OK, I "git" it....

....really I do!
I'm wordy (understatement of the year),
tend to ramble on,
have banished the word "concise" from my vocabulary...
So these posts have a tendency to grow and grow.
I know too that I'm still feeling my way along when it comes to how this editor thing works but, in the immortal words of another of our "new best friends", Carlos, "I came to Ecuador with ten thousand dollars worth of PATIENCE - been here two weeks and I'm down to a couple bucks worth left!!!!
In his case, the comment was made in reference to a recent bout with the bureaucracy regarding a resident visa.
In mine it's in regard to the 6 or 7 hours spent on the previous post attempting to get it right.
I've been around computers for a fair amount of time and consider myself somewhat above "average" when it comes to convincing them to do what I want them to do. I recognize that some apps are better than others and that all have their little "quirks". But after all these years most developers have settled in to accept some commonly accepted "standards" and ways of doing things.
This blog editor though seems to want to make its own rules and to make them up as it goes along.
I can't tell you how many times I've added and removed pictures, attempted to cut and paste captions to put them back where they belong because they were moved when a new pic was added in the wrong place.
Why must one scroll all the way back to the top to access the toolbar?
Why does the "Link" button seem to push itself whenever it feels like it? (necessitating another trip back to the toolbar to deselect)
Why can't one edit fonts with a simple "highlight > right click > edit"?
Anyway, I finally gave up and published (when it FINALLY decided to save what was there without "error saving") despite not completing the day. We'll pick it up here and (hopefully) finish out the Quito phase and move on to the coast.
I realize that, as NorteAmericanos, we're a spoiled lot and patience isn't particularly one of our strong suits. I came to Ecuador fully recognizing the cultural differences that exist and totally aware that a healthy dose of adaptation was in order.
Night before last and then again last evening we met and spent time with three more of our "new best friends" (more on both of those experiences later). One of the topics of conversation centered around television. As the leaders of the pack when it comes to being certifiable "news junkies", at home we typically have at least two tubes burning 24/7 and each of us expends considerable energy yelling at the idiot talking heads and political commentators. It's been two weeks with zero TV, zero US "news", zero political banter, and, perhaps surprisingly, not one of us misses it even one iota. Life without a constant barrage of "sound bites" from brain dead politicians and pundants (of both the RePubiKan and DemoCats) is actually quite sweet.
Certain other of our "spoils", however, are more difficult to give up or adapt to the Ecuadorian "way".
High speed internet takes on a whole new meaning (here, at least) when the standard is a usb/gsm modem that, on a good day, races along at 25 or 30kbs and just plain stops for a rest whenever it feels the need. As a reference for the technologically challenged, 28.8 was the standard dial up telephone connection speed back before Dean was born and Al Gore had yet to invent the "internets".
I'll deal with the power going out every couple of days, deal with shutting off the water every once in a while because it hasn't rained enough, even deal with a bureaucratic system that seems to want to emulate the pathetic model created in the US, but, when it comes to my broadband, anything under a Meg is simply beyond my ability to cope!......Oh, well.....

Let's wrap up the Cotacochi/Quito saga and "move on" as they say.
When last we spoke the city was engaged in a celebration of something or other (day after the day after "Independence" from one or another oppressor). Ecuadorians LOVE parades, celebrations, generally just having a good time, and are extremely creative when it comes to providing a "reason" to do so.
As the day was heading toward dusk and our gastronomical clocks have yet to totally embrace the whole almuerzo + midnight diner thing, it was time to take Patricio up on his suggested eatery.

 Not knowing the location of the eatery we paid little attention to the comings and goings of the locals

 

When Patricio announced "este es" (this is it) we had to question if the diminutive but delightful lady was the maitre d'

La Marquese Restaurante - save this one to your Favorites, you'll not be disappointed

Meanwhile, back at the "Festival" the Policia have things totally under "control"

And the intersection "Circle Dancers" have local traffic pretty well stymied as horns blare

"Picture" menus (with posted prices) are an absolute Godsend!

But no pictures can do justice to that which emerges from the kitchen

Patricio is one proud camper and suggests and 80 cent libation

Dean and Grandma ready to chow down

Good thing we had a reservation (nobody, but nobody - except NorteAmericanos - eats "dinner" at this hour)

As the old saying goes.......We Shall Return!!!

Another long, and unforgettable day in the books but now it's time to head back to HotelAndino and prepare for out trip to the Coast in the am. Patricio performs his usual magic wending his way through the onslaught of the "crazies" and we arrive back in Quito around 9:30