Internet Problems

Monday July 6

Jayne and went to the restaurant that has internet. When we set up we found out there was no connection. The woman said that they cut the electric off in this area. We left there and went back home.

Then we went out to the bank as Jayne had more business to do. She found out that the electric company paid her back for the over charges. This is surprising and strange, as Jayne didn’t put in a request and the bank worker said this is the first time she ever saw this.
Then we went to Jayne’s lawyer, which is right around the corner and set up an appointment with him. We’ll have to go back there Wednesday at 11am.

On the way to the lawyer’s office we passed a cafe and I saw a guy with a laptop computer. On our return I saw another person with a laptop. I asked the waitress if she had wireless there, and she said yes. This is great. This is where we’ll go tomorrow.
Then we got something to eat at the cafe we’ve been to before. You get more food for your money if you order tapaz.


In the evening we watched a film on my computer. I put the computer on the coffee table so we can sit on the sofa. We saw Ben-Hur. This is what Richard gave to me back in April.

I hadn’t seen this film since it first came out in 1959! I remember it well, it was when my family, including my aunts and uncle were in Wildwood, NJ, on vacation.


July 7


Problems with internet

Jayne and I took our computers to the cafe that we saw has internet. We couldn’t get a connection, thought we tried and tried. We saw a guy who was on the desktop computers that the cafe has. I put money in one and I wasn’t connected, but it took my money (one euro). I did get my money back.

Then we went to the hotel that is in the plaza to see if they have internet. They do, and you have to put euro .50 in which is good for only 7 minutes! What a joke this was – it was so slow! I found out shortly after I put the money in that someone had broken the space bar. I had already noticed that someone had broken the space where the CD drive would have been. And this is suppose to be a 4 star hotel.

Well, I was only about to read two emails. One was from Matt and he said he had no news.
Then we left there to go to the cafe where we usually eat. I said to Jayne that in hte evening we’ll go back to the cafe we were at the other day but didn’t have electricity and see if they have connection.

At the cafe I decided to ask the friendly owner if he has wireless, and to my surprise he said yes. He gave me the password. But guess what? We couldn’t get connection.

This area really sucks for getting internet. You would think that in a tourist area in Europe there would be no problem. The owner said he just got wireless three weeks ago but no one had used it. What does he expect, he (or others that have it) don’t advertise. There is nothing on the door with a sign that says he has internet.

The owner later brought over a guy who is English and he helped us. He finally got Jayne connected. He said that with the Vista Windows there is usually a problem. He then went to my computer and got me connected, or at least he thought he did – as he didn’t even open up a Browser.

I opened up the Browser but I had a difficult time connecting. It was real slow but at least I got to my Yahoo page. But being so, so slow I had to shut it down. I had already used up a lot of battery before this guy came to help.

The guy who helped us out said that he is a waiter at the restaurant next door. So, what we’ll do is go to his place tomorrow. Since Jayne has to see her lawyer tomorrow in the same plaza, it would be convenient.

It’s hard to believe that there could be so many problems with a simple thing as the internet, but in this area it’s real.


Wednesday July 8

We went to a cafe of the guy who helped us yesterday with the internet and it was closed. His sign said they open at 10am, but this was 10min. past 10 and there wasn't even anyone inside. So, we went to another cafe.

At the cafe the internet was slow. If it was any slower I would be going back in time. When we were there, the owner gave Jayne another orange juice, though she didn’t ask for it.

Later, he gave me another beer, though I didn’t ask for it. I decided to look at the bill to see if he charged us – and he did!

I asked Jayne about this and she said that it’s a custom in Spain if you are a regular customer they give you another drink. Well, I was under the impression that it was free, as he did give us some peanuts to eat with the beer.

Well, the Spanish have a bad custom. The foreigners will not like this. I paid the bill and said nothing, so I didn’t leave a tip.

He didn’t wait long before the drink was finished before he came with another one. Also, he couldn’t use the excuse that we were there long and didn’t order anything else. If we go back the next time I’m be sure to tell him I don’t want it. I won’t care if the beer goes flat waiting for someone else to order it – that’s his loss.

I also noticed with different waiters/waitresses at different places that they don’t listen. This morning at our first cafe the woman came back again and asked how many coffees. On the bill, they had two tortilla and one Russian salad, when it was just the opposite. But since it came to the same price, I didn’t say anything. At other places you usually have to tell them three times. And if you order something and changed your mind – even when they are still there – you’d think you gave them a hard math test!

It had been exactly five years ago that I first went to Ecuador - that was a big mistake. I should have bought propertry somewhere else. It would have cost me more, but I would not have lost money as I had with Ecuador. With the cost of flying back and with the government allowing the sale of one property and with the cost of being a resident there, it resulted in 10s of thousands of dollars lost.