July 1

Seeing The Corrupt Judge


Today is my birthday (the secret 58 years old). Jayne gave me a gift in the morning of a leather carrying bag to put my video and still camera in. It looks like something that vendors would wear. But having this is better than a camera bag as it doesn’t attract thieves.

The first thing we did was to go to the British Embassy so Jayne could get her paper that allows her to remarry. Then we had a late breakfast at Friday´s that´s in a mall across the street from the embassy. From there we went to my lawyer´s office (she´ll also be a guest at the wedding).
We had to see the Judge that will be marrying us. We showed the paperwork, which includes a copy of IDs from our wedding witnesses. He said everything is in order.

This Judge wanted a bribe (that´s how things work in Ecuador). We were to have to pay another $60 from what he told us the last time we saw him. Now he said we don´t owe him anything. However, he said that he doesn´t work on Saturday usually and that he would like money for his time. Jayne said that we would have money in an envelope for him.

The judge also said that he would like money for transportation and that the next wedding will be at such-and-such place, and asked me to pay for his transportation.

Well, I know the situation. First, his office is only three blocks where the wedding will be. I know he won´t be taking a taxi. And as for me paying for him to go to the next wedding – he´s a a lot of nerve – I told him that is the cost of the other wedding party. That´s not my problem. This is a way that he can get extra money.

I don´t mind paying for his time, though it´s a bribe, but I rather pay it than not be able to get married. So, i´ll pay for his time but not for a taxi when he´s close by and certainly not paying for another wedding party´s taxi.

My lawyer, Maria del Carmen said that what they did to her wedding was that the Judge had a photographer that she had to pay for that. That´s how they get around the law.

I guess he thought that we were stupid and that i´d pay for someone else´s taxi!

Later, the three of us went to have something to drink and talk over about Jayne getting resident´s papers like I did. It looks like we´ll have to start the process this Thursday. After we check with the police and tell us how many days she has left in the country, then we can see about our honeymoon plans.

We already check with a travel agent and the only thing that she has that would be out of the country, nearby and would be a nice honeymoon place, and would be after the date of the wedding but before her current visa entry expires (which is July 15) is one to Arbua. We hope that we can get this flight. This will be for one week, however we are going to check to see how much it will cost to extend it a few days (one week goes by so quickly).

I´m writing this in an internet café in the city. After we leave here we plan to go to a nice restaurant to celebrate my birthday.

Today, I also took some picture in the beautiful square where our wedding will be – just in case it will be raining at the time of the wedding. It seems that it always rains at the same time this time of year. I´ll post a couple of the pictures when I have the time. You can copy them to your computer if you wish.

I also plan to send a CD of pictures and video after the honeymoon is over.