Guns A Blazing

May 30, 2012

Sebastion, our little
friend at Johanita's tienda

I suppose because of the abnormal heavy rains we had earlier this year (equals = more insects), a lot of people have been sick with various re-occurring flu bugs (el “gripe”) – locals and expats alike. Todd and I have been no exception, and it seems we have caught every one going around now (and in the past, have rarely gotten it). The common symptoms are sore throat, diarrhea and/or puking, chest colds, sometimes fever and achiness, and most of all FATIGUE. It lasts about a week…seems to go away, but many of us have been hit a couple of times with it the last several months.

Todd and I think we might be a little more vulnerable this year because we’ve made several trips to Cuenca for our dental work (and going from sea-level to much higher altitude, as well as being exposed to different germ viruses there).

But it also occurred to us that much of the fatigue we were experiencing could possibly be attributed to parasites. I believe most expats (and locals) are advised to take anti-parasitic medication twice a year. We never have taken the pills since we began coming here in 2007 (and we brush our teeth with the tap water, wash our dishes and shower in it), but we’ve never had what we would consider any symptoms. However, fatigue is one of the signs, and we figured it was time to take the precaution.

I also think we were spurred on when one of our friends recently elaborated on the consequences of NOT treating un-detected parasites (along the lines of “starts spawning and eating out your brain”) which further motivated us.

There’s nothing much to it.  One is supposed to take a stool sample for lab examination, and the appropriate medications (one for parasites and one for “mold”) are prescribed. In reality, most people we know skip the stool sample part and rely on a qualified pharmacist to dispense (no prescription needed). We asked a knowledgeable, native Cuenca friend of ours which medicines she used and got those. Two different medications (Secnidal and Zentel, if I remember correctly) – one medication taken the first day, the other taken the next (two pills each/taken together). Some folks get mild stomach discomfort/indigestion/sometimes diarrhea during the treatment. Todd and I didn’t encounter any of that (but no alcohol while taking it).  And I’m pretty sure I got rid of a lot of those little boogers the night of “I See What?".

The local Olon
billard hall.

We’ve made three trips to Cuenca so far in the last six weeks or so, and heading back again next week. We’re really enjoying our visits there (despite sore mouths after dental procedures) and have rather selfishly used the time as “romantic get-aways”. We have a number of friends and acquaintances in Cuenca that we want to eventually hook up with, but hesitate now because we’re never quite sure how we’re going to feel after the dentist. But it is a relatively easy and cheap trip to make between Olon and Cuenca: We’ve become enamored with the city and are quite sure we will still be visiting often after we get our teeth done.

The Akelarre Bar located
in the Hotel Inca Real

However, I should mention that the usual van shuttle company we use (“Operazuaytur”) is temporarily closed down, and other private van companies are getting hassled hard by the regular bus lines resisting the competition (at least that’s what we understand about the skirmish). It seems a group/family can hire the entire van privately for around $60 without problems, but the big bus companies resent the 5-7 seat vans ferrying individual travelers sharing the ride for $12-15 per passenger. It’s not a big problem going from Guayaquil to Cuenca, but leaving Cuenca is more difficult because there is a police check-point just outside of town.  Many drivers are pulled over, in particular van drivers. If the driver or company doesn’t have the right paperwork (or juice?) to get past it, there can be problems. We personally know several people going through that checkpoint that literally got dumped off at the side of the road to fend for themselves when the driver or company didn’t pass muster. Once, a few trips back, there were five of us (one German guy, one Ecuadorian lady, who thankfully spoke excellent ingles after 20 years or so in the States, Columbian guy, and us – clearly gringos.  We had to pretend we were one big happy group traveling together when we went through the checkpoint…kinda hard when we could hardly communicate with each other, but we pulled it off.  It was a little unnerving when one of the cops took a picture of all of us in the van, smiling brightly with that “deer in headlights” look. We are using a different van company this time that seems to have the fewest problems (we used them on our way back to Olon our last visit when Operazuaytur had to suddenly cancel our return trip reservation – and who were kind enough to call the night before to let us know). I’m not naming the company here, because I’m not blowing their cover, but if anyone needs it, please contact me privately.

Another favorite place we like
to eat...just down the street
from our hotel.

On the last (third) trip to Cuenca, we were relatively dental pain free and had a fun time exploring more of the city. We tried the Inca Grill for lunch one day (hamburgers are rumored to be good there, and they were) and ate at the El Pedregal Azteca for what was actually great authentic Mexican food (and we are opinionated Southern Californians, with frequent Baja CA trips under our belt who are particular about getting the “real deal”) and very much enjoyed our meal there.  Go at lunchtime from noon to 3PM when the menu is cheaper.

Mind you, we had to nibble through some of these meals like gerbils, because, for the moment, only our front teeth can handle anything tougher than yogurt.

We also bought some warmer clothes at the bazaar place next to Iglesia San Francisco, (like long pants, jeans, couple of sweaters, etc.) because our normal beach clothing isn’t adequate in the cooler Cuenca climate,  and we were starting to feel like a couple of dorks from the “sticks” walking around in flip-flops. Believe it or not, we’re going to need these warmer clothes on the coast soon too, because we are going into our “winter”, and a sweater or two comes in handy, especially around October.

Some of our finds;
Jeans - $18
Cable knit sweaters - $12
Knock off Converse - $10
Knit top - $8
Purse - $12

I’m liking our little mini vacations in Cuenca (gosh, everything is so much more convenient and available than in a small coastal fishing village); we enjoy its more cosmopolitan ambience and hearing English spoken more frequently.  I confess we’re always a little reluctant to leave (and have ended up tacking on an extra day every time we’ve gone), but Olon is home, and there’s no other place we’d rather be.

We came home to find Daisy in her 4^th “heat”, and once again this is NOT PRETTY. Every male dog in town shows up in Jardines for the orgy, driving all the neighbors crazy with the racket and the males “marking” everywhere. Poor Doug and Pam got front row seats, since Daisy decided their backyard would make the best love den. We tried keeping her locked up at our new place, but she kept escaping.



Locked in passion



Another neighbor startled Pam the other night when she came blazing out of her house (with a justified, wild-eyed, crazed look in her eyes) over all the commotion – bearing what initially appeared to a military assault weapon aimed at the dogs (it was actually a BB gun, purchased locally, and I think the rest of us were considering lining up to buy one too by that point)....true story, but please to all animal lovers - no matter how annoying and determined Daisy's suitors were, none of us would harm or hurt them, but the idea of giving a few of them a memorable butt sting had its attractions.

So that’s it. Daisy is getting the full hysterectomy soon (her initial sterilization turned out to be only a tubal ligation, so she’s still got all the parts that attract the fellows).

It’s hard to stay mad at her though. I mean she can’t help it, and we all love her to pieces.

And she's also learned a new trick.