Pig Hooves and Cow Stomach Linings

On Sunday afternoon I was walking with my new friend Tom when I casually remarked about the weather. It had not rained since the previous Monday. And by that I mean it hadn't rained much. Don't be mistaken: it rains every day, but the showers had been brief and light and the rest of the days had been sunny and cool. Dress shirt and jeans by day, jacket by night, no umbrella necessary.

The casual remark might have been a mistake because Monday the clouds rolled over the mountains and its been primarily overcast since, save the early mornings. Rain has been consistent in the evenings. Perhaps we were just having a respite. The rainy season is in full swing and apparently the heaviest rains fall in April and May. June, I hear, is spectacular.

Nevertheless its hasn't been a bad week. I've enjoyed my classes, started a spanish class of my own, and have had plenty of time to cook and relax. The terrace, I'm sad to say, has been largely inaccessible due to weather, but the mornings are usually clear enough to do some stretches and exercises in the sun. There is a rooster, living atop a nearby building, who I fear might be narcoleptic. He crows incessantly, and its not just when the sun comes out either. It's just about every 5 minutes each morning. Maybe this is normal. This Okie never lived on a farm.

This looks to be another grand weekend. The founding of Cuenca is April 12 (Saturday) and supposedly this city really comes alive. Cuenca will be 451 years old and I wish it all the best. My birthday follows two days after this, which makes me feel admittedly miffed. Oh well. I'll try to make the best of it, maybe ride the coattails of the city and pretend it's all about me.

P.S. The title of this post is in reference to the lunches I ate the past two days. Not as delicious as it sounds, nor as funny. Kinda pissed me off, actually. Serves me right for not knowing how to read the menu. Oh, and the photo is a view of my building from across the river. My terrace is above those orange umbrellas. The other picture is a shot down the river walkway. Obviously a nice place to take a stroll when its sunny.