#3350: Saturday, March 1, 2025

Post 3350

- 14 years and 60 days since I started this blog -

Travel Journal

(written February 27-March 1, 2025)

Read this once, it won't change for the rest of the trip(s): 

I'll be linking this post to Facebook. If that's how you got here, here's some background: About 14 years ago I started this blog as a food journal. I had a Type-2 Diabetes diagnosis, and needed to lose weight. Initially, that's all I did here: Journal my food intake and my weight. It contributed to a loss of 20+% of my body weight in 6 months, and continuing has kept me on track since. I started adding commentary after a while, but recently it has been a food journal only. Except when I travel (every Winter).

While I'm traveling, I let go of the weight-tracking and food journaling (except for food photos when I've eaten something interesting or pretty). I write about my experiences, and use it as a photo dump. And that's where we find ourselves now.

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Note: I was originally going to publish this on Februrary 27, but for a couple of good reasons, I decided to hold off. First, I went to a concert on the evening of the 27th that I wanted to include, because I didn't really have that much to write about. Then, the 28th also held an event I wanted tw write about, and was also boycott day. So, we have today's post. Maybe my last for this trip. This Wednesday, March 5, is my last day in Cuenca, I'll be going to the airport at the crack of dawn Thursday, with a fourteen-hour trip to LA (flight time - there are four flights, three multi-hour layovers). 

Last post I mentioned the unusually wet weather Cuenca was 'enjoying'. Since that post, there has been almost no relief. The only time of day free of rain has been the morning, and if you know me, you know that means I'm sleeping through the ony dry part of the day.

So, I have fewer new pictures to share. 

A performing highlight of my trip was definitely the bittersweet going-away party for Judas Bonvin, the flute and sax player I met in Claudia's Blues Enigma Band. Over the last three years I've also seen him in his own band, the Judas Project, as well as guesting in other bands and busking. He's moving to his native country, Argentina.

I was thrilled when he invited me to play the last half of the Judas Project's set at his going-away party, here at Bistro Yaku, which stayed open on a Sunday afternoon for the event (usually closes Sunday afternoon until Tuesday morning)..

I was especially excited because I was going to (finally) get to play with drummer Francisco Polo, who I first heard last year. He knocked me out - easily the best drummer I've heard in Cuenca, and one of my favorite drummers, period.

The gig/party, which lasted for almost five hours, was a sellout - standing room only. I had a great time, and got a lot of great feedback when it was done.

Every afternoon since (and most before) has been rained out. I've used the rainy days to watch some movies/tv, smoke weed and do my taxes, which have now been filed.

A few nights later, I got to attend one of the best concerts I've seen outside the US. Friend Su Terry, an internationally known jazz musician, bandleader and author gave a brilliant concert, featuring her quartet and a string quartet on a few numbers. I'm not absolutely certain but I believe Su composed all the music and did all the arrangements. It was wonderful!

The next day, I got to go to my friends Laura and Randy's Carnaval party (did I mention that this is Carnaval weekend?) in Paute, about an hour's drive East of Cuenca. They have a gorgeous house in Paute, and I've been there, but three years ago they bought this nearby farm, and have been building it up ever since, and are planning to move to it soon. If I weren't the city boy I've always been, this could be something like Paradise, but I'm tremendously lucky to have friends with a gorgeous setup like this, for me to visit.

Still in a good mood, still enjoying my stay.

On to the photos:

People Pics

Bistro Yaku: Goodbye, Judas Bonvin

Playing with the Blues Enigma Band (above) at the party for flute and saxaphonist Judas, one of my best Cuencano musician friends. Below, a couple of iPhone videos of me playing with his group, the Judas Project, featuring (at least for me), the drumming of Francisco Polo. who is also leaving, but in a couple of months. These two performances are my playing highlight for this winter's travels (so far).

Carnaval At Laura and Randy's Farm

All the pictures above are from Laura and Randy's Carnaval party in Paute. Top to bottom: Me, Anthony, Sue Terry, and her husband John. Middle: Anthony admiring the view at the Kimmick's farm. Bottom: On my right, a German woman whose name it took me less than six hours to forget (my bad - I'm notoriously, and historically/hysterically - bad with names),  She had the cutest puppies I'be seen in years. That's Su Terry on my left. 

Wandering

Paute - Laura and Randy's Farm

Laura and Randy's farm is gorgeous. The photos don't do it justice, nor do they show every view, or even all the different parts of the farm: In addition to the vegetables grown, there are ducks, sheep, a cow, chickens, cuy, koi, and tilapia. I met a wonderful couple that lives in a brick poolhouse across the tilapia pond from the main compound (bottom picture). An absolutely wonderful estate.

A couple of shots after the Carnaval parade was over.

The chocolate waterfall and candy bar display at the Pacari Casa de Cocoa Café. When I got here this year, they were completely sold out of every chocolate bar. I checked back every week, and they finally were restocked - five days before I'm leaving. And, they didn't have my two favorite flavors (chili and sea salt with cacao nibs). So it goes. 

Su Terry's Jazz de Barro

This was a very special event for me. Of the performers, I had only heard Su and Christian, the bassist before. Everyone was excellent. Su composed and arranged the music, first with her quarted, then a string quartet was added. I was moved by what I heard, and, at times, transported fifty years back to when I was a regular at Slugs and the Village Vanguard, digging the jazz performances of the Sun Ra Arkestra and Rahsaan Roland Kik's band. Yes, that good.

Food

A beautiful, delicious and unusual lasagna bolognese from Pizza Mediterraneo Restaurante Italiano. Instead of the 3-inch high stack I'm accustomed to, this was a third as high, but covered the whole plate. No lack of food, it was more than I could eat at one sitting. 

I think I've shown this dish (not this photo, though) before. It is an off-menu item, Rob's Special, at Bistro Yaku, and it is one of the best breakfasts I've ever eaten: A vegetable omelette, steak, avocado and a mixed salad. So nice, I had to show it twice. (PS: Yes, there is a Ken's Special, but it comes on two plates and has proven to be difficult to photograph).

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