Thursday February 12
Juan the gardener came over. The other worker didn’t. It could be because he thought it would rain or that the doctor told him he needs an operation now. Anyhow, we know that he is good worker and he will come in when he can.
Jayne and I left for Quito about 10.30am. We got to Maria’s office early but she was still able to see us.
Maria then showed us the bill for all her work in getting the visa. This also included the many receipts that she got from the government offices. She explained what each receipt was and said that she put some money out of her pocket.
The total now comes to $602.39!
Maria said we can go with her assistant today to go to one office where could get her new Censos (one form of ID). This way there will be less to do tomorrow (as we have to go to another office to get the other ID called the Cedular. We agreed to meet at 3.00pm later today.
In the meantime, we got something to eat at The Magic Bean. Then we went to an Internet café. From there we went to my bank so I could get some money out.
At the bank I withdrew 1,000 Euros and told the girl that I would like that changed into dollars. After signing the check and telling me to wait 10 minutes I found out when I got back that my name is not what they have on their records. So I had to write another check withdraw slip. Why didn’t she tell me when I was still at the window? The last time I was there I signed the name that was printed on my checks and it was ok, now it’s now!
On my check just has my first and last name but on their records it has my middle name, too.
After writing out another check, I had to wait nearly 10 minutes more before I got my dollars. Anyhow, I did get about three points more than the other place I went to last week, which comes to about $30.
We were late in meeting Sofia, Maria’s worker. From the office we went to where Jayne was to get her Censos. They had a sign on the door saying that they were closed (changed office). Why Sofia did take us to the right one, I don’t know. It must be an Ecuadorian thing! Her lawyer knew it had moved and since her assistant does this all the time she should know, too.
This ride cost me over $3 for the taxi. Plus I had lost $5 in the taxi! I looked all over in the seat that I was sitting and didn’t find it.
While at the old office we went to a store nearby where a copy of some form was made that Sofia needed. While there, I had her make a copy of the bill that Maria gave. Since leaving Maria’s office in the morning, I thought how strange her system of adding things up was. I wanted to go over this before I paid her.
At the other government office there was a room full of people there, so it was decided that we’d meet tomorrow morning at 8am – before the crowd. (Ugg, I hate the thought of getting up early but it looks like we have to do it.)
After Sofia left, Jayne and I had some coffee at a café nearby. I pulled out the copy of the bill that Maria gave me and I went over it with Jayne.
Let me try to explain in writing how Maria accounting is. For a lawyer, I don’t know where she got such a system but I’m sure her system must be common in Ecuador. Oh, this is funny and strange – you’ll like this…
First, all of this is in one column. To the left is the description of what it is and the small block to the right is the amount.
The first section has the bills of what different things were and the cost on the far right – so far, so good. Maria showed Jayne and I the bills and checked it off as she went down the list. The total came to $535.
There as a space, then a description of the kind of visa with a cost of $500.
Another space and on the left was ‘Total’ and $500. Under that is the government tax of $60 12%) and ‘Total’ of $560.
There is another line space then on one line is $100 I had paid for something back in January. Under that is $350 I paid just last week. This total came to $450. (This is my credit. This part is understood and correct.)
Another space and a total of $645 and some change. This is what I was to pay. If you could see what I have in front of me you would see this better or if you wrote this down you’ll get a better idea.
(What I wrote above is what was printed and given to us. However she made some notations on the side as one bill was not included, which gives a different total, but you get the picture.)
This is what struck Jayne and me as stupid bookkeeping work:
Where in the hell does this $500 come from. It’s on the list but it’s not added or subtracted from the above list. I see that the tax is added to the $500 but that’s it. We were not told that the visa itself cost $500, just that there is tax for a visa. So this is something entirely new to us.
The two rows of what I paid already are not subtracted from the bills in the top list. Then Maria throws up the figure that I owe over $600 more? What is this!#@
Jayne said, “Bull shit baffles brains!” This is an old saying which means basically, that if you throw out enough BS the brain will get confused!
Maria can speak in several languages and she has an Ecuadorian law degree, but one thing that Jayne and I know is that if she had to work in Europe in some company she would be fired with bookkeeping like that! So, all her education would not help at all. If this bookkeeping was taught to her in Ecuador – no wonder they are in the ‘Turd’ World.
From the café Jayne and I went home.
When I was at our lawyer’s office I told her that you don’t have this much trouble getting a visa to live in Russia and Cyprus. I said this is not about her but about the government. She said that she disagrees as Ecuador the easiest country to get a visa and live here.
The nerve of her saying this! What a lie!
I told Maria about Cyprus that if you want someone else to do it costs $160 (converting the Cy pounds to dollars) and that it’s easy. I said the only paperwork that you need is a bank statement showing you have enough money to live there for one year. You need a copy of your rental contract, health insurance, a copy of your passport and a picture. That’s it.
She responded saying that the cost to get a visa is a onetime fee and it’s good for the rest of your life.
Anyhow, I told her I disagree. I thought about this later and just looking on the surface, it would seem that it’s cheaper to get a visa in Ecuador – IF you intend to live here the rest of your life or for a long time. That’s a BIG ‘IF’!
When people shoot off their mouth, and they might be sincere, they could still be wrong and that’s because they don’t know all the facts, just like Maria. Well, here are the facts. She knows of what I had to go through here and she also knows that I lived in Cyprus but she doesn’t know the visa process there. So, by logic she should agree with what I said as ‘I’ve been on both sides of the fence,’ as it were.
In Cyprus and Russia (Russia cost more than Cyprus by the way) you have the flexibility to move if you want to without incurring the ‘life time’ cost of a visa. It’s like buying a subscription to a magazine that only offers a ‘life time subscription’. But if you move and you want to get a subscription to your new address you’d have to pay a large price. (I know magazines don’t work this way but it’s a good analogy.)
So, you want to live in Cyprus for say, 2 years, it would cost $320 for two years (or $80 if you do it yourself). If you move back, you pay the yearly fee. It’s not costing you a ‘life time visa’ as in Ecuador.
What is more aggravating is all the paperwork that goes with getting a visa in Ecuador. This takes a lot of time, running around, taxi fares, lawyer expenses and additional fees, such as paying to have a medical checkup, etc.
Other countries secure their borders without all this crap, but Ecuador got to make it difficult. The tax of $350 would not be too bad but all the paperwork – wow!
What Maria and the director of visa in Ecuador ignore (as he lied saying Ecuador is an easy country to get a visa in) is in Cyprus if you are a member of the EU you don’t even have to go through the above. I just mentioned the above as I’m an American. Now that I’m married to Jayne who is an EU member I can live there as an EU member.
Another thing that I did not get a change to say to Maria is that this renewal of a visa is for only five years – if you are a non-EU member – and after that your visa becomes permeate. In 10 years – as a non-EU member – you can get a Cypriot passport! So, you don’t have to pay ‘all your life’ as Maria said.
Still another thing I didn’t not get a change to tell Maria is, that the cost of 80 Cy pounds is if you have a company do it for you. If you do it yourself it costs only 20 Cy pounds, or about $40. So even if you are a non-EU member – which means your cost is higher – it’s still a lot cheaper than what it cost in Ecuador. Not to mention other side costs and the great amount of time to get this all done.
Now, living in the US is compared it’s a lot easier. In fact, it’s too easy and should be made much harder. If they did this the US would not have the problems of all these Third World People. There, if you can get your sorry ass across the border and not get caught you are home free (thought it’s not your home). Every so many years the sick President declares that, ‘Anyone who came to the US before xxxx (date) is now an American citizen.’ And of course, they get all kinds of government services at European American taxpayers’ expense!
That’s my thoughts on the real situation of the cost of an Ecuadorian visa compared to another country.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Our Lawyer Called
Wednesday February 11
Today is a chilly and cloudy.
I called our lawyer to see if Jayne’s passport is ready. I was told it should be and to call back later. A couple of hours later Maria called to say it’s here. She said that I would have to bring in $645! She said that there is a $50 charge for cancelling Jayne’s old visa, and included in this price is her fees. Maria said she has all the receipts and it would be better to tell us when we come it.
Don’t forget that the above price is in addition to what I already paid! I don’t know what Maria’s fees are but it looks like a lot of it will be from the government.
This is not the end as Jayne has to get two Ecuadorian IDs and there is a $4 charge for a photo. So, we’ll have to go in another day to Quito to get this.
I will not go into Maria’s office with money as I want to see everything first, then go to the bank.
Again, as I’ve said so many times, that we are just sick of being in Ecuador with the rip-offs from the government and the people!
I just read the other day on a Cyprus website that no visa is needed to go there. No paperwork and no fees and this visa is good for three months. This, I already knew but it shows how one country can do something much better than other countries. And when you do want to live in Cyprus you just show your bank statement (to prove you have enough money to live there in the coming year). Then show your apartment lease and pay 20 Cy pounds ($40) or you can have a company do it and it cost 80 Cy pounds ($160). There are no other IDs to get, no passport to hand in, just provide a copy, and no lawyer’s fees.
Today is a chilly and cloudy.
I called our lawyer to see if Jayne’s passport is ready. I was told it should be and to call back later. A couple of hours later Maria called to say it’s here. She said that I would have to bring in $645! She said that there is a $50 charge for cancelling Jayne’s old visa, and included in this price is her fees. Maria said she has all the receipts and it would be better to tell us when we come it.
Don’t forget that the above price is in addition to what I already paid! I don’t know what Maria’s fees are but it looks like a lot of it will be from the government.
This is not the end as Jayne has to get two Ecuadorian IDs and there is a $4 charge for a photo. So, we’ll have to go in another day to Quito to get this.
I will not go into Maria’s office with money as I want to see everything first, then go to the bank.
Again, as I’ve said so many times, that we are just sick of being in Ecuador with the rip-offs from the government and the people!
I just read the other day on a Cyprus website that no visa is needed to go there. No paperwork and no fees and this visa is good for three months. This, I already knew but it shows how one country can do something much better than other countries. And when you do want to live in Cyprus you just show your bank statement (to prove you have enough money to live there in the coming year). Then show your apartment lease and pay 20 Cy pounds ($40) or you can have a company do it and it cost 80 Cy pounds ($160). There are no other IDs to get, no passport to hand in, just provide a copy, and no lawyer’s fees.
Surprised Meeting with Gallo
Tuesday February 11
Since the worker didn’t come in today because he had to visit the doctor, Jayne and I went the mall so she could go on the internet.
While she was online in the restaurant I walked to where the public internet is so I could get some things done at the same time. While I approached the coffee shop I saw Gallo, my contractor there.
He welcomed me. This is the guy who wanted the plans back saying that he paid for them (which we were told that it’s a gift). Anyhow, I said I was waiting for him to come and pick them up and he said don’t worry about it as he doesn’t need them (strange!).
He said he was waiting for Mario, his architect to arrive. I told him that Richard was going to call him this past Saturday but got side tracked and didn’t. I told Gallo that Richard would like work done on the hotel that he has by the volcanic lake. Gallo made a call to his cell phone but was only able to leave a voice message.
While on the internet I got two requests about my house. One guy wanted to rent for a year before he decides to buy my house to see if he likes Ecuador. The other guy asked if I would finance. I wrote back to both of them, telling one that the house if not for rent but that he could go to my friend’s website to rent. The other guy I said I do not provide financing.
I don’t want to get tied up with problems by either someone not paying the rent or the mortgage. With the house rented who knows what damage might be done and the condition of the house when someone does come and sees it. Plus, a buyer would want to live in the house and not have a renter there. I’ll just wait until I get someone who has the money.
So far I have had nearly 400 hits on my website with two responses, and it’s only been about 10 days since the website was up.
In the late afternoon Jayne saw this flying insect with an orange body pulling what looked like another tarantula! Like the time before but this time it was not on the patio but on the ground. It was interesting watching it and pulling it somewhere. It left the spider and went to a place that has a small hole in the ground next to a rock. It went back to the spider, pulled it some more, went back to the hole by itself, then back to the spider and brought it into the hole.
This was like a National Geographic show! Too bad I didn’t have my video camera.
Anyhow, Jayne thinks it might be a black widow spider as she saw some orange on it. Whatever it was both kinds of spiders are poisonous. The yard is not as safe as we thought it was. The insect looks poisonous, too. However, he is our friend by finding poisonous spiders!
Since the worker didn’t come in today because he had to visit the doctor, Jayne and I went the mall so she could go on the internet.
While she was online in the restaurant I walked to where the public internet is so I could get some things done at the same time. While I approached the coffee shop I saw Gallo, my contractor there.
He welcomed me. This is the guy who wanted the plans back saying that he paid for them (which we were told that it’s a gift). Anyhow, I said I was waiting for him to come and pick them up and he said don’t worry about it as he doesn’t need them (strange!).
He said he was waiting for Mario, his architect to arrive. I told him that Richard was going to call him this past Saturday but got side tracked and didn’t. I told Gallo that Richard would like work done on the hotel that he has by the volcanic lake. Gallo made a call to his cell phone but was only able to leave a voice message.
While on the internet I got two requests about my house. One guy wanted to rent for a year before he decides to buy my house to see if he likes Ecuador. The other guy asked if I would finance. I wrote back to both of them, telling one that the house if not for rent but that he could go to my friend’s website to rent. The other guy I said I do not provide financing.
I don’t want to get tied up with problems by either someone not paying the rent or the mortgage. With the house rented who knows what damage might be done and the condition of the house when someone does come and sees it. Plus, a buyer would want to live in the house and not have a renter there. I’ll just wait until I get someone who has the money.
So far I have had nearly 400 hits on my website with two responses, and it’s only been about 10 days since the website was up.
In the late afternoon Jayne saw this flying insect with an orange body pulling what looked like another tarantula! Like the time before but this time it was not on the patio but on the ground. It was interesting watching it and pulling it somewhere. It left the spider and went to a place that has a small hole in the ground next to a rock. It went back to the spider, pulled it some more, went back to the hole by itself, then back to the spider and brought it into the hole.
This was like a National Geographic show! Too bad I didn’t have my video camera.
Anyhow, Jayne thinks it might be a black widow spider as she saw some orange on it. Whatever it was both kinds of spiders are poisonous. The yard is not as safe as we thought it was. The insect looks poisonous, too. However, he is our friend by finding poisonous spiders!
The No Flower Show
Sunday February 8
Richard came over about 9.45am to pick us up. He was with Chad and his black Columbian girlfriend who is pregnant. Chad has been living in Ecuador for a couple of years and has a flat in Quito and 200 hectares of land on the coast in Esmeraldas.
We chatted for awhile before we left.
We went to a place called the Crystal Palace in old Quito which is on top of a hill and has a beautiful view of the city. When we got there we saw a long line to get in. One foreigner said that the line is about half a mile long!!
When we found that out we decided not to see the orchards. Not only would there be a long line to get in but there would be a long line as we move like sardines viewing the orchards. So we went to a restaurant that they had there and had something to drink.
Later we went to a Mexican restaurant to have lunch. Then we went to Richard’s home in Quito.
Richard told me that he got an email from his lawyer to say that she is not going to represent him anymore and is quitting. He thought she had nerve to do this as it was her that was not doing work that she should have done. He said that since November of last year he asked her to do 5 things – none of which she had done. I guess she got pissed that he cancelled out buying the hotel in Quito.
Jayne and I had a nice day.
Richard came over about 9.45am to pick us up. He was with Chad and his black Columbian girlfriend who is pregnant. Chad has been living in Ecuador for a couple of years and has a flat in Quito and 200 hectares of land on the coast in Esmeraldas.
We chatted for awhile before we left.
We went to a place called the Crystal Palace in old Quito which is on top of a hill and has a beautiful view of the city. When we got there we saw a long line to get in. One foreigner said that the line is about half a mile long!!
When we found that out we decided not to see the orchards. Not only would there be a long line to get in but there would be a long line as we move like sardines viewing the orchards. So we went to a restaurant that they had there and had something to drink.
Later we went to a Mexican restaurant to have lunch. Then we went to Richard’s home in Quito.
Richard told me that he got an email from his lawyer to say that she is not going to represent him anymore and is quitting. He thought she had nerve to do this as it was her that was not doing work that she should have done. He said that since November of last year he asked her to do 5 things – none of which she had done. I guess she got pissed that he cancelled out buying the hotel in Quito.
Jayne and I had a nice day.
Monday, February 9, 2009
More Trouble Dealing with Ecuadorians
Friday February 6
Richard called me to tell me the latest news. Today he had settlement on a hotel he’s buying in Quito. I don’t know why he wants to buy it as he wants to leave Ecuador, but he thinks that he can fix it up before he leaves and manage it from whatever country he’ll move to. He told me at settlement that the owner didn’t pay his back taxes and they wanted him (Richard) to pay it. He said he didn’t have enough money and they looked at it as his fault!
How stupid to do so!!!
He said he wasn’t told this and he just had enough money to buy the hotel. He told them they would have to wait until he got money from his Panamanian account. They still couldn’t understand this (stupid Ecuadorians). Then he told them some harsh words.
First, I don’t understand Richard. I would say that all the bills should be paid and bring the copies of the receipts at settlement. This would also indicate to me that the owner has a bad accountant. I don’t know if Richard looked at the owners books to see how much he made the previous year but this is the first thing I would do before I even offered a price.
When I was talking to Richard he got a call to go to the notary and she said it was necessary, so we ended the conversation. About 40 minutes later he called back to tell me what happened. He said he would have to sign something and pay the back taxes. He said he would not and told them this earlier in the day. He repeated that he’ll have the money next Tuesday. He told the person (I guess his lawyer and the notary), “Why in the hell did you have me come here? I told you this earlier in the day.” Or words to that affect.
He was really mad at this time. He said, “Give me those damn checks back.” And he grabbed them out of his hand. He added, “In fact, I might not buy the property!”
In Ecuador one way to buy property is buy pay for all that is outstanding THEN you get title. Well, I would never agree to this. I might not know much about property but I knew this before I bought my first one – to have all the bills paid by the owner then get the title to the property. If I was in a situation where the taxes were not paid I’d be sure that this would reflect on a lower price. Maybe Richard had this agreement but what the Ecuadorians did wrong was not telling him how much he would have to bring to the closing.
Richard said, “Maybe this is a sign from God for me to leave.” Well it sure is and it sure isn’t the first sign that he got.
Even if he thinks the property is a good buy he will still have to put with the construction workers and have problems with them. Then he might also have to comply with some stupid law in the remodeling process. If he plans to sell the property later, who’s going to buy in Ecuador? Who will buy when the Depression really sets in? (I predict that in the future this time in history will be known as the “Greatest Depression.” Mark my words as it will be worse than the Great Depression of the 1930s.
Richard called me to tell me the latest news. Today he had settlement on a hotel he’s buying in Quito. I don’t know why he wants to buy it as he wants to leave Ecuador, but he thinks that he can fix it up before he leaves and manage it from whatever country he’ll move to. He told me at settlement that the owner didn’t pay his back taxes and they wanted him (Richard) to pay it. He said he didn’t have enough money and they looked at it as his fault!
How stupid to do so!!!
He said he wasn’t told this and he just had enough money to buy the hotel. He told them they would have to wait until he got money from his Panamanian account. They still couldn’t understand this (stupid Ecuadorians). Then he told them some harsh words.
First, I don’t understand Richard. I would say that all the bills should be paid and bring the copies of the receipts at settlement. This would also indicate to me that the owner has a bad accountant. I don’t know if Richard looked at the owners books to see how much he made the previous year but this is the first thing I would do before I even offered a price.
When I was talking to Richard he got a call to go to the notary and she said it was necessary, so we ended the conversation. About 40 minutes later he called back to tell me what happened. He said he would have to sign something and pay the back taxes. He said he would not and told them this earlier in the day. He repeated that he’ll have the money next Tuesday. He told the person (I guess his lawyer and the notary), “Why in the hell did you have me come here? I told you this earlier in the day.” Or words to that affect.
He was really mad at this time. He said, “Give me those damn checks back.” And he grabbed them out of his hand. He added, “In fact, I might not buy the property!”
In Ecuador one way to buy property is buy pay for all that is outstanding THEN you get title. Well, I would never agree to this. I might not know much about property but I knew this before I bought my first one – to have all the bills paid by the owner then get the title to the property. If I was in a situation where the taxes were not paid I’d be sure that this would reflect on a lower price. Maybe Richard had this agreement but what the Ecuadorians did wrong was not telling him how much he would have to bring to the closing.
Richard said, “Maybe this is a sign from God for me to leave.” Well it sure is and it sure isn’t the first sign that he got.
Even if he thinks the property is a good buy he will still have to put with the construction workers and have problems with them. Then he might also have to comply with some stupid law in the remodeling process. If he plans to sell the property later, who’s going to buy in Ecuador? Who will buy when the Depression really sets in? (I predict that in the future this time in history will be known as the “Greatest Depression.” Mark my words as it will be worse than the Great Depression of the 1930s.
A Visit to Our Lawyer’s Office
Wednesday February 4
Jayne and I went to Quito. First I had to change my Euros. I was told the rate is $1.14 for each Euro! I thought that was low so Jayne said that she has $100. Thus, I just changed what I needed. Then we went to Maria’s office. As we entered the building Maria was walking out. She told us she was going to another meeting but to go to her secretary and pay the visa tax and for Jayne to give her passport. The tax, as mentioned previously, is $350!
I thought to myself, this tax is an indication of getting as much money out of the foreigner as the government can. I just paid my property tax on my house, lot and apartment and the total came to $166. This is less than half the price for a damn visa! When I first came there was no visa tax.
After stopping at the lawyer’s office we went to get something to eat at Magic Bean. Then we walked to the English Book Store (one that he hadn’t been to in months). From there we went home.
Gonzalo got the garden started and planted the seeds that I bought a few weeks ago. It looks real nice. This should add a little value to our home.
In the afternoon my neighbor in the back handed me some papers she said was from Maria del Carmen (the woman that I bought the house from). When I saw the papers it was the blueprint for the house. This is what my lawyer asked her over a month ago.
I was surprised to see the architect plans with the date on it which said December 1993. When I bought the house I was told that it’s 25 years old, which makes it 30 years old now. The truth is that the house was only 10 years old when I bought it and now its 15 years old. Since the plans were at the end of 1993 that means that the house was not built and finished until 1994.
I’ll have to change the advertisement as I put in there 1984. I used this date as the construction worker thought it was younger. This is a good selling point now that I found out that the house is really younger.
Jayne had thought that there was an addition to the house. Maybe it was but it didn’t show on the architect plans. Even if it was so, so much was built around it that I can see the whole house was built in 1994.
Jayne and I went to Quito. First I had to change my Euros. I was told the rate is $1.14 for each Euro! I thought that was low so Jayne said that she has $100. Thus, I just changed what I needed. Then we went to Maria’s office. As we entered the building Maria was walking out. She told us she was going to another meeting but to go to her secretary and pay the visa tax and for Jayne to give her passport. The tax, as mentioned previously, is $350!
I thought to myself, this tax is an indication of getting as much money out of the foreigner as the government can. I just paid my property tax on my house, lot and apartment and the total came to $166. This is less than half the price for a damn visa! When I first came there was no visa tax.
After stopping at the lawyer’s office we went to get something to eat at Magic Bean. Then we walked to the English Book Store (one that he hadn’t been to in months). From there we went home.
Gonzalo got the garden started and planted the seeds that I bought a few weeks ago. It looks real nice. This should add a little value to our home.
In the afternoon my neighbor in the back handed me some papers she said was from Maria del Carmen (the woman that I bought the house from). When I saw the papers it was the blueprint for the house. This is what my lawyer asked her over a month ago.
I was surprised to see the architect plans with the date on it which said December 1993. When I bought the house I was told that it’s 25 years old, which makes it 30 years old now. The truth is that the house was only 10 years old when I bought it and now its 15 years old. Since the plans were at the end of 1993 that means that the house was not built and finished until 1994.
I’ll have to change the advertisement as I put in there 1984. I used this date as the construction worker thought it was younger. This is a good selling point now that I found out that the house is really younger.
Jayne had thought that there was an addition to the house. Maybe it was but it didn’t show on the architect plans. Even if it was so, so much was built around it that I can see the whole house was built in 1994.
Richard's Apartment
Tuesday February 3
I called Mathieu to tell him that Richard invited him for lunch today. I told him that Jayne and I will be there. He said he’s on a bus to Columbia. I asked what he was doing going to Columbia and he said he’s taking a tour group there.
I told Gonzalo that we will not be here and gave him money to buy lunch and eat here (as we will not be here to unlock the door).
I got a call from Maria to say that Jayne can come in with her passport as she can start the next step of the visa process. She also told me to bring in $350 for the visa tax. I told her that we will be meeting Richard but we’ll be tomorrow.
About noon we took a taxi to Richard’s home. He lives in a nice part of Quito in a high-rise apartment. When we got there we walked into a beautiful apartment with a view of the valley. He lives on the 9th floor with a view of the mountain and the valley below.
Richard’s two Cuban friends were there. He said they’ll be leaving shortly for the airport as they are going back to Cuba for business for two weeks. One guy I met already, but the other guy, Gabriel, I didn’t. He is the artist from Cuba who does beautiful paintings and also works in sculpture and glassware.
This guy is really a master artist. He took art school in Cuba. When I saw him he looked like he was in his 20s but he told me that he’s 41!
We were shown around his flat, which was made from a two bedroom flat to one bedroom. Richard show the paintings and two sculptures that Gabriel did. Richard’s whole flat was done very tastefully and his kitchen is a chef’s delight with all manner of appliances along with a island counter to prepare food.
After the Cubans left we had lunch which was Louisiana gumbo which was made with chicken and sausage. Since I don’t eat meant, Richard had a salad for me along with an egg sandwich.
Then there was Richard’s cat, which I forgot her name. Richard is really attached to his cat.
We had a nice talk. Of course, Richard talked about his problems and how to resolve them. Later he put on my memory stick the Donald Trump books that he found online, one of which is an audio book. I look forward to reading and listening to them.
I took some pictures there. I took pictures of all the art work that his friend did. I also took pictures of the wood carving done in rectangular and round shapes that he has hanging on his walls. He told me that he got an appraisal from a friend that the woodwork would sell about 10 times the price in cities like New York and Chicago!
The wood carvings that Richard has was made in the town of San Antonio, Ecuador. I had been there years ago with Mathieu, as this is where he gets his religious carving. Well, this would be a good business to sell in the U.S. (and Europe). They can be sold via e-Bay or imported and sold in a store and also through the Internet.
After talking awhile we had a banana pie, which was good.
We left about 4.15pm. While we are on the street right near Richard’s apartment we were approached by some guy who speaks English telling us that he would some money to buy a ticket back to Cuienta. He gave us – what sounded like – his whole life story. Well, it was full of holes. I asked him why he was giving us his whole life story to get some money for a bus ticket! This guy claims that he lived most of his life in the U.S. he used the name of God and Jesus.
He said that “I swear that it will not be for something to drink.”
I gave the guy $2. Of course, what he said could be the truth (which probably not) but I thought, anyone of us could be in a situation where we were robbed and needs money to get home.
Jayne thinks that he just wants money to get something to drink.
I never thought I’d be approached by someone begging in a nice neighborhood where Richard lives.
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