Cuenca Updates: Tuesday Jan 24/12

Tuesday Jan 24/12 update

Today we went to apply for our Censo travel document at the Immigration Police office. It was necessary that we get this done before we go to Quito on the 31^st to get the Cedula or internal resident papers. We were not surprised that they now say to return Feb 15^th because they still don’t have the proper paper to print these documents so Bella will have to run to the airport tomorrow and cancel our reservations to Quito.

Bella then went off to the lawyers’ office to arrange for the movers they recommended while I went to meet Michael at the Almacenes Espana to see where our Bosch fridge is. While waiting on a bright sunny morning I caught a few shots of the Parque Calderon and the Immaculate Conception Cathedral. Then this tour bus came by with a bunch of latino kids begging to have their picture taken, so who was I to refuse?

The fridge story is that the original one came in damaged so they sent it back and that the new one was on its way. We told them to deliver it Thursday when we will definitely be at the house all day. We told them that this cost us a one week delay into moving into our house and that we had to pay additional rent as a result so we expected a discount or credit of some sort. I asked them to throw in a $71 juicer but they apparently refused that.

I also had Michael call Jorge about the granite for the island. Apparently they don’t have matching granite in the larger size so they wanted to know if we would accept 2 pieces. We said no, we want one piece and they could get granite that will match the cupboards as best they can, and we want it installed Thursday.

Since I was downtown and had the time I called the gal who handles house insurance and walked to her office for a new 10:30 appointment. On the way I saw an electronics store and picked up the AAA batteries for the remote, an HDMI cable, and a speaker set with proper wiring for $66 to connect the TV to the satellite. Then I had to cart this load several blocks to the insurance place.

Cristina, the insurance gal, learned her English as an exchange student in Indiana and she brought out their offer through ACE Insurance based on some preliminary numbers. I was flabbergasted that they wanted over $700 for such a tiny policy on a Named Perils basis, although it did include earthquake and flood coverage. I was figuring $150 to $300 on the high side… Heck, we pay less premium for our Okotoks house for 4 times the coverage on an All Risks basis. It is no wonder that Ecuadorians do not insure their homes and that possibly explains the high rates because they have no premium base. This was very disappointing.

I cabbed home to change clothes and then bused the stuff over to the new house. I wanted to install a telephone shower head in my shower but I see I have the same problem as in Bella’s where I needed an extension. I hung around in case Jorge or anyone came, but nobody did, so I crashed for a couple of hours on my new bed. Aaaaahhhhh.

I came back to a delicious pork chop supper, our last official supper in the rental place, as we have run out of food here and Bella doesn't want to be carting more stuff than necessary.

I took down the chicken wire on the terrace here to take over to the new terrace. It appears to be just enough length to cover the 9’ although it may be tricky to tack down to keep the boys in.

Tonight I will be packing all the computer stuff and unhooking the cable TV. I have to give my laptop to Xavier, the computer guy, to clone to the new computer which he has received to put together.

Michael is to get us a temporary internet stick but we have no idea how it works or how reliable it is, or even if we will need it.

Jorge just called and came right over to show me a sample piece of the single granite they will install tomorrow afternoon. It is a nice lighter brown with darker flakes and it should go nicely with the cupboards. I approved it, so we will see him tomorrow.

PLEASE NOTE that we will be incommunicado from Wednesday the 25th to Sunday the 29^th as we get moved and hooked up at the new house and get a new computer. Please hold off on any emails.

That was today’s excitement. Enjoy the pics. Hugs to all.