Monday November 3
The workers came over this morning.
Later, Mario, the architect came over with Galo. He gave me the estimated value of my property (which I need to get home insurance). He also brought over a draft – which he did at his own cost – of having apartments on the lot I have. It’s based on 6 apartments. It looked good. I was told I could easily make 30% on my money.
Then we left to go to the mall, as I said I’d treat them for something to drink. Jayne stayed home. On the way to the mall we stopped by some new flats that were build about one block from our house. We happened to see two workers leave. They told us that the flats are sold and that they sold for $70,000!
This is a good indication of prices in my area and how quick they sold.
The plan on the flats he showed me in Mario’s drawing would be 100 sq. meters and three stories high.
Then we drove to another place a few blocks from where we live where flats are being constructed. We took an inspection tour and shown the place. Its 87 sq. meters and the price is $50,000. There are 57 flats there and everything is sold but 10.
When we went to Friday’s Restaurant where I bought the two guys a drink. Then we talked about other designs for my property.
The talk was about building four homes – two on each side. The area of each would be 150 sq. meters. Each would be three floors, three bedrooms, 2 ½ baths with a balcony and a roof-top terrace. I was told that I could expect to make $80,000 profit, which would include profit on the land. But the cost of construction would be $180,000.
Mario said he would make a plan on the computer for free and give it to me next Monday.
All this sounds good but I don’t have the money. However, I will tell Richard about this as he might be interested and I’ll also tell Mathieu. Even if they are not interested, it would be good to have this information for someone who might want to buy the land, in which case, I could get more just for the land itself.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Richard's Back
Saturday November 1
Today is the anniversary when my father died. That was 48 years ago! I remember the day and I’ll always remember him. God Bless him.
Galo came over with two of his workers to continue work on the roof.
About 11am Richard came over. It was good seeing him as we had not seen him for about 2 months. He was away on a business trip to Argentina and New Zealand. He really like New Zealand and said it’s a beautiful place to live. It said it’s nice to be around people who are intelligent and polite.
He told us that the place is so clean that it’s unbelievable. He never heard someone beep their horn – as they have patience. Of all the towns that he visited he said that the most beautiful is Christchurch.
He really hated to come back to Ecuador. He said that the cost of living is much higher and gave some examples. For a 20 minute taxi ride it cost 50 NZ $ (about $30). The NZ dollar is worth about 60 US cents. A nice but average size flat costs about half a million dollars! For lunch it cost about $22 NZ, for dinner about $30 NZ.
Then Richard got bad news when he got home. He heard from some friends about what happened when he was away. He said one good friend he has here was robbed twice at gun point. Since then this guy got a licence to buy and carry a gun.
Another person was attacked by a knife welding bandit. After he was stabbed then made a dirty comment to them and they came back and stabbed him more – he died as a result of this.
Then his business partner was robbed while he was on the beach. He told the thug, “What are you crazy!” Meaning that when you just have on a bathing suite what could he robbed of?!
Stupid criminals!
Then there was a couple that he didn’t know but it was in the newspapers. It was a tourist couple that was at the same beach that his business partner was. The woman was raped and the guy was stabbed 26 times!! He was flown back to the US for hospitalization.
The anti-foreigner and anti-White crime has gone up!
Richard said he is considering hiring an armed guard.
This is another and perhaps the most important reason to leave Ecuador! They certainly don’t have crime like this in many other places, including Cyprus.
I introduced Galo to Richard and they talked a little. I thought that it would be good for Richard to know someone who is honest and does good work for his repairs and any future construction.
Richard fixed some programs on my computer and he also made copies of some of the films he downloaded from the internet (he brought over his external hard drive).
Jayne stayed home while Richard and I went to the mall. I suggested to her that we all stay home or we all go, but we would have to leave the workers here by themselves. Well, we would never consider this if it was any other workers, but since Galo said they are completely trustworthy he said it was ok when we left for a ride with him to the country. But Jayne said it’s ok for us to go and just bring back something to eat for her.
Richard and I went to the Waffle House and had something to eat there (it wasn’t waffles). Then I got some food for Jayne.
We talked some more when we got back. Then Richard left about 5.30pm.
In the evening Jayne started to come down with a cold.
Sunday November 2
Jayne doesn’t feel well today as she has a cold. She was feeling bad last night and it’s a bit worse today. This is the first time she got sick while in Ecuador.
Since we need food I went to the mall myself while she stayed home in bed.
In the morning I went to the mall to do some food shopping.
Today is the anniversary when my father died. That was 48 years ago! I remember the day and I’ll always remember him. God Bless him.
Galo came over with two of his workers to continue work on the roof.
About 11am Richard came over. It was good seeing him as we had not seen him for about 2 months. He was away on a business trip to Argentina and New Zealand. He really like New Zealand and said it’s a beautiful place to live. It said it’s nice to be around people who are intelligent and polite.
He told us that the place is so clean that it’s unbelievable. He never heard someone beep their horn – as they have patience. Of all the towns that he visited he said that the most beautiful is Christchurch.
He really hated to come back to Ecuador. He said that the cost of living is much higher and gave some examples. For a 20 minute taxi ride it cost 50 NZ $ (about $30). The NZ dollar is worth about 60 US cents. A nice but average size flat costs about half a million dollars! For lunch it cost about $22 NZ, for dinner about $30 NZ.
Then Richard got bad news when he got home. He heard from some friends about what happened when he was away. He said one good friend he has here was robbed twice at gun point. Since then this guy got a licence to buy and carry a gun.
Another person was attacked by a knife welding bandit. After he was stabbed then made a dirty comment to them and they came back and stabbed him more – he died as a result of this.
Then his business partner was robbed while he was on the beach. He told the thug, “What are you crazy!” Meaning that when you just have on a bathing suite what could he robbed of?!
Stupid criminals!
Then there was a couple that he didn’t know but it was in the newspapers. It was a tourist couple that was at the same beach that his business partner was. The woman was raped and the guy was stabbed 26 times!! He was flown back to the US for hospitalization.
The anti-foreigner and anti-White crime has gone up!
Richard said he is considering hiring an armed guard.
This is another and perhaps the most important reason to leave Ecuador! They certainly don’t have crime like this in many other places, including Cyprus.
I introduced Galo to Richard and they talked a little. I thought that it would be good for Richard to know someone who is honest and does good work for his repairs and any future construction.
Richard fixed some programs on my computer and he also made copies of some of the films he downloaded from the internet (he brought over his external hard drive).
Jayne stayed home while Richard and I went to the mall. I suggested to her that we all stay home or we all go, but we would have to leave the workers here by themselves. Well, we would never consider this if it was any other workers, but since Galo said they are completely trustworthy he said it was ok when we left for a ride with him to the country. But Jayne said it’s ok for us to go and just bring back something to eat for her.
Richard and I went to the Waffle House and had something to eat there (it wasn’t waffles). Then I got some food for Jayne.
We talked some more when we got back. Then Richard left about 5.30pm.
In the evening Jayne started to come down with a cold.
Sunday November 2
Jayne doesn’t feel well today as she has a cold. She was feeling bad last night and it’s a bit worse today. This is the first time she got sick while in Ecuador.
Since we need food I went to the mall myself while she stayed home in bed.
In the morning I went to the mall to do some food shopping.
Galo the Contractor
Wednesday October 29
Today Galo came with one worker. My worker came by himself. Then Galo and me went to see a project that he is working on not to far from the mall. Then he dropped me off at the mall so I could work on buidlig my website. At the mall there is faster internet connection.
I was about to leave (in the afternoon) when Galo stopped by. He said that he was back at my house.
Then we stopped to see his project again, as he wanted to see the girders that were put up. I also met his brother, Bruno, who works in construction. He seems like a real nice guy and he speaks English, too. The architect, Mario, was there, too.
Then it was off to my home again.
The raised patio is nearly finished and it looks good.
Thursday October 30
Galo took Jayne and I for a ride to see his house, some homes he build, and to a national park. We didn’t go in his house, but just drove up to it. The national park is really nice. This is next to the water source for the city of Quito.
There, we took some pictures and saw the lagoons in the bottom of the valley. I’ll send them later.
Friday October 31
The workers were doing repairs on the roof, while another worker continued painting the house.
I went to Quito to go to another bank where I have an account. First, I got something to eat. I then went to see if a package came for Jayne and i. when I got there they were closed but a woman shouted out the window that they will be opened at 3pm.
So I had to kill time. So I got something to drink.
It started to rain so I had to wait longer as I wanted to walk back to see if a package arrived. When I got there, there was no package for Jayne.
Then I walked back to where the out-door bar is to get a taxi. It had started to rain again so I had to spend more time there. By the time I was ready to leave I thought that it would be too late to go to the bank so I got a taxi home instead.
I paid the workers after I got home. I was told that they would be back tomorrow to finish the job.
Today Galo came with one worker. My worker came by himself. Then Galo and me went to see a project that he is working on not to far from the mall. Then he dropped me off at the mall so I could work on buidlig my website. At the mall there is faster internet connection.
I was about to leave (in the afternoon) when Galo stopped by. He said that he was back at my house.
Then we stopped to see his project again, as he wanted to see the girders that were put up. I also met his brother, Bruno, who works in construction. He seems like a real nice guy and he speaks English, too. The architect, Mario, was there, too.
Then it was off to my home again.
The raised patio is nearly finished and it looks good.
Thursday October 30
Galo took Jayne and I for a ride to see his house, some homes he build, and to a national park. We didn’t go in his house, but just drove up to it. The national park is really nice. This is next to the water source for the city of Quito.
There, we took some pictures and saw the lagoons in the bottom of the valley. I’ll send them later.
Friday October 31
The workers were doing repairs on the roof, while another worker continued painting the house.
I went to Quito to go to another bank where I have an account. First, I got something to eat. I then went to see if a package came for Jayne and i. when I got there they were closed but a woman shouted out the window that they will be opened at 3pm.
So I had to kill time. So I got something to drink.
It started to rain so I had to wait longer as I wanted to walk back to see if a package arrived. When I got there, there was no package for Jayne.
Then I walked back to where the out-door bar is to get a taxi. It had started to rain again so I had to spend more time there. By the time I was ready to leave I thought that it would be too late to go to the bank so I got a taxi home instead.
I paid the workers after I got home. I was told that they would be back tomorrow to finish the job.
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