First day in Ecuador

We arrived in Quito at 1:00am and took the one hour taxi ride from the airport to Quito Hotel Bonanza located near the Equator.  La Mitad del Mundo.  We quickly fell down on the bed and passed out.  Woke up at 11:30am and ate breakfast.  A few hours later we took a taxi into the city so that we could stop by the bank and pick up our original Certificates of Deposit; the last items we need related to our application for residency.  We walked around a bit.  Stopped at the pharmacy to buy sunscreen and snacks and enjoyed a cup of coffee at a local restaurant that we have been to before.  I almost forgot, we visited one of the local malls called Spiral something...the inside of the mall spirals upward with stores only on one side.  There is an open area in the middle from top to bottom...an atrium I guess.  We summoned a taxi for the ride back to the hotel and quickly realized that we do not speak Spanish.  You should have heard me attempting to negotiate the price with the driver.  As we drove off I quickly realized that I had agreed to $50.00.  I said, "excuse me, I meant quince, or $15.00.  We finally agreed on $25.00.  It is an hour trip back to the hotel so I guess $25.00 was ok.

The warmer weather here is so nice!   It is the rainy season so there are showers during the day.  Nothing to hamper us from getting out and exploring.  The showers only last a short time.

Just finished dinner, the hotel provides us with three meals a day.  Tonight we had pork chops, rice, vegetable salad, bread, and fresh fruit juice.  The rest of the evening consists of relaxing and maybe some reading.  My resolution this year is to read.  Let's see how long that lasts!

St. Simons Island

Happy New Year to you.  I am currently on St. Simons Island with Mike and we are visiting with his sisters and friends before we head off to Ecuador on Tuesday.  As is always the case, it rained on the trip down which makes for a stressful drive.  Getting dark at 6:00 doesn't help either.  However,  I always enjoy our time here.  It is fun to hang out with everyone and have a few laughs.  I miss the hot tub at the old house but guess what...they have one here at the hotel.  Running out to get a swim suit in a few minutes.  It's nearly 11:00 and I am actually still in the bed.  Well I have showered and partially dressed.  Just being lazy!  Guess I better go out and enjoy the day.  It's cold but sunny.

First package sent.

I hope you had a Merry Christmas.  I did.  Mike and I drove up to Cornelia to spend Christmas with my mother, sister, and nephew.  We exchanged and opened presents the moment we got there.  Isaiah is ten years old so he gets very excited about opening gifts. After opening presents we had a wonderful lunch prepared by my mother.  She is the best cook and always makes sure she has everyone's favorites.  She served a turkey that she prepared in the crockpot.  It was so moist and delicious.  And, there was macaroni and cheese, green beans, roasted brussels sprouts, dressing, gravy, rolls, cranberry sauce, ambrosia, pecan pie, brownies (prepared by Isaiah) and a chocolate chip cookie cake.  I'm sure I left something out.  While there Isaiah decided to cook some cornbread for us.  Who knows...he may grow up to be a famous chef!  How fun would that be?

The first package is being sent via FedEx today to Ecuador.  I boxed up blankets, clothes, and a pair of sandals.  This is a test shipment to make sure it actually gets there and that nothing is missing.  I will let you know if it is a success or not.  Keep your fingers crossed.

Yesterday, I posted a message on GringoPost.com expressing my interest in an English teaching job in Cuenca.  My e-mail has blown up with responses.  I'm retired but I refuse to sit around the house all day.  I figured I would get bored after six months and would want to teach/tutor part time.  It appears, that if I choose to, I could get a full-time teaching job almost immediately.  I already have an interview set up with one language school.  Just four or five months ago I never dreamed that I would give up a twenty-two year career in Accounting and move to South America to teach English as a foreign language.  Life is full of surprises.  I am glad that God gave me the intelligence and guts to do such a thing! 

  

Two weeks ...

Two weeks and we are headed to Quito Ecuador.  We will then stay in Quito for about two weeks while we finalize our residency status.  Once we receive our Cedulas, green cards, we will move on to Cuenca where our apartment is waiting.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone.

Scooter

It took a few days before I was able to write about this.  Scooter went to be with his new parents Friday, December 13.  Cory and Abe were very excited about adopting Scooter.  When I left Scooter had already made himself at home.  He ate his dinner, sniffed around his new digs a bit, and then settled down to chew on a rawhide stick.  One of his favorite treats. I miss him a lot.  However, I know it is for the best.  He is now in a great home with wonderful people to care for him.  I will miss my little Scooter. The only dog I ever loved.

NYC!

I visited New York City Saturday thru Tuesday.  I was finally able to visit The Metropolitan Museum of Art.  It was something I wanted to do for a very long time.  Saw a lot of famous paintings and sculptures, among many other works of art.  Spent an entire day there.  However, one day is not enough time if you want to see the entire collection.  I hit the highlights and came away feeling happy.  It was also a pleasant surprise to have experienced snow falling in NYC while walking around Times Square and while viewing the holiday window decorations at the many retail stores. Happened upon an organ recital at St. Thomas church.  Walked in and enjoyed the magnificent pipe organ. Also enjoyed a coffee at Trump Plaza while drying off and warming up a bit.  Got to see the Christmas tree and ice skaters at Rockefeller Center and witnessed a marriage proposal on the ice! The hotel was located in the Financial District.  Outside the window I had a great view of the new World Trade Center buildings and could see a little bit of The Empire State Building.  One thing I noticed in NYC is that everyone was so nice and pleasant.  It was definately a trip to remember! Oh, and I got to be a witness for a same-sex couple that got married at the City Clerks office.  And, they recipricated.

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Pictures!

Please try the link below.  Hopefully, it will direct you to my Flickr site and all 260 photos I took in Cuenca, Ecuador.  Headed to Columbia, SC in the morning to visit my dad and step-mother. 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/howardwood/sets/72157638300317156/