Friday March 27
We went to San Rafael to go on the internet. Then we went to the mall.
Mathieu called and told me that he called his bank (the same one that I bank at) and the girl there said when Ecuador changes currency the Euros will have to be changed to. In other words you don’t have any protection. He told me that he will be taking his money out a little at a time and keep it in Euros. I told him that I’ll do the same thing.
I don’t like to leave that much money at home, but I’ll have to do it.
I was told that the Russia Central Bank is printing the currency for Ecuador and it’ll be called El Condor.
Matt also told me that the law where it requires you to report your world-wide assets applies only to Ecuadorians – according to Maria. Richard had heard differently. In either case, I will not report what we have and neither will Jayne.
I called Richard after I talked to Mathieu, to warn him about what is coming. He told me that his money is in certificates of deposits and this will not affect him. However, he admits that this country doesn’t follow its own laws. If I was him I would get those CDs and change it to another currency.
Richard said that the change probably will not come until after the run-off election. The election will be in the end of April but there will be a run-off which is usually about two months later. He said that the President will not want to risk doing it before he’s elected. I agree with him with the exception that if the dollar goes to pot I’m sure Carerra will change the currency if the dollar goes down before election. The reason why I think this is that it will look worse with Ecuador having a worthless US dollar. So, it can happen at any time.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
A Day With Richard
Tuesday March 24
Richard called this morning and asked what we were doing and I said nothing. He was doing nothing so I invited him over. He came about 11.30am. The first thing he told us was that one of his Cuban workers was robbed the other day by five guys and two girls! He said this was in Quito in broad daylight with other people around. He said that the bystanders were just looking and didn’t do anything.
Tony, his worker, said that it was a gang and that they went after him because he was a foreigner. One guy got him in a choke hold behind his back and the two girls each had a box cutter and held it to his neck while he was robbed. One said, “We know you have money.” and he said he didn’t. They just got his cell phone and four dollars and some change.
This is just terrible! If a Cuban looks foreign, imagine how we Saxons look like!
Richard said that he’s going to look into buying a gun. He’s worried that he will be kidnapped – especially that he drives around in a good car (SUV). However, he’s still talking about living here on the one hand and on the other, leaving the country.
That makes me want to leave all the sooner. To be honest, a white person in a city in America will have a greater chance of being robbed with all the gangs that live there. That’s why I don’t want to live there (among other reasons). I know you could be robbed in any country, but why live in a country where your chances of being robbed are greater!
Richard brought over a computer program for me and a World Coins book.
Richard said that he would like to go to the mall to get something to eat and see a movie. So, this is what we did. When we got out of the car, I had spotted Gallo, my old contractor, driving off. He saw me. So he stopped his car – which had his 89 year-old father in it, and came over to us to talk.
We saw one good movie that was playing, called, Seven Souls. We saw that it was in English and that it starts at 3.10pm. Then we went to the Waffle House to have our lunch. We talked quite a bit after we ate, as we had plenty of time to kill.
Then we went to the movie theater to buy our tickets. Richard saw that there was something playing called Old People. He asked about that and they said, “No, that’s a discount for old people.” We got a laugh out of that!
For $1 more we got to go to the VIP lounge. It’s well worth the extra money. However, not all movie play in the VIP, plus if you go there during the weekend it cost $5 more. We saw the film Seven Souls, and it was really good. Richard remembered after he bought the tickets that he saw it last week as he had downloaded it off the Internet!
Then Richard drove us home. He couldn’t stop as he wanted to get home before the traffic got too bad and before it got dark.
When I was reading the book that Richard downloaded for me about world coins, I decided to look at the coins of Ecuador.
First, let me explain that the book is over 2,200 pages and they have 50,000 pictures of coins. I didn’t ask him to download the book but since he knew that I had a coin shop he thought that I would be interested in it, which I am. This book starts with dates from 1901 and ends with 2000.
I searched for Ecuador and saw that some of their coins were made in England, the USA, Mexico and some other places. It was funny that some of the coins were made in Birmingham, England and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Birmingham is the largest city near where Jayne used to live, and Philadelphia is where I was born. I mentioned to Jayne about where the coins were made, then we thought about Prince Charles being here in Ecuador earlier in this month.
The excuse that Prince Charles gave was that it was the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin. This is also his first trip to South America. Now we knew when he arrived that it was political and/or business why he was here but the news story was just a cover.
Putting two and two together, we thought that since the President of Ecuador said in a private meeting that he plans to go off the dollar after elections in April and make their own currency. Jayne and I think that it could be that President Carres and Prince Charles talked about England making the coins (and possibly the money) for Ecuador!
Time will tell if this is what happens.
Richard called this morning and asked what we were doing and I said nothing. He was doing nothing so I invited him over. He came about 11.30am. The first thing he told us was that one of his Cuban workers was robbed the other day by five guys and two girls! He said this was in Quito in broad daylight with other people around. He said that the bystanders were just looking and didn’t do anything.
Tony, his worker, said that it was a gang and that they went after him because he was a foreigner. One guy got him in a choke hold behind his back and the two girls each had a box cutter and held it to his neck while he was robbed. One said, “We know you have money.” and he said he didn’t. They just got his cell phone and four dollars and some change.
This is just terrible! If a Cuban looks foreign, imagine how we Saxons look like!
Richard said that he’s going to look into buying a gun. He’s worried that he will be kidnapped – especially that he drives around in a good car (SUV). However, he’s still talking about living here on the one hand and on the other, leaving the country.
That makes me want to leave all the sooner. To be honest, a white person in a city in America will have a greater chance of being robbed with all the gangs that live there. That’s why I don’t want to live there (among other reasons). I know you could be robbed in any country, but why live in a country where your chances of being robbed are greater!
Richard brought over a computer program for me and a World Coins book.
Richard said that he would like to go to the mall to get something to eat and see a movie. So, this is what we did. When we got out of the car, I had spotted Gallo, my old contractor, driving off. He saw me. So he stopped his car – which had his 89 year-old father in it, and came over to us to talk.
We saw one good movie that was playing, called, Seven Souls. We saw that it was in English and that it starts at 3.10pm. Then we went to the Waffle House to have our lunch. We talked quite a bit after we ate, as we had plenty of time to kill.
Then we went to the movie theater to buy our tickets. Richard saw that there was something playing called Old People. He asked about that and they said, “No, that’s a discount for old people.” We got a laugh out of that!
For $1 more we got to go to the VIP lounge. It’s well worth the extra money. However, not all movie play in the VIP, plus if you go there during the weekend it cost $5 more. We saw the film Seven Souls, and it was really good. Richard remembered after he bought the tickets that he saw it last week as he had downloaded it off the Internet!
Then Richard drove us home. He couldn’t stop as he wanted to get home before the traffic got too bad and before it got dark.
When I was reading the book that Richard downloaded for me about world coins, I decided to look at the coins of Ecuador.
First, let me explain that the book is over 2,200 pages and they have 50,000 pictures of coins. I didn’t ask him to download the book but since he knew that I had a coin shop he thought that I would be interested in it, which I am. This book starts with dates from 1901 and ends with 2000.
I searched for Ecuador and saw that some of their coins were made in England, the USA, Mexico and some other places. It was funny that some of the coins were made in Birmingham, England and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Birmingham is the largest city near where Jayne used to live, and Philadelphia is where I was born. I mentioned to Jayne about where the coins were made, then we thought about Prince Charles being here in Ecuador earlier in this month.
The excuse that Prince Charles gave was that it was the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin. This is also his first trip to South America. Now we knew when he arrived that it was political and/or business why he was here but the news story was just a cover.
Putting two and two together, we thought that since the President of Ecuador said in a private meeting that he plans to go off the dollar after elections in April and make their own currency. Jayne and I think that it could be that President Carres and Prince Charles talked about England making the coins (and possibly the money) for Ecuador!
Time will tell if this is what happens.
My Sister´s Birthday
Friday March 20
Today is Sharon’s birthday (my sister), she is 62 years old! It’s hard to believe that we are getting this old.
I told our worker, Gonzalo, that we will only need him one day a week because everything has been repaired. Now, we will only need him to do gardening work, which is what he done today. So, he said that he’ll be in a week from Monday. I’m sorry that we have to do this as he’s been a good worker. I expect him to look for another job, but I hope he can still come by once a week to do the weeding or painting touch up (as the paint comes off in places because of the dampness all around.
Richard had called to say that a military plane crashed into a building down the street from him! He said that it happened Wednesday about 5.30pm and all he heard was a bunch of sirens. The fog (clouds) was so thick that he couldn’t see the crash. It was the next day that he saw it from his window, so he took a picture of it.
Richard lives on the edge of Quito, where his street is on the edge of a raven. The planes come to the airport over his street, but further down. He found out that it was a training exercise for the polit. Can you imagine having this when the cloud cover was so heavy?
Anyhow, all five crew members were killed and two who lived in the building. Richard said a few days later that the pilot had brought along his wife and baby child. Only in Ecuador would this happen!
Today is Sharon’s birthday (my sister), she is 62 years old! It’s hard to believe that we are getting this old.
I told our worker, Gonzalo, that we will only need him one day a week because everything has been repaired. Now, we will only need him to do gardening work, which is what he done today. So, he said that he’ll be in a week from Monday. I’m sorry that we have to do this as he’s been a good worker. I expect him to look for another job, but I hope he can still come by once a week to do the weeding or painting touch up (as the paint comes off in places because of the dampness all around.
Richard had called to say that a military plane crashed into a building down the street from him! He said that it happened Wednesday about 5.30pm and all he heard was a bunch of sirens. The fog (clouds) was so thick that he couldn’t see the crash. It was the next day that he saw it from his window, so he took a picture of it.
Richard lives on the edge of Quito, where his street is on the edge of a raven. The planes come to the airport over his street, but further down. He found out that it was a training exercise for the polit. Can you imagine having this when the cloud cover was so heavy?
Anyhow, all five crew members were killed and two who lived in the building. Richard said a few days later that the pilot had brought along his wife and baby child. Only in Ecuador would this happen!
Former Classmate Contact
Tuesday March 17
I went to the Internet café. When I got there I was told that their Internet is not working. So I went to the mall – the Internet there was working.
Last week I got an email on Facebook from someone who graduated with me at the school that we went to. I wrote back to her. She wrote back to say that she found others who were in the same class. When I got on the Internet today I got more of my former classmates write to me.
Since I lost my yearbook in a fire many years ago (about 1975), I never got to refresh my memory as to what they look like. Some who wrote to me remembered me. I went to the Facebook sites that they have and I didn’t recognize them. Though their pictures are how they now. Anyhow, it’s good to be in touch with them.
I went to the Internet café. When I got there I was told that their Internet is not working. So I went to the mall – the Internet there was working.
Last week I got an email on Facebook from someone who graduated with me at the school that we went to. I wrote back to her. She wrote back to say that she found others who were in the same class. When I got on the Internet today I got more of my former classmates write to me.
Since I lost my yearbook in a fire many years ago (about 1975), I never got to refresh my memory as to what they look like. Some who wrote to me remembered me. I went to the Facebook sites that they have and I didn’t recognize them. Though their pictures are how they now. Anyhow, it’s good to be in touch with them.
Breakfast at Richard´s Home
Sunday March 15
Jayne and I went to Richard’s home. We got there about noon. About 30 minutes later Chad and his girlfriend came over. His girlfriend just had a baby girl four days ago and they brought her with them. They are a mixed race couple.
Richard was making genuine Belgium waffles when we came over. He had a whip cream topping along with strawberries and mulberries. He also made some sausage and home fry potatoes.
When we first got there he had champagne cocktails. One was with grenadine and orange juice. I think that is called blenni (sounds like the Russian word for pancakes) but it’s an Italian name.
After the mean there was Boston cream pie. Jayne never had this before. With the pie was cappuccino. Then later he gave us a little dish of sherbet ice cream that he made. This was made with orange and some tropical fruit I don’t remember.
Everything was excellent. This is something that I would not eat, but since it was ages that I had it, I indulge. In fact, Jayne had two Belgium waffles, while I just had a half one for my second helping.
Chad and Julian left after the dessert, while Jayne and I stayed until 4.30pm.
We had a nice time there. It was good for us to get out and meet Richard and do something different.
We didn’t feel like eating anything for the rest of the day.
Jayne and I went to Richard’s home. We got there about noon. About 30 minutes later Chad and his girlfriend came over. His girlfriend just had a baby girl four days ago and they brought her with them. They are a mixed race couple.
Richard was making genuine Belgium waffles when we came over. He had a whip cream topping along with strawberries and mulberries. He also made some sausage and home fry potatoes.
When we first got there he had champagne cocktails. One was with grenadine and orange juice. I think that is called blenni (sounds like the Russian word for pancakes) but it’s an Italian name.
After the mean there was Boston cream pie. Jayne never had this before. With the pie was cappuccino. Then later he gave us a little dish of sherbet ice cream that he made. This was made with orange and some tropical fruit I don’t remember.
Everything was excellent. This is something that I would not eat, but since it was ages that I had it, I indulge. In fact, Jayne had two Belgium waffles, while I just had a half one for my second helping.
Chad and Julian left after the dessert, while Jayne and I stayed until 4.30pm.
We had a nice time there. It was good for us to get out and meet Richard and do something different.
We didn’t feel like eating anything for the rest of the day.
Fax Finally Sent
Saturday March 14
Today Jayne and I went to Quito. It goods that we get out and do something different. First we went to Magic Bean for breakfast. Then we went on the internet. From there we went Quicentro (which is a mall). It’s only there that I can send an international fax. I had to send one to my bank overseas to tell them to send me a new debt card. The cost was $1.50.
Actually, we went to another mall first, as I thought it was this one that had a company that sends faxes, as it turned out it was the wrong one. So, we walked around and we went to a bookstore called Mr. Books. They have a nice selection of books in English – problem the biggest outside of the used bookstores they have here. Anyhow, I noticed they have three books by Donald Trump. Then near that they have books by the person who wrote Rich Dad Poor Day. There were about four other books on the same topic (how to make money and finances). His first book was on the New York Times Best Seller list for five years! So, I bought one book. I had read one that he co-authored with Donald Trump and it was good.
I’m always looking for self-help books, and to find them here is rare.
When we got home, the phone was ringing. It was Richard. He told me the news he had the past week. He also said that two friends of his are coming over tomorrow and said that he’ll be making Belgium waffles and he invited us. So, Jayne and I will be going. Richard also made Boston cream pie, which Jayne never had. This food is not healthy but since we don’t eat like this every week, it would be a treat for Jayne.
Today Jayne and I went to Quito. It goods that we get out and do something different. First we went to Magic Bean for breakfast. Then we went on the internet. From there we went Quicentro (which is a mall). It’s only there that I can send an international fax. I had to send one to my bank overseas to tell them to send me a new debt card. The cost was $1.50.
Actually, we went to another mall first, as I thought it was this one that had a company that sends faxes, as it turned out it was the wrong one. So, we walked around and we went to a bookstore called Mr. Books. They have a nice selection of books in English – problem the biggest outside of the used bookstores they have here. Anyhow, I noticed they have three books by Donald Trump. Then near that they have books by the person who wrote Rich Dad Poor Day. There were about four other books on the same topic (how to make money and finances). His first book was on the New York Times Best Seller list for five years! So, I bought one book. I had read one that he co-authored with Donald Trump and it was good.
I’m always looking for self-help books, and to find them here is rare.
When we got home, the phone was ringing. It was Richard. He told me the news he had the past week. He also said that two friends of his are coming over tomorrow and said that he’ll be making Belgium waffles and he invited us. So, Jayne and I will be going. Richard also made Boston cream pie, which Jayne never had. This food is not healthy but since we don’t eat like this every week, it would be a treat for Jayne.
Hard To Send International Fax
Friday March 13
I went to San Luis Mall to send a fax to my bank. I went to a FedEx store they have there and I was told that they only send faxes within the country. He told me to go to Movistar in the mall and they can send faxes international. When I went there I was told they don’t send faxes and told me to go to FedEx. Here is an example where one store doesn’t know what the other store has.
Here is another problem in Ecuador – that there are very few places that send international faxes. Even banks don’t send them, or at least this is what they tell the people.
I went to San Luis Mall to send a fax to my bank. I went to a FedEx store they have there and I was told that they only send faxes within the country. He told me to go to Movistar in the mall and they can send faxes international. When I went there I was told they don’t send faxes and told me to go to FedEx. Here is an example where one store doesn’t know what the other store has.
Here is another problem in Ecuador – that there are very few places that send international faxes. Even banks don’t send them, or at least this is what they tell the people.
Internet Problems in Ecuador
Wednesday March 11
Jayne and I went to the mall to go on the Internet. I left Jayne at the restaurant with the computer and I went to an Internet store there. As soon as I got there I was told that they have no connection so the customers had to leave. I went to a Fed Express store that has three computers there but they were all occupied. When I went back Jayne told me that her connection was slow. When I got on the Internet I had no connection at all.
At the restaurant they’ve been having problems with their wireless, but we were on a cable connection with another Provider. I can’t understand it – that this restaurant has problems with two Providers and this other café had problems, too. It looks like we’ll have to use one on the street in San Rafael. I haven’t had problems with this place plus their connection is fast.
Thursday March 12
Jayne and I went to the mall. We were at a restaurant and used their cable internet, as their wireless is not working. Well, their cable connection that is with another company stopped. You would think that a big company that is located in a modern mall would not have this problem or that it could be corrected soon (as this problem has been going on for a couple of weeks). Therefore, these providers don’t know how to correct the problem.
It looks like I’ll have to try another place that is actually on the street. I’ve always found this place to have fast connection. The problem is, if I want to do something that I need my computer to do it with, I can’t, as I have to use their computer.
Jayne and I went to the mall to go on the Internet. I left Jayne at the restaurant with the computer and I went to an Internet store there. As soon as I got there I was told that they have no connection so the customers had to leave. I went to a Fed Express store that has three computers there but they were all occupied. When I went back Jayne told me that her connection was slow. When I got on the Internet I had no connection at all.
At the restaurant they’ve been having problems with their wireless, but we were on a cable connection with another Provider. I can’t understand it – that this restaurant has problems with two Providers and this other café had problems, too. It looks like we’ll have to use one on the street in San Rafael. I haven’t had problems with this place plus their connection is fast.
Thursday March 12
Jayne and I went to the mall. We were at a restaurant and used their cable internet, as their wireless is not working. Well, their cable connection that is with another company stopped. You would think that a big company that is located in a modern mall would not have this problem or that it could be corrected soon (as this problem has been going on for a couple of weeks). Therefore, these providers don’t know how to correct the problem.
It looks like I’ll have to try another place that is actually on the street. I’ve always found this place to have fast connection. The problem is, if I want to do something that I need my computer to do it with, I can’t, as I have to use their computer.
Russian Holiday
Sunday March 8
Today is ‘International Women’s Day in Russia and some of the former occupied countries. I wrote some email to friends that I know there.
Today is ‘International Women’s Day in Russia and some of the former occupied countries. I wrote some email to friends that I know there.
Visit from Richard
Friday March 6
Jayne stayed home and I went to the mall. She said she’ll go tomorrow to check her email.
Richard called to tell me the news. One of the things he told me is that he’ll be buying the property in Manta. It’s 2.5 hectares and the cost is $10/sq. meter (down from 12/sq. meter asking price). This is a great buy for him.
He also told me that the bank who said they have a customer that is interested in buying an apartment was just a ruse. What the bank hoped that he would put more money in their account. He was pissed off about the bank lying! He didn’t tell them that to their face, but when his CDs mature he’s not putting a dime in their bank. (He has another bank where he has CDs and gets better treatment.)
Richard said he’ll stop by tomorrow.
Jayne stayed home and I went to the mall. She said she’ll go tomorrow to check her email.
Richard called to tell me the news. One of the things he told me is that he’ll be buying the property in Manta. It’s 2.5 hectares and the cost is $10/sq. meter (down from 12/sq. meter asking price). This is a great buy for him.
He also told me that the bank who said they have a customer that is interested in buying an apartment was just a ruse. What the bank hoped that he would put more money in their account. He was pissed off about the bank lying! He didn’t tell them that to their face, but when his CDs mature he’s not putting a dime in their bank. (He has another bank where he has CDs and gets better treatment.)
Richard said he’ll stop by tomorrow.
Banker´s Ruse
Friday March 6
Jayne stayed home and I went to the mall. She said she’ll go tomorrow to check her email.
Richard called to tell me the news. One of the things he told me is that he’ll be buying the property in Manta. It’s 2.5 hectares and the cost is $10/sq. meter (down from 12/sq. meter asking price). This is a great buy for him.
He also told me that the bank who said they have a customer that is interested in buying an apartment was just a ruse. What the bank hoped that he would put more money in their account. He was pissed off about the bank lying! He didn’t tell them that to their face, but when his CDs mature he’s not putting a dime in their bank. (He has another bank where he has CDs and gets better treatment.)
Richard said he’ll stop by tomorrow.
Jayne stayed home and I went to the mall. She said she’ll go tomorrow to check her email.
Richard called to tell me the news. One of the things he told me is that he’ll be buying the property in Manta. It’s 2.5 hectares and the cost is $10/sq. meter (down from 12/sq. meter asking price). This is a great buy for him.
He also told me that the bank who said they have a customer that is interested in buying an apartment was just a ruse. What the bank hoped that he would put more money in their account. He was pissed off about the bank lying! He didn’t tell them that to their face, but when his CDs mature he’s not putting a dime in their bank. (He has another bank where he has CDs and gets better treatment.)
Richard said he’ll stop by tomorrow.
International Living
Tuesday March 3
I went the mall to go on the Internet.
Richard called to say that he plans to go to the International Living conference at the Swiss Hotel. However, he said tomorrow he’ll be busy, but the conference will be until Friday. I want to go to tell others about my house and apartment for sale.
My plan is to walk around the lobby and bar and meet people who paid to go the conference.
Wednesday March 4
I decided to go to the International Living meeting on my own. It will give me another day being there than just waiting for Richard. I typed up some flyers that have pictures of the house and the apartment on it along. I’ll pass them out to people I talk to.
When I went there I found that some people were still in the meeting while others had left. I saw that there were some people that must have represented IL and talking to a person or a couple at small tables. This was also the case in the lobby. However, I did meet one couple can gave them my flier. They live in Ecuador and are trying to sell beach lots to those who are interested.
I went the bar and had coffee. The only people there at the time were a table of Ecuadorians. I didn’t think that they were part of the group. When I was ready to leave I saw one White guy sitting by himself, so I went over to talk to him. After some chit chat I told him about my house for sale and gave him the flier.
I had called Richard while I was there and he told me he wouldn’t be able to come. Tomorrow he said he’d be meeting a lawyer at the hotel for lunch and to talk business. He said he’d call me when we can meet tomorrow.
I left the hotel to go to the book store and exchange some books. Then I went to the internet café. From there, I went home.
I went the mall to go on the Internet.
Richard called to say that he plans to go to the International Living conference at the Swiss Hotel. However, he said tomorrow he’ll be busy, but the conference will be until Friday. I want to go to tell others about my house and apartment for sale.
My plan is to walk around the lobby and bar and meet people who paid to go the conference.
Wednesday March 4
I decided to go to the International Living meeting on my own. It will give me another day being there than just waiting for Richard. I typed up some flyers that have pictures of the house and the apartment on it along. I’ll pass them out to people I talk to.
When I went there I found that some people were still in the meeting while others had left. I saw that there were some people that must have represented IL and talking to a person or a couple at small tables. This was also the case in the lobby. However, I did meet one couple can gave them my flier. They live in Ecuador and are trying to sell beach lots to those who are interested.
I went the bar and had coffee. The only people there at the time were a table of Ecuadorians. I didn’t think that they were part of the group. When I was ready to leave I saw one White guy sitting by himself, so I went over to talk to him. After some chit chat I told him about my house for sale and gave him the flier.
I had called Richard while I was there and he told me he wouldn’t be able to come. Tomorrow he said he’d be meeting a lawyer at the hotel for lunch and to talk business. He said he’d call me when we can meet tomorrow.
I left the hotel to go to the book store and exchange some books. Then I went to the internet café. From there, I went home.
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