Cuenca Updates: Tuesday-Wednesday February 7-8/12

Tuesday Feb 7/12 update

8am and nobody has shown up. 8:45 and the stove guy shows up and takes almost 2 hours to exchange the digital clock on the stove. He gave Bella a contact who may be able to make a belt for her breadmaker.

9am and I phone Xavier who forgot about our appointment. He tries to beg off but I told him I had already waited 8 days, we had no Internet, my router had reconfigured itself, and Etapa was supposed to be showing up too. So he came over and managed to reconfigure my router but that is about all. He confirmed that the modem was working but that we had zero Internet signal.

At 10 I call Enrique and he says they will show up around 2pm, they are busy cutting glass, the same excuse he has used the last 2 days. This guy doesn’t even have black eyes like other Ecuadorians, they are brown for a reason…

They actually showed up at 1:45 and we put up the rest of the supports then started on the screening. That is a long, tedious process but we would rather they take their time and do a good job, which they are. We managed to get up 4 inside side panels by 6 pm and they do look great. There is still lots to be done but they are more rectangular and should go a lot quicker. There is a slim possibility this may get done tomorrow, but I’m not betting on that if they only show up at 2pm every day. I am betting on Thursday.

I called Michael about Etapa not showing up so he will chase them in the morning. He kindly offered us the use of his Internet stick and will drop it off in the morning. We are deeply grateful for that. I then called Etapa and left a scathing message about their service and that we refused to pay for no Internet and no service. It probably won’t do any good but it made me feel better.

We took a quick walk to Coral for a few items and I found a nice and reasonable comforter for my bed. The place is really taking shape now. Pretty soon we will feel like we have some time for ourselves…

That was today’s excitement. Hugs to all.

Wednesday February 8/12 update

I almost slept until sunrise but Pancho didn’t let that happen. He is getting too accustomed to being fed around 5:30am.
Michael came by at 7:30 to lend us his Internet stick again until we get the Etapa thing sorted out.
Then Bella had to pick me up off the floor when Enrique and the glass/screen people showed up at 8:15. Bella had just got home with the cleaning ladies who she had to meet at Coral because they didn’t know the way here. We had hoped the work on the terrace would have been done before now, but…..

The cleaning ladies, a mother and daughter team, did a creditable and quick job for their $24. We will definitely be hiring them again.

We managed to get the last supports in place and then got all the screen up except one small section which was left open as an escape hatch for when the glass roof was all up. We were scrambling between multiple tiny showers and sprinkles today. Then they left to go get the glass and more supplies. While they were gone I cleaned up and decided to put in the front window glass, trying to figure out which one went on which side, front or back, and right side up. I propped one up on the wall and was working on the second one, being careful not to be anywhere near the other one when I heard this horrifying CRASH. Yup, the darn first one fell off the wall and was smashed to smithereens. I was so proud of this accomplishment I took a picture of my folly. The good news is the glass people said they would be back in the morning at 10 with the new glass window (for only $30) and the accompanying screen.

They returned and, after a slow start, began putting up the eight smoked glass panels on the roof. You couldn’t wipe the grin off my face as I watched this little dream come to fruition. Oh the boys are really going to enjoy watching the world go by from up there. And we are certainly going to enjoy the mornings, afternoons and evenings in our lounge chairs listening to the birds sing. I hope to get more hummingbird shots and maybe we’ll see the return of a beautiful orange bird I saw yesterday.

I had a scrumptious overfed supper with my lovely wife and then we heard yet another shower starting. I went up to check how the new glass and screen and silicone seams were coping and the terrace was bone dry, yippee!! Check out the photos. I will have more on the next blog when all is complete.
Did not hear from Etapa Internet today. There must be some global problem with Internet here because even Michael's stick keeps cutting out on us. Anyway, it appears we have uploaded this blog.

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