Go For a Ride?

April 28, 2011



Photo Courtesy of Sitara



We’ve been back in our house since around the first of March; we reserved the month to ourselves to enjoy being home for awhile, and it’s been a treat after almost 5 months of living in a rented apartment. It’s just nice to be in our own bed, putter in our own garden, take care of the little chores that all houses require, and be close to the beach again.

But during the busy season (which started for us in mid-October when we moved to the apartment) Todd and I did have many wonderful opportunities to meet and/or get to know better so many interesting people (locals and tourists alike).



Sitara, me, and docs
back in November





Back of Bubba's head,
Sitara and Joanie.

One gal that Todd and I became very fond of is Sitara. She is a Norte Americana, but has spent the better part of the last 12 years in Latin/South America, speaks the language fluently, is intelligent and independent, amply accomplished in several specialized fields of interest. She landed in Ecuador not too long after Todd and I moved to the apartment, and she and I struck up a conversation while sitting at adjoining tables in a Montanita café  one afternoon. She was looking for a place live for awhile, and ended renting a cute house in the same local neighborhood a few doors down from our apartment. We all became great friends (as she did with many people around here – a beautiful and generous woman inside and out).  It’s a little tough to write this now, because Sitara just left this week for the States to be with family for an indefinite time. There were several going away parties for her, and Sit, when you read this, know that you are missed (sniff).

Susanna and German Mike
at Sitara's going away party





Rene, artisan and owner of the

Spondylus Shell Art Gallery and Jewlery Store in Montanita.

A man of many talents, who joined in the impromtu jam session at the party.

I don't believe they have a dedicated website, but the above link is very informative




Joanie and Bubba



Rene and Gloria

Viktors of Latvia
with Todd on the beach

We had a Latvian family stay at our house during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. They were a nice, friendly bunch, although at times there were a few language barriers. They didn’t speak much Spanish, we obviously don’t speak any Slavic dialect, but their English was pretty good and they were an enjoyable group to have around the neighborhood. Plus, they left a ton of great tabloids and books (including all three of Stieg Larsson’s Millennium series – in hardback). Which would have been a bit more thrilling for me if they weren’t all written (we think) in a Finish dialect that not even German Mike (who speaks four languages, including Russian) can identify…But I think our book exchange library may now have cornered the market on this Scandinavian reading material in case anyone is looking for it.

Karen & Randy Kimbler

Me & Karen
(Finally, we get to meet!)





 

Karen, Randy, Chuck (he and his wife Nancy also write an

entertaining blog "Nancy and Chuck - Retirement in Ecuador")

and Rox and Bob who live nearby, and write an

informative blog: "BobnRox"





We did have the house to ourselves for the first couple of weeks in December, and alternated between the apartment and our home, but generally enjoyed staying in Jardines during most of that time to relax and prepare for the onslaught of family, friends, and visitors arriving for the Christmas, New Year’s , February- April holidays. During that time, we had the pleasure of a visit from expats Karen and Randy Kimbler (from Northwest U.S. and now living in Cuenca) who came to stay with us for a day and night. Karen writes an entertaining and enlightening blog “Kimbler’s Exit to Ecuador”  that details their experience of moving to Cuenca, Ecuador, (I’m a fan) and I really looked forward to spending time with them in person. We weren’t disappointed – they were an interesting, intelligent, adventurous, open-minded couple to hang with.

We had a wonderful time with them, and we look forward to anytime we have an opportunity to spend with them next.

Chuck, Randy, and Karen

Robert and Barb

In January we had several different groups stay in our house (and other rentals that Todd offers) – all fun groups, and one family in our house were repeat customers whom we have enjoyed in the past. We also had a chance to get to know Barb and Robert, guests (and now friends) in our home in January during their adventure here, and they purchased a darling beach front home in Curia (the next town north of Olon) while they were here. More on that later.

February we had several easygoing and pleasurable couples from Canada staying together at the house,  They were also an adventuresome gang and spent time exploring various areas of Ecuador during their stay. They seemed to ease right into the Ecuadorian tranquillo lifestyle after a few days. Thank goodness, because in the 24 hours we had to prepare for their check in, everything that could have gone wrong…did... DID go wrong….I mean like the previous guests left a mess, the power was out for the 15 hours prior, and our apartment flooded with 3 inches of water around a half hour before they arrived. Once again, another story, but one I am still too traumatized to go into detail now.

There is a lot more I want to and will write more about the folks we got to know during this time, but for now, I’ll leave it at this.

No, that is not a cigarette dangling
from Daisy's mouth. It's a "chewy"

On a more current note, we have found a visiting vet for Daisy (Dr. Byron) that has just begun to see her on a regular basis, and we have a lot of confidence in him. She had a disturbing lip growth that he removed, he checked out her still intact female organs (despite being sterile now), and started the inoculations she needs. There are several other vets that make “house calls” to Olon that we can “vet” for (no pun intended), but we are happy for now with Dr. Byron’s qualifications and concern and care for Daisy.

She is also getting used to occasionally riding in a motor vehicle. The first time she had to get into an automobile was the night of the tsunami (when we took her with us to the hills), and it took both of us to lift her into the vehicle several times that night, much to her resistance.

Now, because we occasionally have use of “Big Deck Doug’s” truck, we have gotten her more used to “going for a ride” in the pick-up bed (not inside the cab).  She is starting to like better “going for rides", although we still need to lift her heavy butt into the pick-up bed every time.



No party is complete here without
music and dancing

One last dance, friend
Until we meet again.