July 15

Tuesday

Another Home Day

Today we were going to go to the British Embassy to see what they can do about Jayne getting resident visa her, thereby side-stepping my lawyer. Since Jayne didn’t get a good night’s sleep she didn’t feel well enough to go out.

(Unfortunately, many pictures were taken without a flast! Darn.)

We will try to get as much things done without the lawyer and only use her when it’s absolutely necessary. I was told that nearly all lawyers here are the same. Finding another one at this late stage might take us longer to accomplish what we want to do.

Until the visa situation is done we have to put on hold our honeymoon. Boy, it’ll be good to get out of Ecuador for awhile!

I went back to the electric company but before I saw the man I thought I’d try the machine again. Using the same info to type in it worked! That saved me talking to the man at the desk.

July 14

Monday

Where's My Lawyer?

Jayne and I went to pay the electric and phone bills. At the electric company there’s a machine where you enter your account number. For some reason, I didn’t get the bill delivered to the house. This is why I had to use the machine to get a ticket printed out. Well, the machine said there is no such number. I entered the number again and again it said the same thing. Now, I’ll have to go someone at the desk and see what the problem is.

Then I paid the phone bill which included the internet charge.

Jayne and I left for the mall which is in a nearby town. I got some money out of the bank. Later, we went to a restaurant for lunch.

At home I check my email to see if my lawyer, Maria del Carmen, answered it. Previously, I also sent a voice message to her and I also made a call. She must know that I called and she must have read my email but I had no response from her. I told her that the time is late for Jayne to get her visa changed (as this has to be done while she is on a tourist visa or there will be a fine).
There is no excuse for her not answering and telling us that what has to be done next. But this is typical in Ecuador! How things would have been so much easier had we been married in another country.

My lawyer, who was at the wedding, didn’t buy a gift or even give a card. With all the money that she made from me – how cheap! Others, who make much less money, gave gift. She hasn’t said anything when I did talk to her one time since the wedding.

I remember last Christmas that she just gave us a card, though other members of her family gave a little something (which I didn’t expect when we were at their home for Christmas Eve). It’s usually common in other countries that the lawyer gives a bottle of alcohol or something since they make money off their clients, but Maria – nothing. Not giving at least a card is an insult.

July 13

Trip to the Farm

I got a call from Judith at 7.30am. She wanted to confirm about coming to her family farm today. So Jayne and I got ready to go. Judith arrived with her mother and brother in the family car at 9.30am.



(Our restaurant is where the last four windows are in this picture.)

(Part of the beautiful view from the balcony of the restaurant in Plaza Grande.)

The drive was about 1.5 hours.

Her father had left the day before to prepare for our coming.

I learned that the farm had been in the family since the 19th Century. They have a little house that looks like campers or hunters would stay there. The land consisted of 10 hectares or about 25 acres. Since they don’t live out there they have share croppers whom they have till the soil and plant the crops, of which they give them 50% of the income.

What they have growing now is corn, hops and alfalfa.

After we took a walk around the property and were in the drive way we Jayne and I saw Mathieu and his family pull up. We were surprised as we didn’t know that they would be there. Also with them was another brother of Judith along with his wife and son.

There were a total of 13 of us.

Shortly after Mathieu arrived in his car we had a nice meal with plenty of food. Edwardo, who must have prepared all the food since it was ready before we arrived, had beef, pork, potatoes and corn.

Then another tour of the property was shown to those who came later. I didn’t go but Jayne took another walk. I lay in the newly put up hammock.

We left about 4.00pm, but this time we rode back with Mathieu and his family. The trip back took over 2 hours as there was traffic going back. I was told that this is usually the case Sunday afternoons as a lot of people take a trip to the country on this day.

July 12

Saturday 12th

Rest Day

We had a rest day today. We just went food shopping at the local market.

The Kiss

July 11

Getting Jayne an Extension on Her Visa

Jayne and I met with my lawyer’s assistant so Jayne could renew her visa. The process was simple as she just had to show her passport and a copy of the information page previous stamp in her passport.

We were told by my lawyer that she has 90 days left and from what I read from the law it was 34 days left. Guess who was right? Me! Now we have to get her a resident visa within the 34 days. We were told that this is no problem, but time will tell. We read on the internet that it takes from 4-6 weeks.



What would happen if this is not done in time?



If the government takes into consideration that we started the process and that she is now married to someone who has a resident visa, they will extend this. Or, they will fine us. The minimum fine is $200. (This is what I paid when my lawyer didn’t get the work done in time!)
When my lawyer gets back from her vacation, I’ll give her a call to see what has to be done next.
It looks like we will have to postpone our honeymoon until the paperwork is over – unless my lawyer says it’ ok to go out of the country and during the time we’ll be away. She might need us to go to different offices to start the process. Jayne was given a stamp in her passport that says the new date.



My friend, who was at the wedding, invited us to his hostal in the country for a honeymoon gift. So, we might go first while the paperwork is being processed, after which, we’ll go to Aruba (or some other island, depending on the availability).