Road Work

 THIS IS THE WAY WE REPAIR OUR ROADS

REPAIR OUR ROADS--REPAIR OUR ROADS

THIS IS THE WAY WE REPAIR OUR ROADS

DOWN IN ECUADOR

First you need a stack of wood

Then you need to build a fire

to thin the tar

Then you need someone to tend the fire

Of course you need all the proper tools

---and a pile of sand to thicken the tar

then you should have a bunch of guys

standing around--

--watching two guys work

one fills the crack and the other plays 

steam roller with a flat tool

--then you need a boiler to keep the tar soft

(there is a fire in that wheelbarrow)

I wish they would fix our sidewalk

it is very hard for an old man to walk on all the way to my panadaria

A Step in the Right Direction

Today was a big day. Ecuador granted us a visa good for another ninety days. So what is the big deal you ask.Well let me tell you.

Our first ninety day visa was up on Jan 21 2015. On Jan 4, we applied for an extension so we could stay until our resident visa was approved. We had applied for that visa way back in Dec and it had been rejected for several reasons. I had sincerely hoped that our resident visa's would have been approved prior to our arriving. It was not, so a new set of problems began to loom as we began to run out of time.
Problem #1  In January when we applied, we were told that we needed a copy of our bank account showing sufficient income to live here OK we can do that.I printed a copy of several monthly statements and returned the very next day.
Problem #2 Since our statements only had Sharyl's name listed on the account, although I was a cosigner, we now needed a certified and apostatized copy of our marriage license to prove each of us had access to the account. This required help from our daughter in Tucson to secure the certificate get it notarized and apostatized and sent via DHL to us. This took several days while the clock continues to tick toward Jan 21.
Problem #3 We were able to return to the immigration office 9 days later. Now we are told that the bank statement is not good enough. We must have a total of at least $3000 in the bank proving that we will be able to live her for the full 90 days of the extended visa. We did not have that amount in that account.Now I am really scared. That means only 3 working days before we will be required to leave unless we are able to "show them the money" I am thinking it will take 10 to 14 days to transfer the money for our IRA. OMG. As I tried to explain the problem, the answer I received was " Those are the rules" I was devastated as we left the office. We are going to have to leave the country for 90 days. What about our cats. Where will we go.How can I make this happen.
However, as my mind calmed down and I was able to think more clearly about the  problem, I realized I could solve the problem simply by asking Sabrina to deposit $3000 in our account from Desert Villa until I could download a copy of our statement " Showing the money" Once downloaded, she could then withdraw the funds back to Desert Villa. Thank goodness for Sabrina. She did it-we did it- I showed them the statement. the next day -- Everything was approved . We were told to return Feb 3 to pay for and receive our visa.

Today we had the visa's placed in our passports

Oh what a relief it is. 

A few more things I like about Cuenca

My very favorite place to go is Feria Libre,a market where  country farmers bring their produce to sell. The place is fascinating. So much food and so colorful. Many in their native dress. They resist having their pictures taken,BUT someday---They sell almost everything there.It is so interesting to just walk around and get lost among the various stalls. Haggling is expected and I do. I have to be careful as you get so much for your money , Sharyl and I will not be able to eat it all before it goes bad. I usually make some kind of soup or stew and have that for several days at a time. Just throw everything in, cook it and eat it.

To give you some idea

All for $.50 cents

and they are soooooo  fresh soooooo good

The whole bunch for $.50 cents. (21 bananas)

They are smaller than the states and taste sweeter

The bag---- you guessed it --- $.50 cents

this basket $3.50

We mash them- delicious-- and we also make potato pancakes for breakfast

These will last for almost a week

Beautiful and so good tasting--$1.

I also bought 25 apples ( several different kinds)  for $1 / 5 . They make a wonderful applesauce.

And then we need a break 

These delicious sundaes are $1.20 each.

Care to join us!

 

Silk & China

We are so glad we made the effort to bring our special kitties with us to Ecuador. Several of you have asked how the were doing.

                                                              Any more questions??

                                                         

                                                            We purchased a new couch

                                         
                                                                Silk thought it was for her

                                                                Then we purchased a rug

Silk again made it her playground. The living room is sunken about 8 inches.The rug does not have any padding so it slides easily on our floor She lines herself up , crouches down, wiggles her rear end and then--jumps.

She will do this over and over giving us lots of laughs

Silk would wait by the front door for me in AZ

She does in Ecuador as well

China, being the more adventuress of the two loves to be able to wonder in and out to our 

enclosed patio. We therefore MUST leave a widow open to permit her to be able to roam whenever she wants.She will let us know when the window is closed.

Outdoors is her playground

So our special kitties have ajusted quite well. Don't you think?

I Had Them Rolling in the aisles!!!

Remember I told you that I had conquered the buses, WELL maybe not.
Sharyl and I went shopping for our fruits and vegetables the other day. We spent all of $10 for more than we could carry. Sharyl wanted a basket or two in which to store some things under our bed. (Closet space is VERY limited.) So we made the purchase of two baskets
 I thought, well we could now carry all our stuff in these baskets. So we did and off we went and on to the bus. It was not at all crowded. I placed my basket full of veggie's on the empty seat next to me. At the next stop , the bus driver jammed on the brakes, my basket fell to the floor, lots of  potatoes went rolling under the seats and down the aisle. I jumped up and ran after them and tried to collect them all. As I was doing this people could not get on and perhaps were just so shocked and wondered just what I was doing. Potatoes were everywhere. Some people did understand and picked some up and gave them to me.  Once I collect my potatoes then people could continue boarding. A Little embarrassing, but a great part of our adventure

                                                          One of our markets

The markets are so colorful

Here I find our dry beans and rice, even oatmeal

                                                   You can find most anything here

Even a basket or two

                                                 And here they are--- potatoes et al

All for $10

That is peanut butter in the bag

The baskets were extra $8 each

La Posada The passing

It is so much fun to discover another countries customs. This past Sunday, we heard music, the sound of a band playing. We were able to see the parade from our windows looking out on a main street close by. I picked up my camera, ran to the street and watched several parades go by. Very colorful with people dressed in their native clothes, dancing, and there even were cars decorated. A very festive atmosphere.
La Posada depicts as I understand it, The baby Jesus passing by your home.There were many women carrying dolls depicting the baby Jesus.

The parade goes to a local Catholic Church where there is a ceremony and then they march back.  This is a custom only in Cuenca and some of the near-by areas. These ceremonial parades will now happen every week-end throughout Cuenca until Holy week