Wednesday May 20
I woke up about 8.30am but got out of bed about 9.30am. Jayne was still sleeping. Lil was already out of the house to visit her doctor.
Jayne and I stayed home all day - it was a time of rest.
In the evening, Val, Lil's sister, came over. This was the first time that we met. She came over as the two of them were going to some spiritual meeting.
I went on Lil's internet to send some email telling that Jayne and I arrived ok.
Thursday May 21
Jayne and I got up late. in the afternoon we tok a walk to the village called Kinver. It's really quaint and has kept that old look. We stopped in some shops. Then we had a meal in a cafe located in a nice pedestrian area. We had cappacino and crepes made with buckwheat filled with an egg and cheese. The cost was 11 pounds.
Prices are high here, as I had already experienced when I was here the last time.
After I will buy digital camera I'll take pictures of Jayne's family and the town here.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Still Flying
Tuesday May 19
We arrived in Madrid on time. It was a pain at this airport as we had to go on an airport bus to another terminal, and it was a 20 minute drive!
Going through the metal detector again, I had a bottle that I bought in Quito. I also had a bottle of wine that I got on the plane that I didn't drink. He told this off me. He asked if I wanted to go pass the inspection again to drink it or give it to someone. Since it was late, I decided to leave it there.
I told that guy that it was not opened and I had the receipt, but this didn't help.
I consider this stealing. This is the last thing that was stolen from me after leaving Ecuador.
When Jayne and I went outside the terminal, we noticed the first chemtrail. Flying to Amsterdam, I pointed out to Jayne, who had to sit in a seat in back of me, that they are not clouds and that they are not in Ecuador. I saw the guy looking outside just wondering what we were talking about.
Amsterdam
We found the other check-in counter Then we got something to eat. Jayne had noodles and I had a slice of pizza. I realized after I bought it that one slice of pizza, though large, cost 12 euros! Jayne's food was something like 5 euros. Such a high price for a pizza. It's higher than the normal high prices at airports.
Jayne looked at the boarding pass and saw the time. She thought we would be late, and I said that this is the boarding time and not the departure time. Well, after the rushing we got there with no problem.
We had to go through another metal detector. I didn't feel like taking off my watch, belt and jacket, so the metal detector went off. The guy frisked me. He had no hand-help detector so he felt me down. Then another guy went through the carry-on, and said that some 'spots' showed up in the exray. As it turned out it was a necklace I had.
The people were nice and polite, whereas I heard that in the US they are rude, some of them former black criminals.
I thought that one way for everyone to fight this - if they care about their freedom - they should all have metal on them and do what they can do delay people getting through. This way, the govt will have no choice but to do away with this crap and worthless check.
Birmingham, England
We arrived in Birmingham on time. The flying time was 55 minutes.
I went through the passport control faster and I was not asked a lof of questions, either. I did tell the woman that I'm with my English wife visiting her family.
Steve was waiting for us. He was glad to see his sister, of course. Then we took the ride back to her mother's home. We arrived in Birmingham about 9.20pm and got to Lil's home in Kinver about 10.30pm. It was good to see her, too.
Then we chatted. Steve had tea and the rest of us had red wine. Steve had to leave in a little while and of course, didn’t want to drink.
Afterwards we had something to eat. We talked some more, then I went to bed about 1am. Jayne went to bed an hour later.
Finally, the end of a long trip!
We arrived in Madrid on time. It was a pain at this airport as we had to go on an airport bus to another terminal, and it was a 20 minute drive!
Going through the metal detector again, I had a bottle that I bought in Quito. I also had a bottle of wine that I got on the plane that I didn't drink. He told this off me. He asked if I wanted to go pass the inspection again to drink it or give it to someone. Since it was late, I decided to leave it there.
I told that guy that it was not opened and I had the receipt, but this didn't help.
I consider this stealing. This is the last thing that was stolen from me after leaving Ecuador.
When Jayne and I went outside the terminal, we noticed the first chemtrail. Flying to Amsterdam, I pointed out to Jayne, who had to sit in a seat in back of me, that they are not clouds and that they are not in Ecuador. I saw the guy looking outside just wondering what we were talking about.
Amsterdam
We found the other check-in counter Then we got something to eat. Jayne had noodles and I had a slice of pizza. I realized after I bought it that one slice of pizza, though large, cost 12 euros! Jayne's food was something like 5 euros. Such a high price for a pizza. It's higher than the normal high prices at airports.
Jayne looked at the boarding pass and saw the time. She thought we would be late, and I said that this is the boarding time and not the departure time. Well, after the rushing we got there with no problem.
We had to go through another metal detector. I didn't feel like taking off my watch, belt and jacket, so the metal detector went off. The guy frisked me. He had no hand-help detector so he felt me down. Then another guy went through the carry-on, and said that some 'spots' showed up in the exray. As it turned out it was a necklace I had.
The people were nice and polite, whereas I heard that in the US they are rude, some of them former black criminals.
I thought that one way for everyone to fight this - if they care about their freedom - they should all have metal on them and do what they can do delay people getting through. This way, the govt will have no choice but to do away with this crap and worthless check.
Birmingham, England
We arrived in Birmingham on time. The flying time was 55 minutes.
I went through the passport control faster and I was not asked a lof of questions, either. I did tell the woman that I'm with my English wife visiting her family.
Steve was waiting for us. He was glad to see his sister, of course. Then we took the ride back to her mother's home. We arrived in Birmingham about 9.20pm and got to Lil's home in Kinver about 10.30pm. It was good to see her, too.
Then we chatted. Steve had tea and the rest of us had red wine. Steve had to leave in a little while and of course, didn’t want to drink.
Afterwards we had something to eat. We talked some more, then I went to bed about 1am. Jayne went to bed an hour later.
Finally, the end of a long trip!
Leaving Ecuador for Good!
Monday May 18
This will be a very, very long day. In fact, it will go over to another full day.
I got up at 6.30am and I woke Jayne up at 7.15am. We both got busy in getting ready for our move.
About 9.30am I left to pay the bills for Conocoto. On the gate door I saw the bill for the electric was delivered. This came at just the right time.
We had lunch at 11.30am.
I went to put out the trash and and I saw our driver in the van across the street. It was 1.15pm and he was to come at 1.30pm. So, he was probably waiting until it was 1.30pm to righ the bell.
I had him come in the drive way and I closed the gate. I asked him to wait and we were still get ready. I had Matt's driver come because I didn't want the neighbours or a taxi driver to see that we were leaving for the airport. Can't risk another robbery, as they could take furniture.
Our trip finally begins.
At the airport we found we were overweight. Jayne's big suitcase was 31.25 kilos. The maximum is 23 kilos (from within the EU it's 20 kilos). Then her small suitcase was 13 kilos.
He said that we would have to pay for the excess. This happened at the place where we got the luggage plastic wrapped. Of course, the guy at the luggage check-in will say the same thing. Then my bag was put on the scales and it read 33.4 kilos.
As it turned out I had to pay $152. Jayne thinks that the total did not include my luggage.
Jayne noticed that our luggage was marked with a final destination of Amsterdam. She said this is wrong. He then got another guy to call to another guy to send our luggage back (on the conveyor belt). It's not what the guy did was wrong, as we were to pick up our luggage in Madrid and check in onto KLM (from Iberia). But Jayne was smart and quick in doing this.
It will save us from having to pick up the luggage and carrying it all the way to another terminal and also from possibly paying another excess weight charge! So, this saved us at least $152.
It was a good thing that I had extra dollars.
Then it was off to pay for the departure tax (another government rip off that nations have). This cost $41 each.
Before we left, we had coffee in the bar. Then I saw that I had a lot of US coins that I know I would not be able to change anywhere. I decided to buy something at the airport; otherwise the money would be useless unless I went back to the US. I looked at some natural chocolate that they were selling and that was $11 for a small box! Then I went to the liquor store and thought I would get more value for the money and it would make a nice gift for Lil. So, I bought a bottle of Denmark vodka. I was told that if I don't open it and show them the receipt I could take this on the plane. And that I could drink it on the plane.
We left for Guayaquil, Ecuador on time. It was a 30 minute flight. However, we had to get off the plane. Thought we were in the transit area we had to go thought the metal detector again. How stupid! What do they think a passenger might do - take something illegal from a passing UFO?!
The food on the plane was so-so and not much of it. We both ordered vegetarian.
This will be a very, very long day. In fact, it will go over to another full day.
I got up at 6.30am and I woke Jayne up at 7.15am. We both got busy in getting ready for our move.
About 9.30am I left to pay the bills for Conocoto. On the gate door I saw the bill for the electric was delivered. This came at just the right time.
We had lunch at 11.30am.
I went to put out the trash and and I saw our driver in the van across the street. It was 1.15pm and he was to come at 1.30pm. So, he was probably waiting until it was 1.30pm to righ the bell.
I had him come in the drive way and I closed the gate. I asked him to wait and we were still get ready. I had Matt's driver come because I didn't want the neighbours or a taxi driver to see that we were leaving for the airport. Can't risk another robbery, as they could take furniture.
Our trip finally begins.
At the airport we found we were overweight. Jayne's big suitcase was 31.25 kilos. The maximum is 23 kilos (from within the EU it's 20 kilos). Then her small suitcase was 13 kilos.
He said that we would have to pay for the excess. This happened at the place where we got the luggage plastic wrapped. Of course, the guy at the luggage check-in will say the same thing. Then my bag was put on the scales and it read 33.4 kilos.
As it turned out I had to pay $152. Jayne thinks that the total did not include my luggage.
Jayne noticed that our luggage was marked with a final destination of Amsterdam. She said this is wrong. He then got another guy to call to another guy to send our luggage back (on the conveyor belt). It's not what the guy did was wrong, as we were to pick up our luggage in Madrid and check in onto KLM (from Iberia). But Jayne was smart and quick in doing this.
It will save us from having to pick up the luggage and carrying it all the way to another terminal and also from possibly paying another excess weight charge! So, this saved us at least $152.
It was a good thing that I had extra dollars.
Then it was off to pay for the departure tax (another government rip off that nations have). This cost $41 each.
Before we left, we had coffee in the bar. Then I saw that I had a lot of US coins that I know I would not be able to change anywhere. I decided to buy something at the airport; otherwise the money would be useless unless I went back to the US. I looked at some natural chocolate that they were selling and that was $11 for a small box! Then I went to the liquor store and thought I would get more value for the money and it would make a nice gift for Lil. So, I bought a bottle of Denmark vodka. I was told that if I don't open it and show them the receipt I could take this on the plane. And that I could drink it on the plane.
We left for Guayaquil, Ecuador on time. It was a 30 minute flight. However, we had to get off the plane. Thought we were in the transit area we had to go thought the metal detector again. How stupid! What do they think a passenger might do - take something illegal from a passing UFO?!
The food on the plane was so-so and not much of it. We both ordered vegetarian.
Day Before Departure
Sunday May 17
We continued to get ready to leave by cleaning the house and doing some packing for our trip. We still had more to do when the first guests arrived.
About 11am Chad and Richard came over. I was surprised to see Chad. About 11.30am Maria del Carmen and her step mother, Cecelia, came over.
I gave some things to everyone. I wish that Jayne didn't tell Chad to take what he wants, as he took all the remaining DVDs. Some of this was to be for Maria. He also took all the books, too.
Maria and Cecelia left about 1.5 hours later. After they left, we went out to the mall. Jayne said she had a lot to do, and didn't want to leave the house empty on the last day. So, she stayed home.
Just us guys went out. We went to the Crepes and Waffles. They had some kind of salad and I had the crepe with spinach and esparagras. They treated me. Then we went to buy dessert for Jayne, and Richard paid for that. From there, we went to the hardware store as I had to buy a pad lock for the front door. Before then we used a small pad lock on a chain.
We came back and they loaded up their things and we said our goodbyes. We will miss them.
Then I did the packing of my carry-on case.
In the evening we watched Andre Rieu, from the Tuscany concert again.
We continued to get ready to leave by cleaning the house and doing some packing for our trip. We still had more to do when the first guests arrived.
About 11am Chad and Richard came over. I was surprised to see Chad. About 11.30am Maria del Carmen and her step mother, Cecelia, came over.
I gave some things to everyone. I wish that Jayne didn't tell Chad to take what he wants, as he took all the remaining DVDs. Some of this was to be for Maria. He also took all the books, too.
Maria and Cecelia left about 1.5 hours later. After they left, we went out to the mall. Jayne said she had a lot to do, and didn't want to leave the house empty on the last day. So, she stayed home.
Just us guys went out. We went to the Crepes and Waffles. They had some kind of salad and I had the crepe with spinach and esparagras. They treated me. Then we went to buy dessert for Jayne, and Richard paid for that. From there, we went to the hardware store as I had to buy a pad lock for the front door. Before then we used a small pad lock on a chain.
We came back and they loaded up their things and we said our goodbyes. We will miss them.
Then I did the packing of my carry-on case.
In the evening we watched Andre Rieu, from the Tuscany concert again.
Richard and His Hotel
Saturday May 16
I called Richard to see when he is coming over, and he said he'd come Sunday about 11.30am. I told him that other guests will be here.
Richard said he is starting repairs of his hotel by the mountain lake and that Gallo will be working on it.
So that is why Gallo never came over or called - now we are small fish in the pond.
Richard said that the work will take about a year. Then he told me about work starting on his Manta property (by the coast). There will be a hotel there, individual houses and condos.
It looks like he will be in Ecuador for a long, long time.
He said that the city will be building a marina starting in August. This is great for him, as he said that it will increase the value of his property.
Then he went on to say that he found property also along the coast of 33 hectares (about 80 acres). He will just hold on to this as an investment.
Jayne and I went to the mall. We had breakfast at el Vaco (the cow). Then to the bakery for dessert for the guests tomorrow. The we picked up my suit at the dry cleaners.
Jayne bought a nice money belt, but being in the mall she paid a lot of money ($44)!
I called Richard to see when he is coming over, and he said he'd come Sunday about 11.30am. I told him that other guests will be here.
Richard said he is starting repairs of his hotel by the mountain lake and that Gallo will be working on it.
So that is why Gallo never came over or called - now we are small fish in the pond.
Richard said that the work will take about a year. Then he told me about work starting on his Manta property (by the coast). There will be a hotel there, individual houses and condos.
It looks like he will be in Ecuador for a long, long time.
He said that the city will be building a marina starting in August. This is great for him, as he said that it will increase the value of his property.
Then he went on to say that he found property also along the coast of 33 hectares (about 80 acres). He will just hold on to this as an investment.
Jayne and I went to the mall. We had breakfast at el Vaco (the cow). Then to the bakery for dessert for the guests tomorrow. The we picked up my suit at the dry cleaners.
Jayne bought a nice money belt, but being in the mall she paid a lot of money ($44)!
Visited Matt and Amparo
Friday May 15
At 11am we left for Quito. I exchanged dollars for euros. I got only 1 euro for each $1.35. I exchanged $700 and received 518 euros. I'll see how much I lost when I go to the Internet to see the rates.
We got to Matt and Amparo's home at 12.30pm. Matt didn't arrive until about 15 minutes later.
First we talked about business (the things I would like him to do after we move). We came to a agreement as to how much I should pay him. Then I gave him the cash.
Matt said he has a worker that he trusts, and suggested to him if he would like to stay at my house for one weekend a month. He said that his wife does the cleaning of the flats for him. He said that it will make the house look occupied. I agreed to this. His name is Hose.
We had a nice lunch with soup as starters. Then we had a shrimp dish with steamed broccoli, carrots and onions.
We talked the rest of the afternoon. He had invited us to stay the night, but we went home late in the afternoon. We don't like the idea that no one would be home after being robbed, plus we still have a lot of things to do before we fly out of here.
We said our goodbyes and left about 5.15pm. Amparo was shopping so we couldn't say goodbye to her.
We will miss them very much.
Matt bought paintings and gave her the money. These are the paintings that he said he would buy about two months ago. I told him what I would like to sell and Amparo said she would like the juicer and the blender. Jayne just charged him the cost of the canvas and paints. So, I don't know if he realizes that he got a good buy.
At 11am we left for Quito. I exchanged dollars for euros. I got only 1 euro for each $1.35. I exchanged $700 and received 518 euros. I'll see how much I lost when I go to the Internet to see the rates.
We got to Matt and Amparo's home at 12.30pm. Matt didn't arrive until about 15 minutes later.
First we talked about business (the things I would like him to do after we move). We came to a agreement as to how much I should pay him. Then I gave him the cash.
Matt said he has a worker that he trusts, and suggested to him if he would like to stay at my house for one weekend a month. He said that his wife does the cleaning of the flats for him. He said that it will make the house look occupied. I agreed to this. His name is Hose.
We had a nice lunch with soup as starters. Then we had a shrimp dish with steamed broccoli, carrots and onions.
We talked the rest of the afternoon. He had invited us to stay the night, but we went home late in the afternoon. We don't like the idea that no one would be home after being robbed, plus we still have a lot of things to do before we fly out of here.
We said our goodbyes and left about 5.15pm. Amparo was shopping so we couldn't say goodbye to her.
We will miss them very much.
Matt bought paintings and gave her the money. These are the paintings that he said he would buy about two months ago. I told him what I would like to sell and Amparo said she would like the juicer and the blender. Jayne just charged him the cost of the canvas and paints. So, I don't know if he realizes that he got a good buy.
May 12-14
Tuesday May 12
I went to Quito today to finish my banking business. I got the money out with no problem.
Then I went to San Luis to the mall. I found out the Internet cafe didn’t have connection. You see, there always a problem in Ecuador. Then I did some food shopping and went home.
Wednesday May 13
I went to the Internet, this time in San Rafael. Then I went to the mall to have my suite (the one I got married in) dry cleaned. I want to take this with me. The jacket had mildew in it because of the poor building of the house. All the clothes in the closest have mildew on it. Previously Jayne had to wash all the clothes in there.
At the dry cleaners I was told that it would be ready tomorrow at 7pm.
I called Maria to see if my P.A. is ready. She said that it was. I’ll be seeing her tomorrow at 10am.
Then we did some work around the house to prepare for our trip of leaving.
Thursday May 14
I went to Quito again to pick up the P.A. from Maria. I told her I have a few things I’d like to give her if she needs them. She said she’d try to stop by Sunday morning. Later her mother walked in. I guess she had some business to do, too. I wonder if her whole family will be at our house on Sunday.
From there I went to the Explorer’s Club to see if there was any mail. There was one from my bank (junk mail). I also bought a book there (something to read on the plane back). Then I went to the Magic Bean for breakfast.
I saw a book that I had just bought at the bookstore the other day, which cost me $12. The title is Culture Shock! Ecuador. So, I thought that I will exchange this book, which cost $4, for this one, take it back to the bookstore. The bookstore is right around the corner, and I should get another book. By doing this it would cost me less.
Going to the bookstore i talked to the woman that was there and told her I just bought this book from Mark (the owner) and asked what she would give me. I told her that it cost me $12. Well, she said that she could only give me $2.50 in trade.
What a rip-off! Here is a book that I paid $12 for and I will get only $2.50 on another book, which by the way, is at retail price. So, I figured that on this purchase and trade the guy would make 1,000% mark-up!
I see how these foreigners who have bookstores (like the guy at the Confederate Book Shop) only to sell a couple of books a day to can pay all their bills.
I wonder if the owner knows this. Maybe he does that this is his huge mark-up.
I went to Quito today to finish my banking business. I got the money out with no problem.
Then I went to San Luis to the mall. I found out the Internet cafe didn’t have connection. You see, there always a problem in Ecuador. Then I did some food shopping and went home.
Wednesday May 13
I went to the Internet, this time in San Rafael. Then I went to the mall to have my suite (the one I got married in) dry cleaned. I want to take this with me. The jacket had mildew in it because of the poor building of the house. All the clothes in the closest have mildew on it. Previously Jayne had to wash all the clothes in there.
At the dry cleaners I was told that it would be ready tomorrow at 7pm.
I called Maria to see if my P.A. is ready. She said that it was. I’ll be seeing her tomorrow at 10am.
Then we did some work around the house to prepare for our trip of leaving.
Thursday May 14
I went to Quito again to pick up the P.A. from Maria. I told her I have a few things I’d like to give her if she needs them. She said she’d try to stop by Sunday morning. Later her mother walked in. I guess she had some business to do, too. I wonder if her whole family will be at our house on Sunday.
From there I went to the Explorer’s Club to see if there was any mail. There was one from my bank (junk mail). I also bought a book there (something to read on the plane back). Then I went to the Magic Bean for breakfast.
I saw a book that I had just bought at the bookstore the other day, which cost me $12. The title is Culture Shock! Ecuador. So, I thought that I will exchange this book, which cost $4, for this one, take it back to the bookstore. The bookstore is right around the corner, and I should get another book. By doing this it would cost me less.
Going to the bookstore i talked to the woman that was there and told her I just bought this book from Mark (the owner) and asked what she would give me. I told her that it cost me $12. Well, she said that she could only give me $2.50 in trade.
What a rip-off! Here is a book that I paid $12 for and I will get only $2.50 on another book, which by the way, is at retail price. So, I figured that on this purchase and trade the guy would make 1,000% mark-up!
I see how these foreigners who have bookstores (like the guy at the Confederate Book Shop) only to sell a couple of books a day to can pay all their bills.
I wonder if the owner knows this. Maybe he does that this is his huge mark-up.
Another Bloody Ecuadorian Day!
I went to Quito this morning to do bank business. Before I went to the bank I went to the English Book Shop. The owner, Mark, who is English, was there. We had a nice talk about an hour long on the problems in Ecuador and living here.
Mark had been living here for 22 years and said that just last year he came to the conclusion that Ecuadorians are stupid. I didn’t know why it took him that long, as others who do not believe a lie of ‘political correctness’ comes to the conclusion much sooner.
Then I went to the internet cafe (the one that is closest to the book store). Then off to the bank.
I tried my ATM card at the bank and it said my card was rejected. I don’t know why as it had $426 in it. So, I went inside to tell an employee it didn’t work. I said i wanted to close the account.
The problem could have been a stupid Ecuadorian bank regulation. But why should i have had a problem in the first place? It could be the same problem I had with this bank before with my euro account.
I had not used my euro account for six months. Then when i went to use it I was told that it ‘became inactive’ and it took paperwork to get it active again. With all other banks your deposit or withdraw puts it in active state automatically. And it takes a lot longer than 6 months to make an account inactive.
Surprise I got my money out without a problem.
Leaving the bank I realized that I forgot by bag at the Internet cafe. Earlier in the morning I had bought a new Western hat made of some kind of cloth to take back to Cyprus and I bought a carton of cigarettes. The total cost was $40.
I thought that I would go back there, though I don’t expect anyone to have turned it in. I just want to satisfy my foreknowledge of what happened.
I took a taxi back to Mariscal. I went to the person working at the counter and asked if anyone turned in a hat. He said no. I looked at where I sat and it was not there. I went back to the guy to say (in Spanish) that a client is a bandito. He gave me that stupid look like he didn’t know what I said. Now, I didn’t accuse him but a client and anyone can have bad clients. So, by his response, it indicates that he could have stolen it or someone else that works there. (This is another counter that is right behind where I sat, so it would have been an employee and not a tawny looking customer in a business suit that sat in the next seat).
I was so fed up being robbed another time in Ecuador. True, it was my mistake by leaving it there, but at least in many other nations you can forget something and it will be there when you return. But here, with so many clients being petty thieves, it only makes sense that these same people also work in stores or are owners of stores. So, I got a taxi to go home. I didn’t have time to go to my other bank as I had talked too long to the English store owner.
A.B.E.D. Another Bloody Ecuadorian Day!
I’ll just take an older hat with me. I have a leather one but I had wanted to take a cloth one, but the one that I have is old. Therefore, I’ll take the leather one, which looks good.
When I got home and told Jayne she also told me about her A.B.E.D.! She had found out that two of her favourite CDs were taken by Gonzalo. Then she told me about the camera I bought for her (to take pictures of her paintings). She said she took pictures and wanted to re-roll the film. Well, the film didn’t roll back into the canister, so she had no choice but to open it. Of course, this exposed the film but she couldn’t even get the film off the take-up the spindle and I couldn’t get it off either. I would have to cut the film.
When I bought the camera and film the woman put the film in the camera, and she must have put it in wrong. It’s unbelievable how people can screw things up here! So, Jayne will not have pictures of her paintings.
That’s another $17 wasted. The sooner we get out of here the less money would be wasted.
Mark had been living here for 22 years and said that just last year he came to the conclusion that Ecuadorians are stupid. I didn’t know why it took him that long, as others who do not believe a lie of ‘political correctness’ comes to the conclusion much sooner.
Then I went to the internet cafe (the one that is closest to the book store). Then off to the bank.
I tried my ATM card at the bank and it said my card was rejected. I don’t know why as it had $426 in it. So, I went inside to tell an employee it didn’t work. I said i wanted to close the account.
The problem could have been a stupid Ecuadorian bank regulation. But why should i have had a problem in the first place? It could be the same problem I had with this bank before with my euro account.
I had not used my euro account for six months. Then when i went to use it I was told that it ‘became inactive’ and it took paperwork to get it active again. With all other banks your deposit or withdraw puts it in active state automatically. And it takes a lot longer than 6 months to make an account inactive.
Surprise I got my money out without a problem.
Leaving the bank I realized that I forgot by bag at the Internet cafe. Earlier in the morning I had bought a new Western hat made of some kind of cloth to take back to Cyprus and I bought a carton of cigarettes. The total cost was $40.
I thought that I would go back there, though I don’t expect anyone to have turned it in. I just want to satisfy my foreknowledge of what happened.
I took a taxi back to Mariscal. I went to the person working at the counter and asked if anyone turned in a hat. He said no. I looked at where I sat and it was not there. I went back to the guy to say (in Spanish) that a client is a bandito. He gave me that stupid look like he didn’t know what I said. Now, I didn’t accuse him but a client and anyone can have bad clients. So, by his response, it indicates that he could have stolen it or someone else that works there. (This is another counter that is right behind where I sat, so it would have been an employee and not a tawny looking customer in a business suit that sat in the next seat).
I was so fed up being robbed another time in Ecuador. True, it was my mistake by leaving it there, but at least in many other nations you can forget something and it will be there when you return. But here, with so many clients being petty thieves, it only makes sense that these same people also work in stores or are owners of stores. So, I got a taxi to go home. I didn’t have time to go to my other bank as I had talked too long to the English store owner.
A.B.E.D. Another Bloody Ecuadorian Day!
I’ll just take an older hat with me. I have a leather one but I had wanted to take a cloth one, but the one that I have is old. Therefore, I’ll take the leather one, which looks good.
When I got home and told Jayne she also told me about her A.B.E.D.! She had found out that two of her favourite CDs were taken by Gonzalo. Then she told me about the camera I bought for her (to take pictures of her paintings). She said she took pictures and wanted to re-roll the film. Well, the film didn’t roll back into the canister, so she had no choice but to open it. Of course, this exposed the film but she couldn’t even get the film off the take-up the spindle and I couldn’t get it off either. I would have to cut the film.
When I bought the camera and film the woman put the film in the camera, and she must have put it in wrong. It’s unbelievable how people can screw things up here! So, Jayne will not have pictures of her paintings.
That’s another $17 wasted. The sooner we get out of here the less money would be wasted.
Mother's Day
Sunday May 10
Today is Mother’s Day. In England it was about a month ago. I plan to call my Mother today.
This morning we heard a lamb baying. I hope that a neighbour didn’t decide to get a lamb for raising for food. That’s all we need is to hear another noise. We don’t know if they will keep it or kill it soon.
I called my Mother and she was glad to hear from me. He voice sounded stronger and she was talkative, which is good.
I told her that Jayne and I will be flying to England. I’ll tell her on a future call that we left Ecuador for good. I didn’t tell her of the burglary, as I don’t want anything upsetting her.
Today is Mother’s Day. In England it was about a month ago. I plan to call my Mother today.
This morning we heard a lamb baying. I hope that a neighbour didn’t decide to get a lamb for raising for food. That’s all we need is to hear another noise. We don’t know if they will keep it or kill it soon.
I called my Mother and she was glad to hear from me. He voice sounded stronger and she was talkative, which is good.
I told her that Jayne and I will be flying to England. I’ll tell her on a future call that we left Ecuador for good. I didn’t tell her of the burglary, as I don’t want anything upsetting her.
Jayne's Birthday
Sunday April 19
I had gone to the market to buy food as usual. I had remembered her birthday coming up for the previous week, but when it got here, I forgot. It’s easy to do that when you don’t have work to do and sometimes you are home for a few days at a time. We don’t watch TV or buy the local paper. Jayne forgets what day of the week it is, too.
Therefore I had not bought anything for her. I said let’s go out, and she said she didn’t feel like it. So, we had a quite day at home.
I had gone to the market to buy food as usual. I had remembered her birthday coming up for the previous week, but when it got here, I forgot. It’s easy to do that when you don’t have work to do and sometimes you are home for a few days at a time. We don’t watch TV or buy the local paper. Jayne forgets what day of the week it is, too.
Therefore I had not bought anything for her. I said let’s go out, and she said she didn’t feel like it. So, we had a quite day at home.
Missing Section
There’s a section of the diary that is missing. I had done some typing on my computer and i put it on the website. There was about two weeks that i had typed on the computer but i didn’t put it on the website yet. Then our house was burglary. In this section that is missing is Jayne’s birthday (she was 49 years old, April 19). Then, on April 23 we were robbed. So, let me start with April 19.
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