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Yesterday, we were up at 12:01am to shave, shower, etc, to be ready for vet John's arrival at 1:30am to drive to the Cali airport. Niece Ana was staying overnight and she said the dogs howled for an hour after I left. I know that they know the significance of the suitcase. I miss them already.
The Cali flight was uneventful but the Bogota to Guayaquil flight left almost an hour late. Then Ecuadorian Immigration were giving me funny looks for some reason, but they had my new passport and my old Cedula, so maybe my departure in 2018 wasn't recorded???
I stopped at a Claro booth at the airport and immediately got an Ecuadorain SIM card and number for my phone, with oodles of data, for my Samsung phone, for a month... I didn't realize until later that the silly girl had removed my Canadian Chatr SIM to leave in the memory card...
I had intended to go to the bus station and take the big bus to Cuenca, and I was on the phone with my buddy Gustavo when crooks were trying to sell a "buseta" (15-passenger bus) ride to Cuenca for $100!!! I knew that was a rip-off and a kind taxi driver took me to a proper buseta place where a senior rides for $8!!!! And the driver was good, not like the usual kamikaze turds.
The stop for the buseta was actually not far from my destination, bunking in a "Casita" behind the lovely home of good, good friends Teresa and Billy. I have this huge room with wi-fi and bathroom and a huge yard with flowers, birds and hummingbirds. I dare say that their yard is actually bigger than ours in Andalucia!
I took a short walk with Billy to get some bearings again, and later ventured out in familiar territory on my own. I conked out at 7pm in the memory foam king-sized bed and memory pillow. And, my dragging the rain here from Colombia has worked to fill the Tomebamba river for the first time in over 3 months. Because of the drought, they don't have the water to run the power stations so they have been rationing electricity, usually shutting off about 6 hours, mid-morning- to 4pm or so....
Today, Billy showed me his favourite breakfast place, and it was truly delicious. Then we walked further and visited with friend Barbie. We had stopped at Joes' Secret Garden, but they didn't answer. I called them later and will see them Saturday night.
Billy and I continued on to the Super Maxi mall and I bought an ethernet cord to plug this laptop directly into their wifi extender to get a little more oomph for this.... We could not shop at SuperMaxi because their tills were not working and the line-ups very long waiting... Then we caught a taxi back for $2. Taxis are ridiculously cheap here. You can still go completely across town for under $5.
Billy and Teresa headed out for lunch, so I looked up the nearest Claro store, which just happened to be in a new mall so I taxied there and had the Claro guy put in both SIM cards. Right now I was having trouble reaching anyone, leaving messages for them to call me... and I just got a 2 calls back.. Whew! The best number to call me should be 1-587-887-0488.
Then I went into the Coral supermarket and bought the necessities, toothpaste, shampoo, kleenex, beauty cream, snacks, bananas, rum, coke, and a floor fan to blow cool air into the room....
I am seriously thinking of springing for an electric bike here to help me get around. They are under $500 USD here too.
I have to mention how absolutely fortunate I am to have family and friends that support my craziness and we look out for each other. Teresa and Billy are an absolute godsend here and I am so thrilled with my situation in this lovely Casita. And I will be getting together with other friends, Gustavo and Oswaldo soon.
Tonight, apparently the plan is to go out to listen to one of Teresa and Billy's favourite bands. Life is tough!
I hope you enjoy the pictures. That was the day’s excitement.
Al
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NOTE that you may click on any photo for an ENLARGED VIEW.
The Casita has a recliner and a King bed! 
and an extra seating/party area outside 
HUGE yard with avocado trees 
Pizza/bread oven in the party area 
Nice distance/privacy to the main house 
Lit up in the morning sun 
and another 
and another 
Gorgeous main house 
View of the yard from the house 
Cicadas on this tree 
This is a Chiguanco Thrush 
again 
View from the back of the yard 
Washing clothes in the Tomebamba again!
