Author: satuscher

It was warm sleeping last night despite the floor fan.  The steady surf providing a mariner’s lullaby.

This morning about twenty or so fishing boats just off the coast gathered together in what we assume is the best spot; it’s hazy but the surf is gentler than yesterday.

The malecon is decorated with holiday hanging, a magical transformation since last night.

Cafe con leche and rolls for breakfast at the Marinero Restaurante.

Once nourished back to Fremas Comercial which is open now.  Basic food stuffs, some hand towels, spices, limes, papel higenico, paper towels and a face cloth.  The remaining items will have to wait until the trip to Puertoviejo.

Our first ride on the trimoto returning to Las Dumas with the groceries.

The TV remote is still missing.  On our return there is a text message from Russell – the air conditioner is going to be replaced at some time this week – apologies for the inconvenience.  The replacement will occur a la hora conveniente for sure, knowing the “manana nunca viene”, “talvez, quizas” – all expressions of “vamos a ver” – “let’s see”, “whenever”, no rush.

Russell informs us that the remote has been missing since his last visit.  A button on the bottom right side of the TV will turn it on and then the cable box remote will control the rest.

The washer/dryer combination is more like thorough washing, damp drying.

“Nilla, look what I found in the back yard!  We can come hang out here with the laundry!”

The limes have to be washed in a solution of water and Kilol.  Instead of using the bottled water, boiling the water for 15 minutes and then allowing cooling before the additive drops will work just fine.

Although some places in Quito and Cuenca tap water is safe to drink, here on the coast it is not.  Fruits and vegetables need to be washed in solutions containing Kilol, Vitalin, concentrated grapefruit extract, plus or minus vinegar and lemon juice.  There are many suggested formulas but, we’re keeping it simple.

In the afternoon, it’s time for a walk – we leave another small load in the laundry machine and take off down the malecon.  We notice evacuation signs in case of a tsunami.  Since 1906 there have been four tsunamis, the tallest of which reached 6.1 meters.  Most of the tsunamis have occurred along the northern coast shared by Ecuador and Colombia, however the last earthquake triggering a tsunami warning with significant loss of life, happened in 2016, a 7.8 magnitude quake, the strongest in decades, with a major impact in Manta, Portoviejo and Guayquil – hundreds of miles from the epicenter.  There was no tsunami, deaths were related to building collapse.

Fishing boats are still off the coast. A solitary sandpiper explores the sands looking for a tasty morsel and a lifeguard sits on his perch looking over the beach and sea.

 

On the way back we stop at Las Ramblas, a sushi bar, for a little refreshment and meet Joffre who is very friendly and informative.  Two girls arrive and order micheladas, both beer-based beverages with local fruit.

There is a beautiful creche along the walkway on the malecon.

 

Once back at Las Dumas we notice water coming from the front door!  The laundry machine has overflowed and flooded the utility room and the apartment next door.  There is little we can do except contact Russell and text Amarita.  We don’t have keys to the apartment – unplugging the washer/drier does not stop the continuous water – closing the hot and cold shut off valves finally stops the flow.

Again texting to Russell and Amarita – with minimal response, Russell is probably at work and Amarita may be away from her home and WiFi.

A call to the Kleber, the maintenance person,  the same one that was here yesterday. He is aware that the washer/drier is on the fritz and will look at it the same time he comes to install the new air conditioner – whenever that may be, he’s waiting for the unit to be delivered.

Others in the complex seem nonchalant about our trials – as these sorts of occurrences are bound to happen matter-of-factly.  While in the U.S. we expect things like this to happen in threes.

Amarita is waiting for her husband to come home from Puertoviejo and come to survey the situation – in about an hour’s time.

Dinner.  Back to Las Ramblas for some sushi.  Jeff and Jonathan are chatting at a table outside and are glad to see us return.  Tuna tataki, tuna cruda and Osaka roll are delicious.

Tito and Amarita are standing outside the property when we return.  They have opened up the apartment’s front sliding door allowing the water to be pushed out onto the sidewalk.  The rugs are draped over the small wall adjacent to the apartment.  After explaining what happened, Amarita tells us not to worry, there’s a warranty on the machine if it needs to be replaced.

Doors left open airing out the apartment and the utility room coupled with moisture is an open invitation for opportunistic six-legged critters. Mmmmm.

Rather than wait until the air conditioner and laundry machine issues are rectified, it is decided that tomorrow we’re off to Portoviejo – a text to Dina and confirmation from Jean Carlos for 10:00 pick-up is the plan.

 

Up even earlier than yesterday.  The front desk forgot the wake-up call but it really doesn’t matter.

The Wyndham shuttle service is on time and once again we are back at the airport, this time without any travel problems, business class – rapid checking in of luggage.

The flight to Manta is short.  The cloudy skies obscure any view of the mountains below.  Manta airport is basic, a luggage carousel that looks as though it will break down at any moment and, the use of the ‘sanitarios’ requires leaving the secure area with security guard permission to allow re-entry.  It is a provisional airport.  New plans are underway for construction, an artist rendition displayed on the wall just outside by the parking lot.

Jean Carlos’ taxi awaits.  A well-maintained vehicle.  He offers to transport us to Manta or Puertoviejo when we want to go grocery shopping at the ‘super mercado’ later on in the week. Road signs clearly indicate routes to various towns and include distance in kilometers, taking the guesswork out of land travel for those unfamiliar to the area.

Manuel one of three security staff is by the gate at Las Dunas when we pull in and Amarita arrives about twenty minutes later with her husband to give us the keys and orient us to the property.

We have the wiFi code and are able to use WhatsApp for calling and texting as well as access to the internet.

 

 

Amarita has some essential food items on the kitchen counter – coffee, milk, sugar as well as paper napkins and trash bags, just in case we decided not to go shopping today. The air conditioner is not working in the main bedroom upstairs and Russell is contacting the technician to come take a look.

After unpacking it’s time to explore, get some lunch and purchase some other groceries available at the local market,  Fremas about 3/4 of a mile away.  A good walk.  Lunch at Las Vegas Restaurant consists of is a large portion of lightly battered sword fish and ocean shrimp, ‘chicharones’ – yummy and filling.

Fremas is closed.

If we didn’t want to walk back we could hale a ‘trimoto’, they’re everywhere, but after sitting around in airports and on various forms of transportation (some with wings and others that think they have wings) the walk back to Las Dunas is the healthier choice.  We’ll eat out for breakfast tomorrow.

The HVAC technician (suppose you can leave out the H-heat, as that is not a concern here) arrives.  Very nice guy.  The search is on for the circuit breakers without much luck, and necessitates a call to Russell who advises us to try up on the rooftop deck – and there is a small box, exposed to the elements – eureka!

Despite cleaning the corroded connections, the unit is still not functioning and the compressor is suspect – so tomorrow will be another day.

Close to 6:00 PM and sunset, time for a ‘bocadillo’, a little snack.  After introducing ourselves to Benny, we walk down the ‘malecon’ to Isabel Restaurant for some ‘pescado a la plancha’, lightly battered, flat, fish with some white rice (the rice grown locally in the province) – nothing seems to come in a small size.

 

“Nilla, it’s been a day and then some”

“You knew that it would take about a week to settle in. You haven’t traveled as much as I have.”

Once you accept the ‘dicho’ ‘Expect the unexpected, then nothing can be unexpected’, Jackson.”

Up very early, not a creature is stirring – just a mouse and a small teddy bear.  Off to the airport and through immigration and security without any problems.

To the gate – gate two in plenty of time.  Then what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a gate change and flight delay.

“What do you think Nilla, will we make the connection in Bogota?”

“Shouldn’t  be a problem as long as we leave by 11:30 – ‘Avinunca’.”

A little warm cheese sandwich and beverage on a short flight – pleasant.

Bogota’s airport is a large international airport with moving sidewalks and signage indicating how long it will take the average person to walk from one gate to the next.

On the electronic flight listing in Bogota, we see that our next flight to Quito is already boarding – how can that be?

Rushing to the opposite end of terminal one, a crowd is gathered around the check-in desk.

The flight AV111 is canceled – or as ‘Avinunca’ prefers to explain, delayed, delayed considerably – to 3:30 and the gate is located at the other end of terminal one. Many unhappy passengers.

“Jackson, we have a coupon for Dunkin Donuts, Burger King and some other fast food joint.” Avianca tries to appease unhappy and potentially hungry passengers.

“I’m not really hungry Nilla. There’s a line at food court anyway.”

Another passenger advises us that there is indeed a Dunkin’ Donuts nearby! And behold, there is no long line.  The cafe con leche is delicious!

Back at the newly designated gate, number 34 – the posting indicates a departure time of 2:30 to Quito – we might make the flight after all!

“Good thing that one of the Ts speaks Spanish, Nilla.”

Information is at a premium and sparse at best.  The departure time is a guesstimate, but as 2:15 PM comes and goes and no boarding, it’s clear that we will not make the connecting flight in Quito – not with having to claim the luggage and go through aduana and imigracion.  The issue also becomes apparent to ‘Aviunca’ and walkie-talkie conversations are volleyed between supervisors and gate staff.

We are assured that we will be issued new tickets for an 6:00 AM flight on Monday, December 17^th and arrangements for an overnight hotel stay in Quito will be made.

Calls to Hotel Balandra in Manta to cancel our reservation, call to Dina about the change in taxi service and call to Amarita to advise her that we will be arriving in Crucita much earlier Monday morning.  All are gracious and understanding and even the hotel clears any charge for the late reservation cancellation!

Business class should be soothing – but we still don’t have tickets for tomorrow’s  flight.  The ticket agent comes on board and assures us once again that a representative will meet us in Quito and give us the tickets and hotel voucher.

A tasty little lunch and the flight a little over one hour, a glimpse of a snow-capped mountain as we approach the new Quito airport.  The Andes are impressive, more impressive than the Rockies.  Mariscal Sucre International has all the amenities that an international airport should have.  It is the busiest in South America.  The new airport, built in 2013, is located on the Oyambaro plain near the town of Tabalela, about 11 miles east of Quito.  The new airport is operated by Quiport under a concession agreement until 2040.  The airport handles more than six million passengers annually, one million of them tourists.  Tourism is increasing by about 3% yearly.  The old airport could not accommodate larger planes and became unsafe with one or two flights every year overshooting the short and narrow runway. At the insistence of the president, the new airport retained the name of the old one, and the site of the old airport is now a park.

There is no representative to meet us – we are instructed to go through immigration and baggage claim and then go upstairs to Avianca to inquire about the tickets and hotel voucher.

The line at the ticket counter is short and with only a short delay we are issued tickets for the 6:00 AM flight to Manta, given a dinner coupon, and hotel voucher and escorted to the Wyndham Hotel transfer van for the short five minute ride.

The staff at the Wyndham are friendly and very helpful.  They contact Avianca for dinner voucher approval for the buffet in their restaurant.

The corner room looks out over the highways serving the airport and allow for watching incoming flights.

 

“Nilla, I’m exhausted!  While the Ts go downstairs for the buffet, lets call it a day!”

“Amen!”

The Ts also call it ‘done’ after contacting Dina confirming the flight information and Amarita about our arrival time at Las Dunas.

“Tomorrow is the big travel day Jackson.Do you think we’ll be safe?”

“According to Numbeo, the world’s largest user contributed database providing up-to-date data about cities and towns worldwide, in the beginning of 2018 the United States ranked 36th and Ecuador 39th and, more recently this year, the United States ranked 47th and Ecuador 42nd – the higher the rank, the higher the safety level.”

“So, I’m sure that it’s important to use common sense and be aware of your surroundings.”

“That’s exactly right Nilla.  Just like when we’ve traveled anywhere before.  Look what happens back at home, in Lowell and even small towns like Methuen!”

“I imagine crime is greater in the major cities such as Quito, the capital, and Guayquil, the largest port.  Ecuador wants tourism – there is even a long-term tourism project along the southern coast the locals call ‘Balsamaragua’.  If there were a major crime problem, people wouldn’t want to come visit.  We’ll be staying in Crucita, 25 miles from Manta and 17 miles from the province capital of Portoviejo.  Crucita is the most visited beach destination in Ecuador.  There are ongoing improvements in the infrastructure – four lane highway and more reliable internet and cable TV, essential for visitors.”

“Looks like it might be a busy day in Oranjestad, there’s a cruise ship coming in, so beautiful from a distance.”

“And romantic!”

“Not necessarily from an infectious disease perspective.  Closed community, great opportunity for a bacterial or viral outbreak.”

“That’s why we wash our paws (hands).!”

“Back to reading Nilla – we’ve got to get to the chapter about the coast!”

“We’ll finish this chapter while the Ts are down relaxing at the pool.”

Ts, back from the pool, and time to go to the business center to check in for our flights tomorrow.

“This is great, almost as good as being back at the office.”!

 

“Nilla, stop monkeying around at the terminal, this is important stuff!”

“Oh, Jackson, you and the computer!”

“Have you bothered to notice all the Christmas decorations?”

“Of course I have!”

“The ones in the lobby are really wonderful and guess what, no SNOW.”

 

“Enough with the pictures, time for lunch.”

Ohhh, what’s this I hear, we’re going to the pool!!  The iguanas, oh no!”

Chill Jackson.  Don’t you remember the sign?

“But I’ve still seen them crawling about poolside.”

“The Ts will keep us safe I’m sure.”

“Our last day here.”

“We’ll probably return, si Dios quiere.”

“You practicing your Spanish Jackson?”

“What better time to do it?  That Duolingo lesson stuff is paying off.”

“Italiano tonight?”

“Si amore.”

“Delicioso”.

 

Back to La Cabana.  Laundry, repacking.  Anticipation and excitement.

“The message for us this evening – ‘chill'”!

A little karaoke and then off to bed.

Good night La Cabana – we leave you tomorrow – a big day awaits!

“Oh boy Nilla, we’re going to the beach!”

“Looks cloudy to me Jackson, it might rain.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll be sitting under the palapa and won’t get wet as along as we get there before it rains.”

“Don’t you think we should stay in the room and read about Ecuador?”

“So now you’re all excited and want to read the guide!?”

“It is an adventure after all.”

“Sure enough Jackson, it’s raining, got too get under the palapa!”

“It’s just a sprinkle, get settled and we’ll read the next guidebook chapter.”

“Are we going to go to Quito?”

“Not that I know of – if we return to Ecuador we might though.”

“As I explained before, it is important to have an overall general knowledge of the country.  The book describes Ecuador as – ‘Sandy beaches, snowy volcanoes, Amazon rain forests, the Galapagos Islands….Ecuador’s vivid diversity is one of its greatest attractions’.  We won’t see the rain forests or travel along the Avenue of Volcanoes, but we certainly will enjoy the beach and even travel to the Galapagos – I heard the Ts talk about that.”

“Ready to turn the page yet?”

“Oh yes, this is a real book, not like that Nook thing.”

“We’ve been on the beach for a while – it’s time to head up to the room, don’t want to fade too much – early aging you know.”

“Look at that Jackson, looks like a photo opportunity to me!”

“Who’s Rudy?”

“Don’t know but look at ‘Huggy Bear’ – a relative?  Notice there’s no mention of ‘Huggy Mouse’.  Ha Ha!”

“Nilla!”

Another quiet day in Aruba.  Waiting for and looking forward to the Ecuadorian experience.

 

“Nilla, while the Ts are down on the beach, I think it’s time to read up on Ecuador”

“It’s a good thing that one of the Ts speaks Spanish.  From what this guidebook says, in the smaller towns, no one may speak English.”

“How do you know that one of them speaks Spanish?  All I’ve heard is one of them practicing Spanish on the free app, Duolingo!”

“Nilla, I know because of conversations I overheard when I was in the office.  I would have thought you would know because of all the other trips you’ve taken with them before you and I met.”

Early afternoon the Ts return from the beach for a little lunch and take the opportunity to call Amarita and Dina.  After installing the WhatsApp to the cellphones and adding both to the contact list, calls and text messages are exchanged without charge.  Texting in Spanish from a English-correcting phone is challenging.

Dina has arranged transportation from the airport to the hotel and then on Monday, December 17th, from the hotel to Crucita where Amarita will meet us with the key and introduce us to the property.

“I’m glad the transportation service is already arranged, aren’t you Jackson?”

“Definitely!  Now back to reading if we’re ever going to finish this book.”

“Can’t we just read the part about the coast?”

“Nilla, really? We need to get a sense of the entire country.”

“Nilla, I’m glad we’re up here on the balcony while the Ts are at the pool.”

“Why?”

“Because I really don’t like how the iguanas look at us.  Even though there is a sign requesting that people don’t feed them, they still do.  The ‘no feed’ sign seems to have decreased the iguana population but there are still some big ones.”

“I understand a trip to town is planned for later this afternoon.”

“So, we’ll just sit here in the shade and people watch till then.”

“A bus ride, how exciting!”

 

“I’t busy in port, Jackson.  I can count four cruise ships, not including the four-masted schooner.”

“Oh, look Nilla, your blue horses – remember them from last year?”

“Of course I do!”

 

“Lots of bling stores too!  There’s the Pandora shop!”

“No bling for you Nilla, not this trip at least.”

“Where are we going? Do you know Jackson?”

“To the post office to send some cards.  Walking, after sitting around earlier today, is a good thing.”

Post Aruba N.V. is the post office of Aruba and is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.  The postal service was privatized in September 2005, previously a public endeavor.  The first mail delivered to Aruba came on boats sailing here from Venezuela or Curacao, arriving to Oranjestad and then delivered by islanders.  In the late 1800’s the Aruban governor was named the Director of Post and given the responsibility of delivering the mail.  When Post Aruba obtained internal autonomy in 1986, Aruba started issuing it’s own stamps, not just postal stamps but revenue stamps as well.

“We found it!”

Almost $2.00 U.S. per card!

Lunch at Lucy’s then back home.

It’s just about six o’clock, time to think about meals for tomorrow.  Up early to the beach.

“What’s for breakfast Nillla?”

“Healthy stuff for the most part!”

Off to the beach – the Ts have found a fine spot to enjoy sun and sand.

“My it’s windy today on Eagle Beach, don’t you think so Nilla?”

“Certainly and the palapa isn’t a wind breaker either!”

Don’t want to spend too much time here – could fade while the Ts burn.

A little walk would be good this late afternoon.  Venturing down to the high-rise area would be reasonable.

“Nilla, look at that! How romantic! A wedding on the beach with a few close friends and relatives.  Her gown is gorgeous!”

“Hope they live happily ever after!”

“Amen!  Let’s just walk quietly by while we wish them well!’

“So much construction Nilla – Embassy Suites is going in near the high-rises.  And the road being paved along here too.  What horrible tar smell.  Hold your breath.”

“The divi trees are so independent with branches going wherever they want too and then propped up so they won’t fall over.  Let’s check one out.”

“Jackson, your big ears will act as sails in this wind and I don’t want to fall over with you.  Be careful!”

 

“We finally made it to Carlitos”.  Quiet for 6:30 PM, but no football games and the beach is pretty much empty.”

“Let’s get a snack.  Remember those wings were rather yummy.”

“But not healthy!”

“We’ll be eating a lot of fish in Ecuador, what’s a few wings now?”

“We love Aruba.  What do you think Ecuador will be like?”

“Don’t know Nilla.  I think we should read about it in the next couple of days though.”

“What if we don’t like it?  Three months is a long time!”

“It will be different for sure.  We’ll have to make some adjustments, but we’ll be fine.!”

“Just think about all the things to blog about!”

“Russel sent cell phone numbers for both Amarita and Dina this afteroon and they are expecting a call.  Amarita will be assisting us at the house and advising us while Dina will be our chauffeur for the Manta and Portoviejo trips.  The Ts are hoping she’ll meet us at the airport and take them to the hotel where we’ll spend the night in Manta and then we’ll travel to Crucita in daylight.”

“Jackson, look at those people all dressed up, they’re coming into Carlitos.  Look at the flower bouquets.  I think it’s another wedding party.”

“I think you’re right.”

“Gabriel and Tiffany got married on the beach.  I wonder how many beach side weddings in one week.”

“Don’t know.  They want us to have cake, but I’m stuffed, what about you Nilla?”

“You can’t say ‘no’, that would be rude, besides it’s chocolate!”

“So much for your ‘healthy’ kick’!

“Look at that knife!”  What a slice!”

“Bus ride back to La Cabana for sure!”

Leisurely start to the day.  Some additional organizing.

When the Ts head out to the Super Food for grocery shopping Nilla and I read the resort literature and review bargain offers, tour options.

“The Ts, having been in Aruba several times and enjoyed various tours in the past probably won’t arrange any excursions this trip – maybe next time.”

The short cut though the back of La Cabana is more direct this year due to new low-rise construction, making it easier and even shorter lugging back purchases

 

Super Food is busy as always – even on a Monday.  Breakfast at Jack’s Cafe at Super Food is a bargain.  Everything else is pricey.  A quarter for the shopping cart – once returned, so is the quarter.  No grocery bags are provided – bring your own or purchase one for 6.79 florins (AWG) also called guilders.  No plastic bags in Aruba for about two years now.

Time to store the groceries and relax a bit before going down to the pool to see if Rose is there.

It’s busy at the pool but not over-crowded.  Rose is happy to see us!  Jander shows up shortly as well.

About four o’clock the band sets up.

“They’re good, Nilla!”  I wish we could join them – they’re performing some of our favorite ‘oldies but goodies’!”

“Why can’t we join them – we’ll just sit right down on one of the amplifiers.”

“They love us Nilla!!”

 

“That was so much fun! they’ll be back on Thursday – maybe we can do it again!”

Time for some dinner and early to bed, need to get up in the morning and get a good spot on the beach under a palapa.

A reasonable morning start.  Nilla and I are glad that this day has finally arrived.  Traffic to Logan is reasonably light, it is Sunday after all.  Check in at  jetBlue goes smoothly as well as the security process – the Ts have Pre-Check.

A little breakfast at Legal Seafood is pleasant, the Ts have some wake-up juice (they call it coffee) along with the fairly healthy breakfast selection.

“Jackson, we have our own seat!”

“Safety first Nilla, read the important safety instructions and get settled in.  They can’t close the cabin door until everyone is seated.”

“Let’s watch a movie.  Looks like there are lots of choices.”

“I thought you were going to take a nap, isn’t that what little bears do?”

“Come on!  How often do we get a chance to choose our own movie?  We always have to watch what the Ts select and lately it’s been the Hallmark Channel – mushy stuff!  Let’s watch Christopher Robin, the summary sounds like an adventure film.”

“Adventure film?!  You just want to watch it because it’s about a bear.”

“There are other creatures in it too.  If you don’t like it you can take a nap!”

“So, what did you think?  I noticed you didn’t doze off.”

“Not bad.  I liked Tigger the best.  I’m sure you were enthralled with Pooh, a bit over-rated and clueless at times”

“Well it was a happy ending, and it was an adventure, like us and our travels, don’t you think?’

“Oh Nilla, it’s time for a nap.”

“Hey, we’re landing.”

Immigration form and process, baggage claim and taxi ride – all accomplished in about forty minutes.

Arrival at La Cabana.  Blue ID bands for the Ts – we don’t need any – can’t charge anything to our room and the Ts will be with us, so it doesn’t matter.  Room 206B – nice view of the pool area and best of all, it’s warm!  No iguanas insight.