No time to write

Three weeks have passed since my last post. On the few days we have been in Quito and had access to internet, I have been so busy during the day that when the night comes and Mateo goes to bed, I barely keep up with the house chores!

Since my last report, we went back to Yanapana with a truck full of stuff, food and people (my brother's family and my mom) to spend the holidays. We had a great time, specially when we went to the river. Mateo could live in the water easily.

We also saw interesting insects on this trip and Mateo got to play fearless with a firefly.

In our way back to the city, we started the process of getting Pat's residence. Now we know what papers we need and where to go. Looks like once we submit the required documents he might be getting the ecuadorian ID in less than two months.

I also found a good pediatrician for Mateo. On his first visit, he was healthy and no so happy to be touched and look around by an stranger. Later we came home and after a nap, Mateo wake up sick with high fever that lasted a whole day. He had some diarrhea but went away quick, so since we had a planned trip to the beach with my brother's family, we went on our adventure hopping that we would all have a great time. We did not! Mateo was sick the whole time with vomit and diarrhea and after trying very hard to keep him hydrated, he lost enough fluids to bring us back to Quito to the hospital. We spent this past weekend in the hospital letting my child recover from what it seems to be sensitivity to the ecuadorian food. Pat and I have learned a big lesson and have decided to let us all settle well in this new ecuadorian environment before we embark on any other trip.

Look at the sky

This week we went to Yanapana once more. This time we had a truck full of stuff needed for us to set a comfortable camp, specially at the kitchen, the place where goodies happen. Pat had fun cooking and made a new list of things needed to prepare the best meals. One night, I was reading in the cabin and preparing for bed when Pat says: " you should come out and look at the sky". I went out and I saw the most beautiful night sky ever! I don't think I can describe with words my feeling but it was amazing. The sky was full of stars, so many of them and so clear. I did not know this view was possible in our farm since it is usually cloudy or rainy at night. This day was special and I felt like driving to a higher point to have a better view or stay up all night or do something to not let this moment end. Hope to see the sky like that again soon...

Back in town, Mateo and I attended to my high school friend's birthday party. She is my best high school friend and since we both have children around the same age, we should see often. I am so happy! Today, we spend the day at my brother's cooking green banana soup with my sister in law. It was a good week again. 

Little town we go by in our way to Yanapana

Road to Yanapana 

Birthday Party

Mateo growing up fast and running 

Home sweet home

Our apartment is looking more like home now. Last Friday, we finally received the boxes with our stuff and little by little we are unpacking and finding a place for each thing. No much time to get things done during the day when Mateo needs our time and attention but since we do not have a deadline or jobs to go to, we are enjoying the process. Here are some photos of our place as it looks now. Soon we will have things on the walls. 

The office

A little bit of this and that

Last weekend we went to visit my brother's family. We had a nice meal and afterwards we went to let the cousins hang out and spend some time at a nearby mall. We found a cute toy car for $1.50 rent after no more than 15 minutes Mateo was done with the ride! Isaid was happy in his stroller. 

Mateo and Isaid 

Every Monday at 11 am there is an event in front of the presidents house (few blocks from our house). We were there on time and got to see a nice parade and we even saw Rafael Correa our president! Mateo was very interested on the huge horses that were part of the parade and ofcourse the band. 

Later that day, we went to pick up our pick up! We really like this truck and we hope it will take us safely to our property many times. We also hope to discover more of the beauty of Ecuador on it. I'll like to call it voyager. 

On Tuesday, we made our first trip on voyager to my home town Puellaro. My grandma still lives there and I wanted to spend a special day together. To celebrate we eat cuy, which is a traditional ecuadorian dish. Pat and Mateo preffer not to share that particular tradition with me :). 

To my surprise, my baby started to use the spoon on that day. Most of the food did not make it to his mouth but I was so excited to see him try. This kid is growing so fast!!

That is it for now. The rest of the week we hope to receive some office furniture we order, finally get our boxes and get ready for a family reunion on the weekend. 

Walking in our neighborhood

We love living in down town Quito. Life in the streets is so rich and entertaining. We just need to walk around without any specific mission and we find lots of great things to see. There are many churches, shops, restaurants, hotels, etc within walking distances. Today after spending all morning cleaning the house, doing laundry and making a yummy lunch, we went walking around our neighborhood and came back very happy.
Our surroundings in Quito are so much different than our surroundings in the farm where all is peace and quiet. The richness of nature prevails. We love this contrast!

plaza de San Francisco

plaza de Santo Domingo (two blocks from home)

San Francisco Church

at one side of La Catedral

Yanapana our land

Last weekend we went to Yanapana our property and it took us 7 hours to get there. First we got a taxi to the bus stop, then the bus for 2.5 hours, then had lunch while we waited for the next ride and finally hop in a ranchera for another 2.5 hours in a primitive road. Mateo did very well for his first long bus ride and just the whole experience. At the end, we were so glad to have made it to our beautiful piece of land. Everything is so magic and rich. We were received by our care takers and then visited our dear neighbors. Soon it was time to go to bed and rest. On Sunday, we spent the day seeing the progress our caretakers have made in the past 6 months and looking at things we need to get to make the place ready to receive guests. Casa grande (the main cabin) is almost finished and on our next trip we will bring a stove and kitchen stuff so Pat can start having fun in his big kitchen. And, no, we won't take the stuff by bus and take 7 hours; by then we will have a truck and will be there in 3 hours or so. I also saw our future garden fenced, so it will prevent wild life getting in there. I plan to have a nice garden with lots of things growing there. The pathways and flowers all around the place look great. It does feel like a great place to settle and make it home.

Casa Grande

Caretakers cabin

Guest cabin

Efficient Ecuadorian services

I have been pleased to find that my country has become efficient and organized when it comes to public services. They have state of the art computer systems in a brand new building. Before, to get an Ecuadorian ID (cedula) for example, one had to be prepared to spend a whole day standing in line and usually outside. This week we have focused on getting Mateo’s cedula and our marriage registered. Everyone is so polite and informative and the whole process went very smoothly. We did go back 3 days this week for several reasons but now everything is done. Now, I need to get my updated cedula. The cedula in Ecuador is as the drivers licence in U.E., it is required for everything from opening a bank account to getting a loan to getting a new credit card.
We are also happy because our stuff arrived in Quito on Thursday and my uncle is helping us get them out of customs. It is a long process but I am glad we have someone to help. Next we expect to get the boxes delivered here to our apartment and from there start the unpacking party! It should be fun to have our belongings here with us and make us feel more at home.
Tomorrow we will go to Yanapana and see how things are going there. This time we will adventure by bus and see how it goes. We can’t wait to recharge our energies in nature.

Still waiting for internet so no photos yet…