Every time I look at him I burst out laughing – can’t help it; there’s such joy in that face.
Peace
An utterly peaceful feeling comes around when looking at and listening to . . . 
Peas
A wide bucket of peas, once overflowing, for un dolar y cincuenta centanos. When I asked for half a bucket, the woman at Mercado 10 de Agosto shook her head. I decided to not pursue the matter. I do that a lot since it’s tricky to discuss anything when at the level of using only the simplest of words in the language. That’s okay, peas are great for snacks, in sauces, soups, salads, and they won’t spoil quickly. Especially these because they’re so fresh. The one drawback was lugging them around El Centro. That’s not a complaint though, only a fact; a bucketful of peas tend to be heavy. Am I going to complain about anything after just watching the trailer from A Place At The Table with Jeff Bridges at www.UPWORTHY.com? I think not. I’m grateful for that bucketful of peas for $1.50.（＾＿＾）
I’m wishing you all the loveliest of evenings.
I love your style, and everything else about you
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Rain in Cuenca
Lots of rain in Cuenca yesterday, and today the Paucarbamba River is flowing by fast.
a brief encounter with grace
Yesterday as I was walking along Calle Larga, a busy street in Cuenca, looking for Bananas Cafe, I saw a lovely twenty-something woman with a hula hoop. She was dressed in clothes made of long, soft flowing fabric. She, tall and delicate-looking, was one with her hula hoop. Ever so gracefully she was performing in the middle of the street seemingly without a care in the world. It was mid-afternoon, and, at that particular time, everything around her briefly stopped. Then the light changed and we all woke from what seemed a dream.
I have a hula hoop. I’m practicing. She’s my inspiration.
Are you enjoying the day?
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“It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare;
it is because we do not dare that they are difficult.” – Seneca
“Expose yourself to your deepest fear;
After that, fear has no power,
And the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes.
You are free. – Jim Morrison
cafe, tinto, por favor. Gracias.
Nescafe is usually served in many restaurants in Cuenca. I can’t help but wonder how that ever happened. Thankfully, there are two places a few busy blocks from where I live, the El Centro area, that have coffee from Loja, the southern part of Ecuador. And that is something to get really excited about.
walking down the block the smell of coffee attacks. I like that.
It was necessary to substitute my wonderful French Press for what is seen in the pitcher in the photo. That’s when I discovered that as long as quality coffee is put into that little white (well, it used to be white) bag, along with the right coffee to water measurement, the end result is as good as making it in a French Press – a little more work, but worth it.
My Spanish is non-existent at the moment, which means I go along the streets and enter shops unable to ask the simplest of questions.
The young person in the photo next to the coffee grinder works at the cafe where people happily purchase a cup, or a pound. She’s very good at pantomiming, and for now that is our form of communication.
I’m still waiting for the sun to stay long enough to warm an apartment made of stone and cement. It’s chilly in Cuenca, Ecuador. Should you decide to vacation here, bring a few warm clothes, oh, yes, and an umbrella.
Let’s wish each other the loveliest of evenings.
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“Not all who wander are lost.” J.R.R. Tolkien
“Ever since happiness heard your name, it has been running through the streets trying to find you.” – Hafiz
“Emancipate yourself from mental slavery; none but ourselves can free our minds.” – Bob Marley
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into the lives of others
I was perusing Inc magazine while enjoying a good cup of coffee, when I saw on page 64, La Colombe Torrefaction Every Cup An Adventure Tale, and read: “This company shows the passion the owner has for coffee and lengths he’s willing to go to get it. It’s like the Patagonia of coffee.” — Bob Lord
The photo of co-founder and CEO Todd Carmichael on page 64 audacious companies helps to tell the story. He goes anywhere in the coffee world to track down “high-end beans other roasters won’t risk pursuing.” The words violence and danger don’t seem to be part of his vocabulary — he just goes. A travel channel show called Dangerous Grounds “captures each expedition.” A savvy businessman who loves what he does, does it his way, and does it well captures the definition of the word, inspiring. And www.lacolombe.com/founders-biographiessuggests that his personal life is also inspiring.
Reading about people who see the world in a good, BIG way and live with that amount of passion, feeds the mind and soul. Nice, right?
That same day I passed Rittenhouse Plaza and there was Joseph Dupoldt, a doorman who, without fail smiles and has an encouraging word for all who pass — should they be open to it. I pass Joseph to and fro when going to La Colombe which is next door, and so have an opportunity to collect his smiles and see him in action. And I’ve noticed that he doesn’t seem to realize the impact he has on the lives of the different people who come in contact with him as they go in and out of the door where he stands. He does though. He’s aware of when people want a smile, or when they want to be with their thoughts, undisturbed — either way, he’s there for them. If you pass quietly or linger a little, you can hear him singing; he likes du bop and has a wonderful voice. It’s easy to see that he brings harmony, joy, and awareness to his job, and that’s only the things I can see. Nice, right? I want to ask him where someone as young as he is got his wisdom. I wonder what he’ll say.
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“There is nobody else like you. The more you can quiet your own thoughts, fears, doubts and suspicions, the more will be revealed to you from the highest realms of imagination, intuition, and inspiration.” – Kenneth Wydro, American lecturer
“My country is the world and my religion is to do good.” – Thomas Paine
the mutter museum, di bruno, dandelion restaurant/pub, parc restaurant, la colombe
Did I hear you say you’re coming to Philly? Well then, let’s plan a lovely day of maybe a museum and a few places to eat and people watch at the same time.
There’s the Mutter Museum of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia. I haven’t been there yet, but whenever I walk by on my way to Trader Joe’s, there are usually people entering and leaving. The grounds around the museum are lovely, and that includes the Benjamin Rush Medicinal Plant Garden with benches for relaxing in a delightful and peaceful setting.
www.muttermuseum.org
Is there a question about going to the Mutter Museum, or eating before going? All right, let’s think about where to eat — perhaps at Di Bruno at 1730 Chestnut Street. There is an upstairs cafe and “weekend brunch is from10:30am to 3:pm and lunch daily from11am to 3pm, to go or to enjoy in our casual cafe.” There’s plenty of space upstairs for sitting, relaxing, and eating. Downstairs has a wonderful selection of prepared foods, including soups and sandwiches. I’ve become addicted to the Di Bruno caprese sandwich. Top-notch ingredients of tomato, basil, and mozzarella cheese on panini bread is simple and delicious. The website shows that that’s not all there is at Di Bruno:
www.dibruno.com
Another place is Dandelion Restaurant Pub, at 124 South Street. It can be seen from the door nearest the Di Bruno meat section; it’s on a corner across the street. Here a hearty English breakfast is served. Have you had one of these? After consuming there’s usually no need to eat until evening. Dandelion offers an excellent selection of beer, a menu that will appeal to different palates, and afternoon tea which is from 3:00 to 5:00. And the person at the desk said, with a lot of pride, that “they serve the 2nd best hamburger in town.” It’s a charming restaurant/pub. Just is case you’re interested, they know how to make a really good campari and soda with a twist of lemon. Indeed!
www.thedandelionpub.com
www.campari.com
Another eating establishment is Parc Restaurant Bistro & Cafe at 227 South 18th Street. It’s two blocks south of Dandelion, and is across from lovely Rittenhouse Square Park. On a warm, sunny day it’s a fight to the finish:-) to get an outside table facing the park – to people watch, enjoy the greenery, and soak up the sun. If no outside seating is available, you’re still a winner because eating inside and enjoying the decor and ambiance is a pleasure, too.
www.parcrestaurant.me
The coffee at Parc is good, however, if you want to go elsewhere for an equally good cup of coffee there’s la Colombe at 130 South 19th Street. It’s opened till 7pm. Sometimes the dessert is sold out, but there’s always the coffee and the friendly staff. La Colombe is a walk along Rittenhouse Square Park (on the side of Barnes & Noble Bookshop) to 19th Street – cross the street and turn right. Order your cuppa coffee, take a seat, relax, and enjoy.
www.lacolombe.com
Rittenhouse Square Park
Is it time to see the Mutter Museum after a delicious lunch? — it’s a short walk if you stayed in the above neighborhood.
Enjoy! Enjoy!
Let’s all have a wonderful day today.
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“A hundred times every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life depend on the labors of other men living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received and am still receiving.” – Albert Einstein, 20th Century Nobel Prize winning physicist
(As heard on the CD, The Power by Rhonda Byrne)
Marilyn Tam, Robert Holden, and Happiness
Yesterday was a beautiful sunny and warm kind of day that makes people very happy. And today looks promising.
I think, and maybe you do, too, that even the spelling of the word happy looks, well, happy, and I’ve noticed that lately a lot of people are giving that word a great deal of attention. For instance, next to me is a happiness book, and the way it came to me was via my daughter Emi. She recently visited Philly – she arrived with a bag looking like it weighed more than her, and in that bag was a book called the HAPPINESS CHOICE by Marilyn Tam.www.marilyntam.com She had bought it at the well-loved by many, Strand Book Store in NYC at 12th Street and Broadway. www.strandbooks.com And when Emi left to catch a Bolt Bus back to NY, the book was somehow left behind, so I got to read it
It seemed like a light-weight, and fast read, but it’s not a book that wants to be read in quite that way. One wouldn’t think that someone who came from a background of abuse, and devoid of any real nurturing, would eventually write the HAPPINESS CHOICE. But it appears that Marilyn Tam came into the world with the ability to understand, to forgive and forget, and to go on to create an extraordinary personal and professional life.
The following is from the HAPPINESS CHOICE by the happiness guru, Robert Holden:
Your Heart’s Prayer
Before you dedicate your life
to a person, a marriage, a family;
to a corporation, a political party, a peace campaign;
to a religion, a revolution, a spiritual path;
make one other dedication first.
First dedicate yourself to LOVE.
Decide to let Love be your intention, your purpose and
your point.
And then let Love inspire you,
support you, and guide you
in every other dedication
you make thereafter.
Make sure you have a happy day!