Stunning Tiles in Cuenca, Ecuador; Walkin' the Dog in this Colonial City

Oh, you know how I love the old tile in Cuenca! This morning Benji (my rescue dog) and I peeked into a colonial building on the side street across from the "blue church" and found a vintage hostel, complete with the most beautiful tile inside and out. I believe the hostel's name is Orchidea. Here's the front sign:

Front sign to the Cuenca, Ecuador hostel

Here are the front indoor steps:

Inside steps

And the inside interior, of course, is fantasico!

Hostel interior

Benji and I enjoyed our morning walk. I hope that you did, too.

Susan and Benji (who isn't feeling very well this morning.)

Walkin' the dog by Don Colon's Restaurant

 Benji and I like to take a break  on our walk at this restaurant. Benji's so good! He doesnt beg or make a mess. What a dog1!

Walkin' my dog near a dress shop in Cuenca, Ecuador

I love walking into stores and looking at the old floor tiles in Cuenca's colonial district. We just walked by this opening to a dress shop and I noted the floor. Spectacular! Benji always wants to wander inside, but hes not usually welcome.

Cuenca is where the final chapters take place in The Plan. I am planning to visit Santiago, Chile in the near future for a sequel. Don't think I can take Benji...

Come along with Susan and Benji for a daily walk in Cuenca, Ecuador

This old multi-story building on Simon Bolivar Avenidad is under repair. Benji and I walked by just this afternoon.

We could smell fresh bread wafting from the panaderia, directly across the street. How we love our daily walks in Cuenca, Ecuador.

Half Schnauzer, Half Poodle (We Think) , I Know 'Benji' Has a Story

Say hello to Benji, our rescue dog.

He came into our Cuenca, Ecuador home after his step mom, Nancee, learned she could not have anymore animals. She advertised his need for a home, and we were lucky enough to find him! Nancee softly cried as he left her home, and I know she misses him. She's invited to come and visit at any time!

Benji loves to take walks! Three times a day, since we live in a downtown apartment in this beautiful South American city of half a million people. We walk past colonial buildings filled with Spanish paintings, Italian tiles. We walk by small shops --panaderias filled wih baked goods, flower shops, dress stores, galleries and more.

Sidewalk artists are plenty in Cuenca. I snapped this photo of  a wonderful street painting at the top of the stairs leading down to the Tomebamba River, near Hermana Miguel.

Benji (and I) thought that you would enjoy seeing some of Cuenca's interesting features and and I plan to share photos on a regular basis. I love Cuenca. So does he! It is a stylish city with many artists, writers, musicians, retirees and others making this their new home. 

I'm a writer. Just finished a new book, The Plan, that has some special sections that take place here! So I really enjoy walking the city. It gives me time to think.

Won't you come along for our walks around this unique municipality? You are invited! Benji walks fast and sometimes it is hard to take photos. He also barks at other dogs and and tries to chase them. (I know he has a story.) 

But I'll try to get some fun shots. I hope that you enjoy the daily walks as much as we do.

Children of Cuenca, Ecuador

These darling children of Cuenca, Ecuador took part in a Children's Parade that happens each Christmas Eve. Please enjoy the video below --.
Susan

Why doesn't Mississippi Recognize Civil Rights Leader, Cleve McDowell?

What is left of a small downtown Drew, Mississippi church that was started by the Rev. Cleve McDowell, also a Delta lawyer. McDowell, who once worked for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the SCLC, was murdered in 1997 in his home.

...This is one of many Mississippi photos that I took when living in the Delta, several years ago. The story of McDowell is particularly interesting because he is a forgotten civil rights leader who was murdered in 1997. For all of his accomplishments (see below) why can't the state archivist give me information as to where any of his papers are located, or simply why nothing has been placed in the state's civil rights collection about him?

As the cotton dust flies, Mississippi Delta lawyer (the late) Cleve McDowell, left, gets an assist in his state legislature campaign from Rev. Jesse Jackson, a friend and civil rights colleague. McDowell kept in regular contact with Emmett Till's mother, working to resolve who killed her son in Money, Mississippi in the summer of 1955.

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
1997 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Representatives Coleman (29th), Richardson, Bailey, Banks, Blackmon, Bozeman, Broomfield, Clark, Clarke, Coleman (65th), Ellis, Evans, Flaggs, Fredericks, Gibbs, Green (96th), Green (72nd), Henderson (9th), Henderson (26th), Huddleston, Middleton, Morris, Myers, Perkins, Robinson (63rd), Scott (80th), Smith (27th), Straughter, Thornton, Walker, Wallace, Watson, Young

House Concurrent Resolution 141

(As Adopted by House and Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LIFE AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF DR. CLEVE MCDOWELL.
WHEREAS, Dr. Cleve McDowell was born to the late Mr. and Mrs. Fudge McDowell on August 6, 1941, in Drew, Mississippi, and departed this life on Thursday, March 13, 1997; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Cleve McDowell was an honor graduate of the Drew Public Schools, where he served as class president, editor of the school newspaper, captain of the debating team and a member of several varsity sports teams; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Cleve McDowell was also an honor graduate of Jackson State University in 1963, and while at Jackson State University he worked as a student assistant under the late Medgar Evers, and later became the first African-American student to attend a white graduate school in Mississippi by enrolling in the University of Mississippi Law School with the aid of a federal court order and United States Army troops in June of 1963; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Cleve McDowell later enrolled in Texas Southern University Law School in Houston, Texas, where he became President of the Student Bar Association and received several merit awards; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Cleve McDowell later worked on the Field Staff for the Mississippi State Conference and then later the Chicago Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and served on committees of the National Youth Development of the NAACP as a program director in community relations in Houston, Texas, and as a Subscribing Life Member, McDowell also served as a three-term member of the National Youth Work Committee of the NAACP and served on the committees of the Mississippi State Conference and acted as legal advisor to several branches; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Cleve McDowell was the Senior Pastor of the Greater Holly Grove Missionary Baptist Church of Drew, Mississippi, a member of Sunflower County General Association, the School Board of the City of Drew, Mississippi, Chairman of the Sunflower County, Mississippi, State Democratic Party, and also served as the Public Defender for Sunflower County, Mississippi, Public Defender for the City of Drew, Mississippi, and also served as a member of the Board of Aldermen and past Vice-Mayor of the City of Drew, Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Cleve McDowell was a member of the Mississippi State Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Magnolia Bar Association, and was admitted to practice in the Northern and Southern United States District Courts, Fifth Circuit United States Court of Appeals and the Eleventh Circuit United States Court of Appeals; and
WHEREAS, in April 1969, Dr. Cleve McDowell joined the Mississippi Head Start Training Coordinating Council as its Executive Director, and in 1973, he joined the Governor's Office of Human Resources and OEO as the Head Start Coordinator for the State of Mississippi, and in May of 1974, Dr. Cleve McDowell became Associate Director of the Mississippi Bar Legal Services Program where he served until he started his private practice of Law in Drew, Mississippi, in 1975; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Cleve McDowell served as Managing Attorney for the North Mississippi Rural Legal Service in Clarksdale, Mississippi, from 1977 to 1979 and later served as a member of the Mississippi State Penitentiary Board of Directors before he was elected to serve as Tunica County Judge in 1978; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Cleve McDowell was an active member of Epsilon Xi Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and was Worshipful Master of Drew Lodge Number 6 of the Most Worshipful Stringer Masonic Grand Lodge (Prince Hall) of Mississippi, and was also a member of the Knights Templars, Royal Arch, a Thirty-Second Degree and Shriner Masonic Units; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Cleve McDowell leaves to celebrate his homegoing, one goddaughter, Yolando McDowell; two godsons, Cleve Demarcus McDowell and Kwasi McDowell; five sisters, Mabel Brown of Chicago, Illinois, Juanita McDowell, Gennette (W. L., Jr.) Smith, Nellie (Lacy) Wilson of Drew, Mississippi, and Betty Adams of Los Angeles, California; four brothers, Willie Adams of Los Angeles, California, Douglas (Phelisia) McDowell of Memphis, Tennessee, Robert (Carrie) Wells of Chicago, Illinois, and Otis (Mary) McDowell of Fort Mitchell, Kentucky; three aunts, Cora Walker of Marks, Mississippi, Bennie Franklin of Chicago, Illinois, and Angelia Route of Columbus, Ohio; two sisters-in-law, Ada and Dorothy McDowell of Chicago, Illinois; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends and a special niece, Juanita Shanice Smith.
WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to commend excellence in leadership, especially when it is exhibited by one who has served diligently as a spiritual leader of his community:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend the life and accomplishments of Dr. Cleve McDowell and express the Legislature's deepest sympathy upon his passing.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the family of Dr. Cleve McDowell and the members of the Capitol Press Corps.