Responding to a growing number of complaints, Cuenca Mayor Paul Granda has announced a series of meetings with managers and vendors at the sprawling west-side El Arenal market. In recent months, shoppers and vendors at the market --commonly known as Fiera Libre-- say that lack of competent management has led to chaotic conditions. Located on Av. Las Americas, Fiera Libre is Cuenca’s largest market and one of the largest in Ecuador.

Complaints include increasing numbers of unlicensed vendors, unscheduled truck deliveries that block roads and parking areas, public drunkenness and an overall lack of security.

Vendors who rent space in the market say that “squatters” are the biggest problem. Rosa Gomez says some paying vendors are prepared to take matters into their own hands if the city does not enforce laws against unlicensed vendors. “I pay $110 a month to be here but there are dozens of vendors in the parking lots and sidewalks who pay nothing, not rent or taxes.” Paying vendors, like Gomez, say unlicensed vendors block access to the market by occupying space in parking lots and streets.

Javier Serrano, head of Cuenca’s city markets committee, says he understands the seriousness of the situation. “We are meeting with all parties to find solutions and I’m confident we will make significant progress.” He adds: “My job is to report back to the mayor and I want to have good news.”

‘MONSTER’ SIGHTINGS ON THE INCREASE IN THE HIGH CAJAS

Cuenca tour guides say they are hearing of increasing numbers of ‘Wawa Grande’ sightings in the higher elevations of the Cajas Mountains, west of Cuenca.

Wawa Grande, which takes its name from the Quichuan word for baby, reportedly stands upright on two legs and has thick, light gray hair. The Wawa legend dates back centuries in Ecuador's southern Andes but recent sightings have sparked international interest. In June, two Swedish hikers say they saw the creature and reported that it stood between seven and eight feet in height and weighed about 400 pounds. Their story, along with a picture, appeared in a Stockholm newspaper in July.

Quito-based guide Carlos Castro, who claims to have taken video of the creature on a May hike with three German clients, says it was the third time he has seen Wawa. “You will see this on television in January and you will be amazed,” he says, adding that his contract with a Canadian television producer prevents him from discussing details of his encounter.

Castro says that many Cajas guides are aware of Wawa, either from personal contact or through reports from hikers. “Some people don’t like to talk about it because their friends will think they’re crazy,” Castro says. “Even if they haven’t seen Wawa, almost anyone who has spent much time in the mountains has seen the footprints.” Plaster castings of Wawa footprints, some measuring almost two feet in length, are sometimes on display at several art and antiquities shops in Cuenca, Castro says. "There's a large collection at the University of Cuenca but it is difficult to gain access to it. In fact," he adds, "it seems to be official university policy to deny that it even exists."

Wawa first made headlines in July, 1997 when a British hiker claims he was attacked by a pair of the creatures. Robert Burns, who sought shelter in a cave from a late afternoon snow storm, says he was mauled by the Wawas and tossed from the cave. Burns was treated for a broken arm, deep lacerations and bite wounds at a Cuenca hospital. His story appeared on a television documentary in 1998.

According to Castro, almost all sightings occur above an elevation of 12,000 feet.

SRI OFFICIALS CLOSE 10 BARS AND CLUBS IN CUENCA

Federal tax authorities have shuttered 10 Cuenca bars and night clubs for violating tax rules. Most of the affected establishments are located on Calle Larga and Avenida Remigio Crespo. Length of the closures range from one to three weeks, depending on the violation. 

According to Jhosep Fajardo, spokesperson for Ecuador Internal Revenue Service (SRI), the operation was part of a national investigation that resulted in 180 business closures country-wide. Most of the closures, he said, were due to businesses not providing customers with sales receipts.

Businesses closed in Cuenca included: Shots; Zo Pub and Club; Dubai Bar;, Sport Bar and Discotec; The Garden; Samira Liquor; Sesame Street; Mega Fox Spirits; Zorro; and Sesame Street #2.

A number of other bars were investigated but passed muster and were allowed to continue operations. They include Green; Sabaneta; Monday Blue; Cana Brava Liquor; and The Tavern.

CUENCA RESIDENT, RESTAURANT OWNER CRAIG STARLING DIES AT 51

Cuenca resident Craig Starling, 51, died Thursday morning in his apartment in the historic district. An autopsy reported the cause of death to be heart failure.

Starling was the owner of Poncho’s restaurant on Calle Larga and had lived in Cuenca for two years. Before moving to Ecuador he had owned and operated restaurants and property management companies in Houston and Galveston, Texas.

Family members in Houston and Tallahassee, Florida are working with the U.S. Consulate in Guayaquil to return Starling’s remains to Texas for burial.

Photo credits: Mayor Paul Granda tackles problems at Cuenca's biggest mercado; A 1999 casting of a 'Wawa Grande' footprint made at the University of Cuenca. The print, which appears human-like, measures 19 inches in length.