English-Speaking Ecuadorian Available to Help You with Your Errands

We have personal friends that go to our church who are looking for extra work. They are an Ecuadorian family (Noshy and Alfredo) and are very capable in helping ex-pats out with the errands we find ourselves needing to get done. Also, Noshy speaks very good English as she learned English as a young child.

Here is a list of the items they can help you with. (They are available Monday through Saturday.)

Noshy's List:

• Practice Spanish
• Housekeeper
• Help with translation
• Baking goodies
• Help with documents in different areas. (Noshy works at a TV station and is in contact with government people and owners of different businesses.)
• Customs contact
• Help with banking
• Help with doctor appointments
• Help in buying groceries. (Just give her your list and she'll go shopping for you.)
• AVON and TUPPERWARE representative
• Help with bill payments and post office service
• In touch with gardeners, veterinarians, seamstresses, etc.

Alfredo´s list

• Jewelry repair, cleaning and polishing
• Handyman (electrical, plumbing, carpenter services)
• Has the "Licencia Profesional de Manejo" (Professional Drivers License)
• The payment for Alfredo depends on the kind of service (here we call "points")

If you think that you might be in need of their services, please contact them at noshypinos@hotmail.com.

A Busy Week

Life has started getting busier for us since the New Year began. We started the New Year with resolutions to start back exercising (it's been about six months since we last exercised on a regular basis), and also to get serious about learning Spanish, so we started Spanish school.

Our typical week would start on:

Sunday with us going to church. There are two other ex-pat couples that go on a regular basis. It's good to see them each Sunday (and mid-week sometimes too). The service is in Spanish so I don't understand much but that hopefully that will change as I learn more Spanish. The songs are in Spanish also and I have learned many of them and know what I'm singing (with the help of my dictionary). After church, we go out to lunch somewhere and then to the grocery store and then home.

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings we go to the gym. It is a beautiful gym called BodyCare that is up on hill going toward Turi. We both walk on the treadmill first then workout on the weight machines. Everyone is very helpful there and we've met another older ex-pat couple who enjoy working out also. The following pictures show the spa area, the gym, and the restaurant.


Bodycare Spa
























































































Stairs to the Gym
















Treadmills
















Weight Room
















Pilates
















The Restaurant
















































View from the restaurant











Every Afternoon (Monday through Friday) we attend Spanish school for two hours. The school is located in the central ciudad on Sucre near Hermano Miguel. It is called Amauta and they have a website that you can check out at http://www.amauta.edu.ec/. It is hard work but I know it will be worth it and it's good to use our brains to learn something new.

Our Neighborhood

I have taken pictures of our neighborhood: the University of Cuenca, Santa Ines Hospital, some restaurants in the area, etc.

Leaving our building, this is the view from across the street

































Our street name (Agustin Cueva)


































The Italian restaurant in our building





















































Eggnog left over from Christmas





















Wine from South Africa





















The owner, Pablo















University of Cuenca
















































Santa Ines Hospital
































La Esquina, means "the corner" - (beautiful shops and restaurants)




















































































































Of course, we have to get ice cream!
















Chao for now, Patty

Large Apartment for Rent

Located in our building (Edificio Santa Maria) is a large three-bedroom apartment for rent on the fourth floor. It takes up half of the floor at 200 sq. meters. We know the family that owns it and I have taken pictures to help them get the word out that it is available.

It is unfurnished and they are asking $400 per month for rent. In addition there is a building fee you would need to pay, plus utilities, Internet and TV. There is an assigned parking space in the garage and the building has an elevator.

For more information, please contact the son-in-law Pedro Jerves (who speaks English) at apple@officesoluciones.com. Or you can call his land line at (593 7) 283-7506, ext. 109, or his cell phone at 09 595 9214.

When you enter the apartment, you are in the living/dining room. To the left is the kitchen, laundry room and full maid quarters. To the right of the living/dining room is the TV/family room, 2 guest bedrooms, guest bath, master bedroom with master bath.

There is no terrace, but there are beautiful views of the old town.

Enjoy the pictures!


Living Room/Dining Room






























Social Bath




















Kitchen






























Laundry Room


































Maid's Quarters





























































Hallway















TV/Family Room















Guest Bedroom 1



































Guest Bedroom 2






























Guest Bathroom




















Master Bedroom w/Bath