this is why I love this country!!

On November 1, we had a fund raiser at ‘Smokin’ Restaurant to raise money for Christmas for the 86 kids in Buene Fuente school. We will be buying gifts for each child plus providing a Christmas dinner on December 12th. This was organized by our friend Babs who is an amazing organizer and a wonderful person. Sixty people attended the dinner of which the majority of $$ was donated back into the fund plus many more people came to bid at the silent auction. 
 
 
 
 
 At the auction, Uwe and I bid on a dinner at Smokin plus one of Chris’ amazing paintings. The price of the painting kept going up but I was determined to have it. Uwe went to the ATM machine and after putting down one more bid, WE WON!!!

                                                       My painting and Chris & I

 
                                        My painting in my black/white/gray newly renovated kitchen

 
During the second week in November we also started an English Class for the vendors/restaurant workers-or  anyone who needed some English dealing with visitors. This was organized by our friend Mary and the Capitan of the Salinas Coast Guard. Over 40 people had signed up for the twice weekly lessons – Tuesday and Thursday 5PM to 7-and many of my fellow expats plus Ecuadorian friends had come to teach or help translate.

                                                         Here are a few of our students .  

 
                  And our expat and Ecuadorian friends who are volunteering to teach.

 
I was teaching a young man called Jose who worked at one of the restaurants along the Malecon

I had a wonderful time learning as much Spanish as he was learning English. What a wonderful opportunity for all us retirees.

We are also involved in one more Christmas project. This one involves an extended family of 49 person, 23 of whom are under 16 years of age. On my friend Mike’s advice- they are neighbors of his- we are adopting this family for Christmas and providing needed staple groceries plus fun items ( cakes/ turkeys/ cookies etc.), hygienic products( tooth brushes, paste, shampoo, soap etc.) and toys/clothing for all the children. I am so impressed with the help I am receiving from our Salinas community and from my friends & family back in Canada and the USA.

                                                          This is the home all 49 people live in

 
More news regarding our Christmas projects will be covered in later posts.

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