As you can see, it's been awhile since my last post (a month to be exact). The problem is that my camera quit on me and I love taking pictures and blogging about them. Without pictures, it didn't seem like it would be too interesting for the reader to read about our activities. I've ordered the batteries for the camera and should have them in a few weeks, hopefully. So you'll just have to visualize what I'm trying to describe to you.
Since my last post, we celebrated Thanksgiving with a lot of new friends and had a great time. We are amazed at how many people are considering a trip to Cuenca, either to just visit or to actually move here. There is a lot of interest from others in moving here, and it's been fun to make new friends.
Here is a list of friends that we have made within the last month:
Those Who Have Come for a Short Visit to Explore the Possibility of Moving to Cuenca in the Future
Karen & David from Florida - we had a great time getting to know them. They came to our church and also went to the orphanage with us.
John & Leeann from Arizona - they stayed at the penthouse apartment after we moved out. They had a terrific, fun-filled three week vacation in Cuenca and definitely want to move here sometime in the future.
Bob from Florida - a mutual friend connects us with Bob. We're going to have dinner with him and his daughter tomorrow night.
Diane & Paul from Idaho - we've haven't actually met them yet but have been in contact through emails. They live in Boise and are visiting Cuenca now. Hopefully we can meet them before they go back home to snowy, cold Idaho.
Folks We Have Met Who are Living in Cuenca
Jim & Rachel - we met Jim several months ago, but have had the pleasure of meeting Rachel recently as they just got married and Rachel joined Jim here in Cuenca. They have gone to our church and we thoroughly enjoy their company. They are enjoying living in Cuenca and both are avid bicyclists.
Gary & Sue from North Carolina - they moved to Cuenca last month and have also gone to our church. We enjoy their friendship and look forward to many more Sundays at church with them.
Bob & Joanna from Texas - they live down the street from us. They'll be going back to the States in a few months and then when they come back, they'll have a beautiful new penthouse apartment to move into.
Jack & Claudia from Oregon - they moved to Cuenca last month and live close to Gary & Sue, and also go to our church. We are blessed to have so many friends that enjoy the same things that we do.
Thom & Jane from Texas - we met them through Bob & Joanna. This is a good way to expand our circle of friends as we are all new in this adventure and enjoy sharing our experiences.
Alan & Elinor from California - they have a beautiful home near the Tomebamba River that resembles a San Francisco loft apartment. Since they are from San Francisco, it's not hard to understand how they designed their beautiful home.
Ray & Barb from Missouri - they just sold their farm back in Missouri and are looking for land to buy outside of Cuenca. They're looking forward to working on their own land again soon.
Other Notes
We have just moved into our third (and final) apartment. Three moves in four months is a bit much! We love this new apartment. It feels more like a home than the other apartments we lived in. It has beautiful furniture in it, and has a large kitchen and three bedrooms. If my camera was working I would insert pictures here. Oh well, pictures will be forthcoming. We are in the best location so far and can walk to everything that we need. Downstairs, there is a small tienda (store) and also an Italian restaurant (La Piastra) that has great food.
On a sad note, my stepmother passed away this month. I wished I could have gone to her funeral but living so far away makes quick trips back to the States hard to do. She was a wonderful wife and companion for my father, who passed away three years ago.
On another sad note, Mike is having health issues, specifically back problems. He had extensive back surgery ten months ago and fortunately, that doesn't seem to be the problem. But he is having nerve root pain (according to his doctor) and is taking pain pills, muscle relaxants, and bed rest. He would have liked to have enjoyed the many events taking place during this Christmas season, but will have to be patient and wait for the nerves to heal.
We would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Safe and Happy New Year's. Stay safe and healthy and enjoy being with your friends and families during this wonderful time of year.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Regular Activities
Life is becoming more routine these days; hence the lack of blog postings. We're doing fine, feeling great, and having fun. We take a daily walk to the large park and back (about 3 miles round trip). We walk every morning around 9:30a.m., except for the rainy mornings, which we haven't had lately. I plan on going to Curves here. It is a great workout program -- which I have done back in the States. My favorite workout program though is Jazzercise but there isn't one here so I'll start with Curves. There are quite a lot of dance studios here in Cuenca, which is interesting. I think that some of them have aerobic-type programs which I'll also check out. There is also a really nice gym, and also another facility that has an Olympic-sized pool which the athletes training for the Olympics use. Mike will probably use that pool.
It's good to have a lot of the necessary matters taken care of, such as:
Obtained Passport Visa Stamp
This was accomplished by sending our passports (overnight mail) to our attorney in Quito. (Yikes, this was scary to let loose of our passports, but it has worked out OK so far for everyone who has done this so we hoped and prayed that it would work out OK for us too, which it did.) Our attorney (Gabriela Espinosa) walked the passports over to the appropriate government officials, along with our original marriage license (apostilled) , Mike's social security statement (translated & apostilled), visa application, and additional passport photos. The passport visa stamp has the date of October 1st, which is my birthday, and is also the day after the quasi-coup attempt on the president here. So the government was back to work the day after all the excitement. From the date of the visa stamp, we had thirty days to get our Censo, and an additional thirty days to get our Cedula.
Obtained Censo
With the help of our good friend, Linda Gonzalez, we were able to obtain our Censo on October 12th. We were able to get our Censo here in Cuenca, but we've heard that that will change to Quito next year. The documents we needed to obtain our Censo were our passport with the visa stamp, a copy of our apartment rental contract, a copy of a utility bill, a copy of our landlord's Cedula, two 9 x 12 manila envelopes (1 each), passport-sized color photos (front and profile), letter from attorney.
Obtained Cedula
We had to make a trip to Quito to apply for our Cedula, which we did on November 11th. The documents we needed were our passport with the visa stamp, original Censo, and letter from our attorney. We were interviewed, photographed and fingerprinted. Everything was accomplished in about three hours. Our Cedula was to be processed and mailed back to us in four working days, which it was. We are now legal residents of Ecuador.
Mike Entered into SRI System
Mike, being a tercera edad (senior citizen - over 65), can receive all of the IVA tax back each month up to $144. With his Cedula, he went to the SRI office and was entered into their computer. Now each month he'll submit the Fracturas (official receipts) that he receives from purchases and will receive the IVA tax back. (The IVA is a national sales tax of 12%.)
Mike Got Bus Pass
Mike, also because he is a senior citizen, gets a discount on riding the buses. The normal fare (which I pay) is 25 cents. But with the discount, Mike will pay half-fare -- or 12.5 cents! So he paid $5 today to get his bus pass.
Laminated Copies of Passport, Censo and Cedula
We have been advised not to carry the originals with us, but to get laminated copies, which we have now done. However when traveling, you must have the original documents with you.
Other Activities
We have been meeting more people who are either visiting Cuenca or who have recently moved here. Tonight, we went out to Gringo and Friends night at DiBacco. We had a great time and met some new folks who just moved to Cuenca. Tomorrow night we're going to the Old Cathedral to see a performance by the French Ambassador and baritone Jean-Baptiste de Boissiere in concert with Colombian pianist Jacqueline Gutierra. There are many such performances throughout each month in Cuenca, which are always free.
We will be having Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday with 80 other people at the California Kitchen.
Here's wishing you and your family a safe and blessed Thanksgiving holiday.
Patty
It's good to have a lot of the necessary matters taken care of, such as:
Obtained Passport Visa Stamp
This was accomplished by sending our passports (overnight mail) to our attorney in Quito. (Yikes, this was scary to let loose of our passports, but it has worked out OK so far for everyone who has done this so we hoped and prayed that it would work out OK for us too, which it did.) Our attorney (Gabriela Espinosa) walked the passports over to the appropriate government officials, along with our original marriage license (apostilled) , Mike's social security statement (translated & apostilled), visa application, and additional passport photos. The passport visa stamp has the date of October 1st, which is my birthday, and is also the day after the quasi-coup attempt on the president here. So the government was back to work the day after all the excitement. From the date of the visa stamp, we had thirty days to get our Censo, and an additional thirty days to get our Cedula.
Obtained Censo
With the help of our good friend, Linda Gonzalez, we were able to obtain our Censo on October 12th. We were able to get our Censo here in Cuenca, but we've heard that that will change to Quito next year. The documents we needed to obtain our Censo were our passport with the visa stamp, a copy of our apartment rental contract, a copy of a utility bill, a copy of our landlord's Cedula, two 9 x 12 manila envelopes (1 each), passport-sized color photos (front and profile), letter from attorney.
Obtained Cedula
We had to make a trip to Quito to apply for our Cedula, which we did on November 11th. The documents we needed were our passport with the visa stamp, original Censo, and letter from our attorney. We were interviewed, photographed and fingerprinted. Everything was accomplished in about three hours. Our Cedula was to be processed and mailed back to us in four working days, which it was. We are now legal residents of Ecuador.
Mike Entered into SRI System
Mike, being a tercera edad (senior citizen - over 65), can receive all of the IVA tax back each month up to $144. With his Cedula, he went to the SRI office and was entered into their computer. Now each month he'll submit the Fracturas (official receipts) that he receives from purchases and will receive the IVA tax back. (The IVA is a national sales tax of 12%.)
Mike Got Bus Pass
Mike, also because he is a senior citizen, gets a discount on riding the buses. The normal fare (which I pay) is 25 cents. But with the discount, Mike will pay half-fare -- or 12.5 cents! So he paid $5 today to get his bus pass.
Laminated Copies of Passport, Censo and Cedula
We have been advised not to carry the originals with us, but to get laminated copies, which we have now done. However when traveling, you must have the original documents with you.
Other Activities
We have been meeting more people who are either visiting Cuenca or who have recently moved here. Tonight, we went out to Gringo and Friends night at DiBacco. We had a great time and met some new folks who just moved to Cuenca. Tomorrow night we're going to the Old Cathedral to see a performance by the French Ambassador and baritone Jean-Baptiste de Boissiere in concert with Colombian pianist Jacqueline Gutierra. There are many such performances throughout each month in Cuenca, which are always free.
We will be having Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday with 80 other people at the California Kitchen.
Here's wishing you and your family a safe and blessed Thanksgiving holiday.
Patty
Friday, November 12, 2010
Home, Sweet Cedula
One of the most challenging, exasperating, confusing and ultimately satisfying experiences in the life of an expat is the process of complying with the governmental requirements of the new country in order for you to become "legal". Yesterday, Patty and I completed the process of acquiring our "cedula", the second of the required documents; the first being the "censo" that our new home country of Ecuador mandates.
Those of you who have already completed the process know what I'm talking about. Those of you who haven't acquired these documents, have an event in your Ecuador life experience that will be the topic for a lot of future discussions with empathetic fellow expats. And, many times, the stories will have many variations, as few of us have traveled the same route to acquire our "legality". Those differences make for a lot of interesting comparisons. Trying to find a common thread leading to a definite path to follow is, to say the least, elusive.
One common thread that we all will agree on is that documentation, whether from your previous home country or Ecuador, involves dealing with bureaucrats and attorneys...all of whom represent a level of expertise that can be quite frustrating in addition to being expensive.
Trying to get a definite list of documents is always subject to change, depending on who you talk with, or the changing governmental whims at the time. At one time or another, Patty and I have been told that we need the following "official" documents ("official" means notarized, apostilled[stamped], or verified by some state official): birth certificate, marriage certificate, income statement($800 plus $100 more for each dependent), health record, police record, passport, international drivers license, extra passport-sized pictures, certain sized manila envelopes, and multiple color copies of many of these.
Before all of this sounds overwhelming, many of these requirements are dependent upon the type of residency you are seeking, such as the Retiree or Investor type of visa. Once you decide on this, the requirements can be reduced, many times. Secondly, there are requirements for the "censo", which must be obtained before you can apply for the "cedula", which is the most important document. The censo is the most complicated in terms of paperwork and having an English speaking local to assist you is a huge asset. There are many here in Cuenca, who for a modest fee, will save you a lot of time and frustration. The same applies for an attorney, but with a more expensive price tag. We'll give you our contacts further on in this blog.
If your plans include moving to Ecuador for an extended period, it is advisable to complete as much of the document acquisition process prior to arrival in Ecuador. It'll save you a lot of time when and if you decide to stay in this great country for any length of time beyond the normal 90 day tourist allowance. We did and although we found that a lot of what we had obtained wasn't needed such as police and health records, we still avoided any surprise requirements. Being more prepared than necessary is better than the alternative.
We met a wonderful woman, Linda Gonzalez, who speaks English quite well. She has been our most valuable asset for all of our needs. She works closely with our attorney, Gabriela Espinosa, in Quito, Ecuador, who also speaks English. Between the two, our legal requirements have gone quite smoothly. The censo requirements which included more paperwork was done here in Cuenca. Linda was indispensable in driving us around and "doing the talking".
Yesterday, was the big day for us to acquire the cedula! We needed to fly to Quito ($135 round trip for the 35 minute flight).
Our airplane. (TAME Airlines)
Pictures of the Mariscal La Mar Airport in Cuenca are below.
Linda made the reservations for us. She also coordinated with Gabriela, who with an assistant, met us at the Officina Registro Civil (pictured below), located at the intersection of Avenida Amazonas and Naciones Unidas.
The taxi ride cost $5 from the airport. We called Gabriela from the airport and her and her assistant Belen met us at the Registro Civil office.
Belen then took charge and took us through the various stops we had to make which included a small $4 fee (for 2), finger printing, picture taking and providing our censo, passports and a legal letter. All told, it took a couple of hours. We were told that we could pick up the final cedula in four working days.
Not wanting to fly back to Quito, we opted to complete a Power of Attorney at Gabriela's office(Leonidas Plaza 21-167 and Vicente Ramon Roca), so that she could pick up the completed cedulas and send them to Linda via TAME airline. Linda will pick them up and deliver them to us. The power of attorney needed to be notarized, so we went next door to a notary and completed that for $35 (for 2). That was it.
Belen and Gabriela
Back to the airport to catch our late afternoon flight home. Mission accomplished with no problems. We took a collective deep breath and are thankful for the quality help we've received. Looking back, it's only taken us three months to get all of our legal work done, and, we weren't working on these things constantly. Now we can really begin taking advantage of the benefits of being legal residents of Ecuador...and they are many.
Chao, Mike
Those of you who have already completed the process know what I'm talking about. Those of you who haven't acquired these documents, have an event in your Ecuador life experience that will be the topic for a lot of future discussions with empathetic fellow expats. And, many times, the stories will have many variations, as few of us have traveled the same route to acquire our "legality". Those differences make for a lot of interesting comparisons. Trying to find a common thread leading to a definite path to follow is, to say the least, elusive.
One common thread that we all will agree on is that documentation, whether from your previous home country or Ecuador, involves dealing with bureaucrats and attorneys...all of whom represent a level of expertise that can be quite frustrating in addition to being expensive.
Trying to get a definite list of documents is always subject to change, depending on who you talk with, or the changing governmental whims at the time. At one time or another, Patty and I have been told that we need the following "official" documents ("official" means notarized, apostilled[stamped], or verified by some state official): birth certificate, marriage certificate, income statement($800 plus $100 more for each dependent), health record, police record, passport, international drivers license, extra passport-sized pictures, certain sized manila envelopes, and multiple color copies of many of these.
Before all of this sounds overwhelming, many of these requirements are dependent upon the type of residency you are seeking, such as the Retiree or Investor type of visa. Once you decide on this, the requirements can be reduced, many times. Secondly, there are requirements for the "censo", which must be obtained before you can apply for the "cedula", which is the most important document. The censo is the most complicated in terms of paperwork and having an English speaking local to assist you is a huge asset. There are many here in Cuenca, who for a modest fee, will save you a lot of time and frustration. The same applies for an attorney, but with a more expensive price tag. We'll give you our contacts further on in this blog.
If your plans include moving to Ecuador for an extended period, it is advisable to complete as much of the document acquisition process prior to arrival in Ecuador. It'll save you a lot of time when and if you decide to stay in this great country for any length of time beyond the normal 90 day tourist allowance. We did and although we found that a lot of what we had obtained wasn't needed such as police and health records, we still avoided any surprise requirements. Being more prepared than necessary is better than the alternative.
We met a wonderful woman, Linda Gonzalez, who speaks English quite well. She has been our most valuable asset for all of our needs. She works closely with our attorney, Gabriela Espinosa, in Quito, Ecuador, who also speaks English. Between the two, our legal requirements have gone quite smoothly. The censo requirements which included more paperwork was done here in Cuenca. Linda was indispensable in driving us around and "doing the talking".
Yesterday, was the big day for us to acquire the cedula! We needed to fly to Quito ($135 round trip for the 35 minute flight).
Our airplane. (TAME Airlines)
Pictures of the Mariscal La Mar Airport in Cuenca are below.
Linda made the reservations for us. She also coordinated with Gabriela, who with an assistant, met us at the Officina Registro Civil (pictured below), located at the intersection of Avenida Amazonas and Naciones Unidas.
The taxi ride cost $5 from the airport. We called Gabriela from the airport and her and her assistant Belen met us at the Registro Civil office.
Belen then took charge and took us through the various stops we had to make which included a small $4 fee (for 2), finger printing, picture taking and providing our censo, passports and a legal letter. All told, it took a couple of hours. We were told that we could pick up the final cedula in four working days.
Not wanting to fly back to Quito, we opted to complete a Power of Attorney at Gabriela's office(Leonidas Plaza 21-167 and Vicente Ramon Roca), so that she could pick up the completed cedulas and send them to Linda via TAME airline. Linda will pick them up and deliver them to us. The power of attorney needed to be notarized, so we went next door to a notary and completed that for $35 (for 2). That was it.
Belen and Gabriela
Back to the airport to catch our late afternoon flight home. Mission accomplished with no problems. We took a collective deep breath and are thankful for the quality help we've received. Looking back, it's only taken us three months to get all of our legal work done, and, we weren't working on these things constantly. Now we can really begin taking advantage of the benefits of being legal residents of Ecuador...and they are many.
Chao, Mike
Monday, November 8, 2010
Three Months in Cuenca
We have just past the three month mark of when we left the U.S. with five large suitcases and four carry-on bags headed for Cuenca and the unknown.
The unknown has become the known (except for Spanish, of course). We are in our second apartment and will move to our third apartment next month. This should be our final move. We're looking forward to getting settled and feeling more at home next month. It is a beautifully furnished three-bedroom apartment with views of trees all around and is in a nice part of town within walking distance of everything that we need.
I would like to reflect on my likes and dislikes. Some are a big deal and some are very trivial, but all count as one gets used to a new culture and lifestyle.
LIKES
Parks. There are over twenty parks in Cuenca of which we've been only to a few. Walking around you're sure to find a park to visit.
Rivers. There are four rivers that run through Cuenca and the water is so fresh and clean, running down from the Andes.
Mountains. All around us. I love living in the mountains -- I didn't know that I would like it so much.
Trees. Everywhere there are trees. I love the eucalyptus trees on the river and the sound as the wind blows through them. There are also trees in bloom right now as we're in the springtime here.
Restaurants. We've been enjoying eating out (probably more than we should). But there are so many restaurants to explore -- all different cuisines.
Cost of Living. We pay for everything with cash and are able to save quite a bit compared to the prices in the States.
Health Care. The doctors are so caring. They take a personal interest in you. One doctor told Mike to be careful as he walks around town (because he's a gringo and an older one besides) and if he has any problems to call him directly. He gave us his home address, home phone number and cell phone number. The cost for an office visit is $25. My blood work today was $22. The medical records, test results, x-rays, etc., all belong to the patient. So I'll pick up my blood test results tomorrow and take them to my doctor for his review.
Families. It is a joy to see families being so close-knit. The babies and children are cared for and held closely. You'll see families playing together in the streets and just having fun walking around town. The indigenous mothers carry their babies and toddlers on their back wrapped up in a shawl. There are very few strollers as the little ones are held in their parent's arms.
School Children. All the school children wear uniforms -- and they are really nice looking. The girls wear plaid skirts with sweaters. The boys wear pants, shirts, and vests. Each school has a certain color. So you see uniforms in red or blue or green. They also wear the nicest looking gym clothes (warm up suits).
Away from Politics. I'm so glad that we don't get the U.S. political campaign commercials here. It's so nice to be away from the constant politics. We do get Fox News but we don't watch it as much as we did back in the States.
Not watching as much TV. We usually watch sports (watched the World Series!), movies, and news. We like listening to music.
Radio Station 97.3FM. I love this station. It is a Spanish station with a Spanish D.J., but they play a mixture of songs, both in Spanish and English. The Spanish songs are beautiful and very relaxing. The English songs are amazing -- country western, easy listening, rock and roll.
Fresh Produce. The produce in the markets are so fresh, they last twice as long in the refrigerator as in the States because they are so fresh to start with. I love always having ripe avocados whenever I want one.
Instant Hot Water. The hot water tank is the small instant variety. Hot water at a moment's notice.
Making New Friends. We've made friends at our church -- some speak only Spanish and some speak very good English. We can practice our Spanish with them and they can practice their English with us. We've also made friends with the gringos that we've met. We also have made friends with people we haven't met yet but who are interested in Cuenca and wanting to know more about it from us (through email).
Skype & Earth Class Mail. Communication has been great for us. The Internet and cell phone that we have through Porta works great. Skype is wonderful for making and receiving calls and Earth Class Mail has been working out great for our mail service. We have a P. O. Box in Cuenca and that is working out great too.
Peaceful Lifestyle. I truly feel retired here. We have no schedule and only do what we want, when we want. I know eventually I'll need to develop a routine but so far I've been enjoying learning Spanish at my own pace (self-study). We will eventually start Spanish school and probably get more involved in other activities (exercise, volunteer work, etc.)
Cover on the Stove. I know that sounds trivial but it is such a great idea. The stove has a dust cover on it that you lift up before you cook. Reminds me of the dust covers on the old phonographs.
Pouch for Condiments. I know another trivial item, but such a great idea. All the condiments (mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, etc.) come in pouches that have a spout. So neat and easy to use.
Now for the. . .
DISLIKES
Spanish-speaking country. It would have been easier to move to an English-speaking country, but we didn't. So it's our responsibility to fit into the culture and to learn the language. It can be frustrating and very slow going, but it's good for the brain. Hopefully, I'm growing new pathways in my brain with all of the information I've been taking in.
Miss the U.S. I find that I miss what the U.S. used to be (in the 50's). I miss my mom and dad and how easy life was back then. Moms stayed home and took care of the home and the kids. Families ate together. Kids minded their parents and their teachers. Maybe because I see this all here in Cuenca it reminds me of how lucky we were back then and didn't even know it.
Sidewalks & Curbs. You MUST watch where you are walking here to avoid being a casualty. The cars have the right of way here and are not timid about reminding you about that. The sidewalks are uneven and the curbs are high, so you must watch every step.
Taxi Drivers. Riding in a taxi here is not for the timid. It's best to not look ahead but just hope you get to where you're going in one piece. I think the taxi drivers think they're driving a race car and the first one to their destination wins.
Traffic Circles. How there aren't any accidents in the traffic circles I'll never know. It's like a ballet with everyone twirling every which way but never bumping into each other. What's really scary is trying to cross the street in a traffic circle (which we do only when we have to). Sometimes you make it only halfway across the street and you're standing in the middle of the street waiting to cross to the other side!
Miss Family & Friends. This goes without saying -- but I'll say it anyway. There is no easy way to move to another country and not be sad about those you have moved away from. We're planning a trip back home next year but it's still hard to be away from our loved ones (especially the grandchildren).
Potatoes. I know, another trivial item. The potatoes here are small and have about three times as much starch and there aren't any sweet potatoes or yams here (at least not the kind we're used to).
The Altitude. I didn't think living up so high (8,000 feet) would bother me since I was in pretty good shape when we came here. But the breathing is difficult at times -- although I think I am improving. Mike says that he is fine now but he's been walking more than me. I guess I'll just have to start joining him on his daily hourly walk along the river -- just have to get up earlier!
Plumbing Issues. OK -- now for the gross part. You knew there had to be a gross part, right? Well, if you are living in a new building you don't have these issues. But if you're in an older building you can't flush your toilet paper. WHAT? Yep, that's right. They have these cute little covered waste baskets just for that purpose -- and the good part is that trash is picked up between two and three times a week.
Cuy. Now for the grossest part. The Ecuadorian delicacy is something I will never even try. I can't get past how cute these little guys are alive and what they look like before cooking. They are called cuy here but in the States we call them "guinea pigs". YUK. Some brave folks have tried them, but yours truly won't be eating one of them. I've eaten snakes, snails, rabbit and venison in the past, but won't be eating guinea pigs!
Petty Crime. There is crime here. You need to be careful walking around town because you don't want your purse or jewelry stolen. It doesn't happen often because there are armed police EVERYWHERE. But because we stand out, we're always careful. It takes awhile to get used to armed guards everywhere (at the bank, in the mall, in the grocery store, etc.), but it does make you feel safe.
Well,that's all I can think of for now. Will probably be able to add to these two lists as more time goes by.
Hasta Luego,
Patty
The unknown has become the known (except for Spanish, of course). We are in our second apartment and will move to our third apartment next month. This should be our final move. We're looking forward to getting settled and feeling more at home next month. It is a beautifully furnished three-bedroom apartment with views of trees all around and is in a nice part of town within walking distance of everything that we need.
I would like to reflect on my likes and dislikes. Some are a big deal and some are very trivial, but all count as one gets used to a new culture and lifestyle.
LIKES
Parks. There are over twenty parks in Cuenca of which we've been only to a few. Walking around you're sure to find a park to visit.
Rivers. There are four rivers that run through Cuenca and the water is so fresh and clean, running down from the Andes.
Mountains. All around us. I love living in the mountains -- I didn't know that I would like it so much.
Trees. Everywhere there are trees. I love the eucalyptus trees on the river and the sound as the wind blows through them. There are also trees in bloom right now as we're in the springtime here.
Restaurants. We've been enjoying eating out (probably more than we should). But there are so many restaurants to explore -- all different cuisines.
Cost of Living. We pay for everything with cash and are able to save quite a bit compared to the prices in the States.
Health Care. The doctors are so caring. They take a personal interest in you. One doctor told Mike to be careful as he walks around town (because he's a gringo and an older one besides) and if he has any problems to call him directly. He gave us his home address, home phone number and cell phone number. The cost for an office visit is $25. My blood work today was $22. The medical records, test results, x-rays, etc., all belong to the patient. So I'll pick up my blood test results tomorrow and take them to my doctor for his review.
Families. It is a joy to see families being so close-knit. The babies and children are cared for and held closely. You'll see families playing together in the streets and just having fun walking around town. The indigenous mothers carry their babies and toddlers on their back wrapped up in a shawl. There are very few strollers as the little ones are held in their parent's arms.
School Children. All the school children wear uniforms -- and they are really nice looking. The girls wear plaid skirts with sweaters. The boys wear pants, shirts, and vests. Each school has a certain color. So you see uniforms in red or blue or green. They also wear the nicest looking gym clothes (warm up suits).
Away from Politics. I'm so glad that we don't get the U.S. political campaign commercials here. It's so nice to be away from the constant politics. We do get Fox News but we don't watch it as much as we did back in the States.
Not watching as much TV. We usually watch sports (watched the World Series!), movies, and news. We like listening to music.
Radio Station 97.3FM. I love this station. It is a Spanish station with a Spanish D.J., but they play a mixture of songs, both in Spanish and English. The Spanish songs are beautiful and very relaxing. The English songs are amazing -- country western, easy listening, rock and roll.
Fresh Produce. The produce in the markets are so fresh, they last twice as long in the refrigerator as in the States because they are so fresh to start with. I love always having ripe avocados whenever I want one.
Instant Hot Water. The hot water tank is the small instant variety. Hot water at a moment's notice.
Making New Friends. We've made friends at our church -- some speak only Spanish and some speak very good English. We can practice our Spanish with them and they can practice their English with us. We've also made friends with the gringos that we've met. We also have made friends with people we haven't met yet but who are interested in Cuenca and wanting to know more about it from us (through email).
Skype & Earth Class Mail. Communication has been great for us. The Internet and cell phone that we have through Porta works great. Skype is wonderful for making and receiving calls and Earth Class Mail has been working out great for our mail service. We have a P. O. Box in Cuenca and that is working out great too.
Peaceful Lifestyle. I truly feel retired here. We have no schedule and only do what we want, when we want. I know eventually I'll need to develop a routine but so far I've been enjoying learning Spanish at my own pace (self-study). We will eventually start Spanish school and probably get more involved in other activities (exercise, volunteer work, etc.)
Cover on the Stove. I know that sounds trivial but it is such a great idea. The stove has a dust cover on it that you lift up before you cook. Reminds me of the dust covers on the old phonographs.
Pouch for Condiments. I know another trivial item, but such a great idea. All the condiments (mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, etc.) come in pouches that have a spout. So neat and easy to use.
Now for the. . .
DISLIKES
Spanish-speaking country. It would have been easier to move to an English-speaking country, but we didn't. So it's our responsibility to fit into the culture and to learn the language. It can be frustrating and very slow going, but it's good for the brain. Hopefully, I'm growing new pathways in my brain with all of the information I've been taking in.
Miss the U.S. I find that I miss what the U.S. used to be (in the 50's). I miss my mom and dad and how easy life was back then. Moms stayed home and took care of the home and the kids. Families ate together. Kids minded their parents and their teachers. Maybe because I see this all here in Cuenca it reminds me of how lucky we were back then and didn't even know it.
Sidewalks & Curbs. You MUST watch where you are walking here to avoid being a casualty. The cars have the right of way here and are not timid about reminding you about that. The sidewalks are uneven and the curbs are high, so you must watch every step.
Taxi Drivers. Riding in a taxi here is not for the timid. It's best to not look ahead but just hope you get to where you're going in one piece. I think the taxi drivers think they're driving a race car and the first one to their destination wins.
Traffic Circles. How there aren't any accidents in the traffic circles I'll never know. It's like a ballet with everyone twirling every which way but never bumping into each other. What's really scary is trying to cross the street in a traffic circle (which we do only when we have to). Sometimes you make it only halfway across the street and you're standing in the middle of the street waiting to cross to the other side!
Miss Family & Friends. This goes without saying -- but I'll say it anyway. There is no easy way to move to another country and not be sad about those you have moved away from. We're planning a trip back home next year but it's still hard to be away from our loved ones (especially the grandchildren).
Potatoes. I know, another trivial item. The potatoes here are small and have about three times as much starch and there aren't any sweet potatoes or yams here (at least not the kind we're used to).
The Altitude. I didn't think living up so high (8,000 feet) would bother me since I was in pretty good shape when we came here. But the breathing is difficult at times -- although I think I am improving. Mike says that he is fine now but he's been walking more than me. I guess I'll just have to start joining him on his daily hourly walk along the river -- just have to get up earlier!
Plumbing Issues. OK -- now for the gross part. You knew there had to be a gross part, right? Well, if you are living in a new building you don't have these issues. But if you're in an older building you can't flush your toilet paper. WHAT? Yep, that's right. They have these cute little covered waste baskets just for that purpose -- and the good part is that trash is picked up between two and three times a week.
Cuy. Now for the grossest part. The Ecuadorian delicacy is something I will never even try. I can't get past how cute these little guys are alive and what they look like before cooking. They are called cuy here but in the States we call them "guinea pigs". YUK. Some brave folks have tried them, but yours truly won't be eating one of them. I've eaten snakes, snails, rabbit and venison in the past, but won't be eating guinea pigs!
Petty Crime. There is crime here. You need to be careful walking around town because you don't want your purse or jewelry stolen. It doesn't happen often because there are armed police EVERYWHERE. But because we stand out, we're always careful. It takes awhile to get used to armed guards everywhere (at the bank, in the mall, in the grocery store, etc.), but it does make you feel safe.
Well,that's all I can think of for now. Will probably be able to add to these two lists as more time goes by.
Hasta Luego,
Patty
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Military Parade
November 3rd is Independence Day in Cuenca (celebrating 190 years of independence from Spain). There were fireworks last night and a military parade this morning. The parade route was close to our apartment so we walked to the viewing area and I took these pictures.
It's interesting that independence is celebrated on the city level. There are three different celebrations throughout the year depending on which city is celebrating their independence: Quito, Guayaquil, or Cuenca.
It's interesting that independence is celebrated on the city level. There are three different celebrations throughout the year depending on which city is celebrating their independence: Quito, Guayaquil, or Cuenca.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Parque El Paraiso
Yesterday, we decided to explore the largest park in Cuenca. Our doctor told us about this park. He knows we like walking a lot so he said that we'd like this park because it is so large.
From our new apartment, we're only a thirty minute walk from the park. It's a pretty walk because it follows the Rio Yanuncay.
I took so many pictures and had to narrow my picks down to just the best ones.
Here are the pictures shown as we walked through the park:
Entrance to the park
Walking along the Yanuncay River
Mike walking among the tall trees
One of the many bridges in the park
Swans on their own island
More river pictures
Black swan
Mike standing on one of the bridges
Huge rock in the river (how'd it get there?)
Great tree for climbing
Wooden walkways throughout the park
Elevated walkways among the trees
Tomebamba River
Convergence of the two rivers (Tomebamba and Yanuncay)
Beautiful flowers in bloom (it's springtime here!)
Picnic anyone?
Great spot overlooking the rivers
Where does this go?
My favorite picture
Eucalyptus trees
Swans (see their nesting houses in the background)
I love taking these pictures
A cactus (is this Arizona?)
View of the Cajas Mountains
Having fun!
Fancy clothes and spike heels worn anywhere throughout Cuenca (even in the park!)
Clock showing the time in Ecuador, Spain, New York and Russia
Aerobic area in the background
Soccer fields
Maintenance crew cleaning up after a soccer game
The park was pretty empty but during the weekends, it's packed with families enjoying the outdoors.
Cuenca is getting ready to celebrate for five straight days. Tuesday is All Souls Day and Wednesday is Cuenca's Independence Day (190 years of independence from Spain). There will be parades, music, performances, fireworks, etc. It should be fun.
Chao for now,
Patty
From our new apartment, we're only a thirty minute walk from the park. It's a pretty walk because it follows the Rio Yanuncay.
I took so many pictures and had to narrow my picks down to just the best ones.
Here are the pictures shown as we walked through the park:
Entrance to the park
Walking along the Yanuncay River
Mike walking among the tall trees
One of the many bridges in the park
Swans on their own island
More river pictures
Black swan
Mike standing on one of the bridges
Huge rock in the river (how'd it get there?)
Great tree for climbing
Wooden walkways throughout the park
Elevated walkways among the trees
Tomebamba River
Convergence of the two rivers (Tomebamba and Yanuncay)
Beautiful flowers in bloom (it's springtime here!)
Picnic anyone?
Great spot overlooking the rivers
Where does this go?
My favorite picture
Eucalyptus trees
Swans (see their nesting houses in the background)
I love taking these pictures
A cactus (is this Arizona?)
View of the Cajas Mountains
Having fun!
Fancy clothes and spike heels worn anywhere throughout Cuenca (even in the park!)
Clock showing the time in Ecuador, Spain, New York and Russia
Aerobic area in the background
Soccer fields
Maintenance crew cleaning up after a soccer game
The park was pretty empty but during the weekends, it's packed with families enjoying the outdoors.
Cuenca is getting ready to celebrate for five straight days. Tuesday is All Souls Day and Wednesday is Cuenca's Independence Day (190 years of independence from Spain). There will be parades, music, performances, fireworks, etc. It should be fun.
Chao for now,
Patty
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