Friends, Food and Travel

Moving sure can skew your sense of time! Here it is August already, how did that happen? We have been very busy between our move (DONE), selling items we no longer need (DONE), meeting old and new friends (NEVER STOPS) and attending Spanish classes (TWO MORE WEEKS).

In addition we have been getting ready for our annual trip to the US. We will be gone 2.5 months this time due to taking a two week Southern Caribbean cruise just before our return.

A few photos to update you!

We are enjoying our time here in the US, spending time with family and eating all the food treats we can't get in Ecuador (still need to get my Double T Diner Philly Cheese Steak and Rustico's Italian dinner).

Here are a few photos of the grandbabies to tide you over. We are borrowing wifi and so aren't uploading many photos yet.

Jesse (hot pink shorts) takes her soccer seriously.

Her older sister, Olivia, does as well!

The newest, baby Waverly, models the latest hat fashions.

We also took a ride on the new trike over to Ocean City, MD. I had never been and being off-season it was a real treat even though many stores were closed. Thrasher's Fries were first on our list, we walked the boardwalk for what seemed like miles, met some friends that Stu used to work with and talked about living in Ecuador, splurged at Dunkin' Donuts and bought a couple of t-shirts before ending the day at the Frog Bar and Grill. ;) LOTS of photos to follow later...

Tomorrow Stu is going with a couple of buddies to the Dover Nascar races, I hope to get some writing done...or maybe just do a Syfy TV binge. ;) On Monday we move back to our MD driveway home for two weeks before driving the rig back to TN. Still more friends to see, more family time coming and a couple of medical appointments to keep.

We do miss our apartment and our friends. We are looking forward to getting back and starting some Spanish lessons as well as enjoying the upcoming holiday season in Ecuador.

First Cuenca doctor visit....Dermatologist

Our health has been good so we haven't taken time to make any doctor appointments although we have chosen a primary care physician for when that day comes. His name is Dr. Anthony Guillen and he speaks excellent English, with a New York accent (according to the expats that have used him).

But due to 30 years spent living in Florida with over 20 of those in pre-sunscreen years, I have a few spots that needed looking at. I've had several excisions, biopsies and freezings done in the past few years so was pleased to find a dermatologist here in Cuenca who came recommended AND speaks English.

Today was my appointment and I arrived about 10 minutes early. His office is at the Hospital Santa Inés, a quick $2 taxi ride from our house. A beautiful facility, I walked to up to the reception and asked directions. I even understood them - well, except for the part about going up the stairs so when I got to the end of the hallway, I had to ask again. There is a nice waiting area, a huge pharmacy as you enter, a small cafeteria and everything is clean and neat.

I quickly found Dr. Abrosi's office and sat in the chairs outside with the others already waiting. He arrived promptly at ten, unlocked and called in the first patient.

Shortly after he called in the second patient, a young lady came and collected me to register. I had missed that step...LOL! She asked for my cedula and contact information (I have that pre-printed on a card). I registered and pre-paid, $30 for the consult.

Back to the chairs to wait, I was the next called in. Dr. Ambrosi remembered I spoke English and had emailed him. We sat down and he asked several medical history questions before proceeding with the exam which was extremely thorough, he didn't miss a spot - even checking between my toes!

End result, I go back on Thursday to get my spots frozen. All are benign but this insures they won't turn cancerous. They do this on Thursdays and Saturdays in the building across the street. That visit should run about $20.

I definitely recommend Dr. Ambrosi for anyone needed attention from a dermatologist. He is cautious, caring and will answer your questions clearly.

Dr. Juan Ambrosi, Dermatologist
Clínica - Hospital Santa Inés
Consultorio: 106
Horario de atención: Previa cita
Dirección: Av. Daniel Córdova y Agustín Cueva
Teléfono del consultorio: (593 7) 2827888 ext. 2106
Teléfono celular: 099 925 2657
email: jjambrosi @ hotmail.com

UPDATE: Today I went to get the spots frozen. At this clinic you sign in and get a number. If you are way down on the list, like I was (#25), you can leave and come back. Or you can stay and wait, which is what I did. I brought my Kindle reader to keep me busy for the 90 minute wait. The doctor sprayed all the spots while the three attendents listened to him talking about my Route 66 motorcycle trip. What a hoot! Done in ten minutes and the charge? Nothing, zero, zilch....

Ecuador Cold

I know we haven't written much lately, that's because we have been suffering from our first Ecuadorian colds. Neither were severe - Stu had a lot of head stuffiness and I had a lot of sneezing. We both had some coughing, not bad though.

The biggest hit has been our energy level. We do one thing and we are wiped out for the day. Lots of naps, bundled up in blankets.

We still have a lot we want to do and there are always friends to see, old and new. So hopefully we'll be out and about more sooner than later.

Cuenca and Altitude Sickness

There was a good article in my Gringo Tree newsletter today that I thought I should share for anyone considering visiting or moving to Cuenca.

Cuenca is 8,000 or More Feet Above Sea Level

Roughly one in five people who travel to altitudes 7,000-9,000 feet, without acclimating at lower elevations, experiences some degree of high-altitude illness. How do you know if you'll be one of the five? In general, you don't. A medical history of heart or lung disease doesn't predispose you and being physically fit doesn't protect you. 

Airplane cabins are pressurized to simulate atmospheric conditions around 7,000 feet, so if you have no trouble flying, you should have little trouble in Cuenca. What if you do? Here are some suggestions from expats who've suffered from it.

Dissolve a quarter-cup of sugar in a water bottle. When you get a little dizzy, out of breath, nauseous, or headachy, drink a couple swallows and in two or three minutes the symptoms are gone.

HydroPLUS 45 (or an equivalent) is sold at farmacias and costs $3.50 per bottle, no prescription needed. A bottle a day restores electrolytes, good for dehydration from altitude.

Mate de coca (tea)is sold at any natural-food store. It's cheap, not habit-forming, and the only side effect might be a little caffeine-like buzz. It's an almost instant cure for altitude sickness.

Two prescription drugs are effective at reducing symptoms: acetazolamide (Diamox) and dexamethasone (a powerful steroid).

If all else fails, get to a lower elevation quickly. Fastest from Cuenca is the road to Machala. You ascend to around 9,000 feet, but then descend fast; by the time you reach Girón in about a half-hour, you're under 7,000 feet, where you should feel better.

If your heart is set on Ecuador and you turn out to be susceptible to altitude sickness, your chances of making it in Cuenca are slim. You could try Cotacachi north of Quito (7,800 feet), Yunguilla Valley south of Cuenca (6,000 feet), Vilcabamba (just under 5,000 feet), or the coast (sea level).

Both times we flew to Ecuador, we took Diamox two days before departure and two days after our arrival. We both felt we benefited from it and we had few, if any, side effects. Others have used the methods described above with the Mate de Coco being the most often recommended.

You also need to stay hydrated, drink a LOT of water. The good news is the water in Cuenca is very good, often called the best in the county. And lastly, rest...and that can be difficult in this beautiful city.

My Top FIVE List of Surprises

Any time you visit some place new, you will find things that are different. Some are fun, some require creativity and some are a little shocking. While some of these might not have been a surprise to all folks visiting, these are the ones I consider at the top of MY list.

1.) Size - every thing seems to smaller and not just the people. Paper towels, paper napkins, sanitary napkins, toilet paper...hmmm, I see a theme here. Something to do with paper? Well, we discovered that standard copy/printer paper is larger. Yup, not our traditional 8 1/2" x 11". Oh yeah, they use the metric system here. File folders are bigger and most we've found are legal size. I did get some letter size, Ecuadorian letter size, but they are really thin. Adding to the mule list - index cards and file folders.

2) Unless you've visited Mexico, the fact that you shouldn't flush toilet paper is one of the biggies for most folks. Cuenca is a very old city and most plumbing won't handle the TP (or anything else not produced by your body). There are a few newer buildings where it's not an issue but we just go along with the standard and use the trash bin.

You will often see signs but not always. Just do it. ;)

But that's not the only thing. My first visit to the public restrooms at the big mall here, Mall del Rio, had me glad that I always carry tissues with me. While I had read that many public rest areas require you to get your TP before you enter your stall, I had forgotten that little tidbit.There are also public restrooms in more open areas, close to parks, shopping areas, etc. and there you will pay the attendant ten cents to get your little stash of TP.

Most folks wonder about the odor, expecting bathrooms to smell like a Porta-Potty at a biker event. Not so...you are not disposing of the actual waste and that accumulation in the bottom of the portable outhouse is what smells. The TP dries quickly and only if left in a closed container for too long, is there any odor. We use plastic bins with garbage bags and I've never noticed any odors. Garbage is picked up on a regular basis here so if you keep your trash emptied, you're good to go!

Oh, and if you want to read a GREAT blog post about this, check out fellow author Kathryn McCullough's recent blog post.

3.) While wandering around town, we often see whole pigs roasting at roadside tiendas. They hack off a slice and serve it with rice, plantains and soup. While it smells very good and I can handle seeing the pig, we haven't been brave enough to eat at any place that hasn't been recommended by other expats. I know, not all that adventurous but better for our health. Our good friend, Emilio, a local resident spend a weekend in the hospital after eating some empanadas at a roadside spot in Quito.

Photo courtesy of S. Turpin, Facebook Ecuador Expats Group

Photo courtesy of K. James, Facebook Ecuador Expats Group

But even if you can seemingly handle seeing whole pigs roasting as you walk/ride around town, this next one might get you. Eating guinea pig or cuy (in Spanish) - we haven't done this yet but we have seen the roasting spits and signs for them. They are considered quite a delicacy as well as being tasty. The hardest part was seeing live guinea pigs for sale at the local markets (mercados). You know they aren't being sold as pets. We also have learned that many folks who live in more rural areas raise their own guinea pigs for eating. Gulp!

Photo courtesy of K. James, Facebook Ecuador Expats Group

Photo courtesy of N. Turpin, Facebook Ecuador Expats Group

Photo courtesy of  B. Rand, taken in Banos while on a
motorcycle tour with Ecuador Freedom Bike Rental

Photo courtesy of  B. Rand, taken in Banos while on a
motorcycle tour with Ecuador Freedom Bike Rental

4.) Public displays of affection between young couples are everywhere! If you frequent the parks or the river trails, you will see them huddled together exchanging whispers and kisses without regard for anyone around them. It's actually quite endearing!

In addition, families go everywhere together - mothers and daughters are often seen hand in hand. Older children carry younger ones, hold their hands and watch over them - regardless of age difference. We spent several days at both the immigration office and the civil registry office while getting all our legal things tied up. One person needs to come in to get something done but the whole family (multi-generational) all come with them. Fun to watch!

5.) While the above is enjoyable, there is one public display that isn't quite as palatable for most. Public urination is against the law in Cuenca but obviously enforcing that law is a chore and mostly ignored. Most men are discreet, at least during the day. We've seen wives along the riverbank holding up a blanket or shirt with their husband behind it. The worst part is walking the streets of El Centro on a warm day. You learn which corner locations are the worst and avoid them. Sorry folks, this is a reality here. You learn to deal with it or you avoid the historic downtown area.

I am sure I could think of more things but these are the ones that struck me the most. If you've ever visited a foreign country, what was YOUR biggest surprise?

Yes and No

Yes, Ecuador is considered a third world country. Yes, there are parts of it where the poverty is staggering and we know we couldn't live there. Yes, it's a country of haves/have-nots (as are most 3rd world countries).

No, we won't be living uncomfortably. No, we won't be eating bugs, grass and sticks. No, we won't be raising our own animals and growing our own food (although several of our friends are).

Yes, we will be walking a LOT more. No, we won't own a car (but possibly a small scooter or motorcycle). Yes, we will be learning Spanish. No, we don't think we'll be truly proficient but we will get by. Yes, we will hang with other expats/Gringos. No, we won't avoid making friends with other Ecuadorians.

Yes, the weather will be cooler in Jul-Sep, but still warmer than Dec-Feb here in north central Tennessee. No, we won't come back more than once a year unless there is a real family emergency (it is expensive to run back and forth plus we are only allowed 90 days each year out of Ecuador). Yes, we will miss our families but we miss them now!

Finally, not a yes or a no, but here is what we have coming to our town in Ecuador! A downtown tram system; the contracts were awarded in June. Originally slated to be operational in 2014, it is now projected to be 2015.

We are excited, not because we will walk less but because it will decrease the fumes from buses in the historic downtown area. [more here]

Long Flights and Health

An online friend had an accident while in Ecuador and sustained a badly sprained ankle...just hours before her flight. When she got home they were worried about a blood clot but fortunately she is in the clear.

Her story reminded me of one thing we now both have - comfortable compression socks. I first found these after hubby had double knee replacements. He wanted something sturdier than the traditional TEDS that he had to wear for weeks after the surgery. He needed something to wear anytime he was traveling for more than a few hours.

Well, since we travel a lot in our RV lifestyle, I needed to find something that would work. He liked these so well that he continued to use them for long motorcycle rides, too. I had leg swelling at the end of a long office day in my younger years and it continues now on any day where my legs are in a vertical position for a long time (travel, motorcycle rides, airplanes). I decided to try these same socks for me.

I was unable to find a small (I wear a size 7 ladies US) but got the medium. They are a bit long so I don't pull the foot really tight.

I was amazed at the difference. I now wear them any time my feet will be in a down position for more than a few hours. Motorcycle rides, travel in the truck and airplane rides. I liked them so well, I got more for both of us!

• Truform 15-20 Over the Calf Length Athletic Style Support Socks, White, Medium (Pack of 2)
  
• Truform 15-20 Over the Calf Athletic Sock, White, Large (Pack of 2)
• Truform 15-20 mmHg of Compression Over the Calf Athletic Sock, White, XL (Pack of 2)