| I started this update yesterday morning. I was sitting | | | | non-stop all the way. The coast is quite warm |
| writing it at my desk which overlooks the Tomebamba | | | | compared to Cuenca and we asked why he did not |
| river. The views are fabulous and I think how lucky we | | | | use his air conditioning as this would be more |
| are to have such a view. The early part of today was | | | | comfortable, not only for temperature but also it would |
| a beautiful sunny 23 degree day. I could see clearly to | | | | alleviate the noise and fumes from the passing traffic. |
| the mountains. No clouds or rain were on the horizon. | | | | He advised early in the trip that they it did not work but |
| You never can tell here - it often rains later in the | | | | he was not sure. We had such a laugh when after we |
| afternoons, and that is exactly what it did. It absolutely | | | | had dropped our friends at the airport and returned to |
| bucketed down in some parts, and the water in the | | | | a sweltering car, John decided to try-out the |
| river rose very quickly to its highest level that we have | | | | air-conditioning. Whooooo it worked brilliantly and we |
| seen since arriving here. | | | | were able to drive home in absolute comfort. Even the |
| But I digress. In the morning, before it rained, I enjoyed | | | | driver laughed because he said he had never tried it |
| the view and the people-watching. Women were busy | | | | before and only assumed it did not work. Air |
| washing in the river and a family nearby was washing | | | | conditioners are rarely used in Cuenca. Then the next |
| their taxi cab. The Dad would take the bucket down to | | | | day after we returned to Cuenca he took us out again |
| the river for water, and then the wife and daughter | | | | to show us a property in Gualacelo in his taxi. |
| helped wash the car. I know this makes this place | | | | But a funny thing happened on the way. The driver's |
| sound like a real third world country but it's not. Not | | | | phone rang and he stopped the car on the side of the |
| everyone washes their clothes in the river or takes a | | | | road to answer it. His window was open as it was a |
| bucket to collect water to wash their cars. This local | | | | warm day. John was in the front passenger seat. A |
| custom, as one local mentioned, is also dying out and in | | | | passing car then went flying by and I felt something |
| the near future you will not see this being done. | | | | slap me in the face. It was mud. The passing vehicle |
| I love shopping as it always amazes me at the price | | | | had gone through a puddle right next to where we |
| on items. Some are the same as at home and others | | | | were parked, splashing dirty water. It came flying |
| are much cheaper. Here is some shopping trivia: I can | | | | through the drivers open window, mostly hitting him and |
| now buy 12 roses for $2.25 at the supermarket. The | | | | John, but also me in the back seat. It was so funny. |
| price has actually gone up since we were here in | | | | The drivers side of the car was covered with mud |
| February. A dozen cost me $1.45 then. They are | | | | and so was that side of his face and shirt. John had a |
| cheaper at the flower markets in the city. And | | | | white shirt on and it was also splattered. I got out of it |
| yesterday I bought two large sheets of Xmas paper, | | | | very lightly with only a few splats on me and the back |
| two black biros and a packet of sticky labels. The | | | | seat. |
| price for this was $1.00. I knew it was not going to be | | | | I have been noticing the great quality of life people |
| expensive but I was even a little surprised at how | | | | enjoy here. Generally most offices and shops close |
| cheap this was. | | | | for lunch from 1 - 3p.m. I am a great people-watcher. |
| There is really nothing much that I miss from my old | | | | Now I have a great view from my desk. For example, |
| home in Australia. My moisturizer may not be available | | | | I regularly notice a young man dressed in his business |
| here, but then I just make sure that any friends that | | | | attire walking up and down in front of our apartment. |
| come over from the US bring me some. People often | | | | Very casually I might add. Then the school bus stops |
| ask what the bad things we find here are. Well to be | | | | and he greets his young daughter. He takes her bag |
| quite honest with you I don't find anything bad. If it's not | | | | and gives her a piggy-back home while she chats and |
| to my liking then it's my problem. I chose to move here | | | | hugs her Dad. We know that every school day, our |
| and so I accept everything as it is, and enjoy the | | | | friend leaves work at lunch time and collects his 3 |
| changes and challenges. | | | | year-old son from day care and also takes him home. |
| We have made a great new acquaintance in an | | | | It seems to me that these young Dads get to spend |
| English speaking taxi driver. He has a wonderful sense | | | | some quality time with their kids during the middle of |
| of humour and we recently employed him to drive us | | | | the day. It could also be a de-stresser for the Dads as |
| and our friends to the coast and back. He took us in | | | | they concentrate on the child before going back to |
| his Father's Mitsubishi Montera so that we had plenty | | | | work. From my perspective, I think it is great because |
| of room. On the way home we dropped our friends at | | | | even if the fathers work later in the evening they have |
| Guayaquil as they were catching a flight back to Quito | | | | had the chance to spend some quality time with their |
| and we continued back to Cuenca - and talked | | | | children. |