DRAMA......DRAMA......DRAMA

Cedula The national ID card everyone must have and we have been striving to secure for seven months. Our visa's were granted several weeks ago and we have been waiting for our facilitator to arrange a trip to Guayaquil to pick up our NEW RESIDENT VISA'S and then be granted our cedula's. Well, it so happened that she Katy, was robbed walking along the main street in our fair city. They rode by on a motorcycle and snatched her purse right off her shoulder.I guess the police came and found her purse minus $600. A great lose and horrifying experience, that has delayed our travel to Guayaquil.With cameras around, the thieves have been identified and maybe she will get some of the money returned.

The way the system works, after we have jumped through all the hoops and provided all the required papers and they have been submitted, we are notified by e-mail our visa is granted. Then, it is not required that Sharyl and I return, only our facilitator, Katy, need return to Guayaquil with our passports to have the actual visa placed in our passport.We are given a receipt and a-- not before-- date to return to pick-up our passports and THEN go to another building to receive our cedula.

So our long awaited trip took place yesterday. With great anticipation, we awoke at 4am for a 5am departure and at long last receive our cedula along with 7 other excited companions.
We stand in line, get a number, sit and wait for the number to be called. I cant wait to take a picture of the three of us with our new cedula. Our number is called. We quickly walk to the assigned window. As the three of us, Katy, Sharyl and I stand in front of the widow, the lady asks " How,many passports are you picking up" "Two we respond " " I only have one" she says. "WHAT" I think " "Just a minute" the lady says and disappears through a door. We look at each other as panic sets in for me.The lady returns and says "We can't find the passport. We are looking for it. Come back in a little while" She does give me mine however.

  As all our other companions are given theirs, all the what if--- thoughts are going around and around in my mind.

Since we all must go to  another building to acquire our cedula's and there is usually a long wait , it is decided to do that and return later for Sharyl's passport.  So off we go and we do successfully receive our prized cedula. They did find Sharyl's passport however, because of the time of day, she was unable to achieve the prize and must return again. It so happens Sabrina etal arrive in Guayaquil this coming Tuesday. We will combine picking them up with picking up the missing cedula ( I hope)

       As I have said before " PATIENCE" is a wonderful attribute to acquire here in Ecuador

LONG AWAITED VISA

MUCH PRIZED CEDULA