Preparing to Return to Canada-November 19th 2020

 Arrived in Quito after a 24 hour trip via Mexico 

 The luggage carousel at Manta Airport...1st time I exited a plan via the stairs

 approaching Manta runway

 Avianca....plane was 1/4 full

 approaching Quito

where I had a 14 hour lay over....no lounges with recliners to rest......at Quito Airport and to my hotel by 1 am to await my afternoon flight to Manta which took only 45 minutes. Taxi 1 1/2 hours to Canoa and my residence at Sundown.

Next day I visited with Anita for a few minutes at her Hotel 

then went next door to Carole and Jeff's to retrieve my moto which they had kindly stored.

 

 It was Carole's birthday so we enjoyed a Cake with wine.....not to bad a combination....My moto was in need of new sprockets and chain which I had brought down with me.....Don Hale called Miguel his mechanic who showed up at the hotel Sunday morning and change the old for new...$40.00. Now I have used MIguel in the past having been introduced to him through Julia....who he really likes...so he treats me well....he would lend me his remote power pack and fix my battery problems within a couple weeks....no charge but I insisted on paying him something.

I biked a couple times with friends...Bob White from Sudbury and Bruce Newman from Arizona...both living at Azul.....

 Bob with mask, Bruce and his wife Myrna...we are in Puerto Lopez after a 12 hour day fishing for Marlin...

 A recreation pass time above my hotel

 at Charley Bar....no longer able to enjoy Shrimp

Playa Azul same as Playa Sol where I would look at a unit for sale

 Sundown

 beach in front of Sundown....17k between Canoa and San Vicente

 Fishing boats at Canoa

 My favorite place to eat on the beach...though their are many others 

 Sunset in front of Sundown 

 

 Looking back at Bahia opposite to San Vicente

 Sundown...my room is the end unit 2nd floor

 Pollo Sandwich

 lunch at Sundown

I was beset with gout after eating Shrimp and spent the better part of 2 weeks laid up.... 

 Dinner in Peurto Lopez

 Returning from 60k out in the ocean where the swells took it's toll on me and I would spend 10 hours hanging off the side of the boat wishing I was dead

 

 Anita and I having lunch in San Clemente about 1 hour from Canoa....suppose to be practicing Spanish as she is my teacher but I am a poor student

 Puerto Hotel where our fishing group stayed

Bob y Bob sharing a room

  Bambu in San Clemente where we had lunch

Enough for now...I am in Quito about to go and get my moto which has been at the mechanics for an oil/filter change and some light issues...then into storage at Ecuador Bike Rentals....bike still not in my name but more on that later

 

Current Conditions on returning to Ecuador-July 22 2020

Ecuador has opened their borders to international air travel into the country......currently the criteria for entering by air .......you must show proof of having been tested for Covid Virus(negative) within the last 7 days upon entry.......if not you must go into mandatory isolation at your expense for 14 days. This is not clear as to weather they place you at a certain site but implies so......

Semi Lockdown and Home-March24 to March31st 2020

The provisions to contain the spread of the corona virus is revolving as authorities try to contain it's spread...here in Ecuador....Curfews that began at 2pm...changed to 7 pm...then quickly back to 2pm with even the beach being off limits to surfing and swimming.....as I may have mentioned earlier I feel safe among the few of us both at Sundown and the girls and Johnny, Jeff and Carol at the Canoa Hotel......The Canadian Government notified me that the last flight for the forseeable future to Canada would be the 31st.....IT WAS A TOUGH DECISION>>>both due to the price and my desire to stay in Ecuador....but having a home in Canada which needed attendance...

.I had to weigh in favor of returning......to put costs in perspective ....I paid for a return ticket from Toronto $700.00 for March 26th....it was cancelled by Air Canada .......ticket for 31st $ 1109.00 1 way.....also our Government said we were responsible for getting ourselves to Quito....not so bad if you are already there but I am roughly 6 hours away.....yes I have a moto but unable to travel into Quito with it .....again travel restrictions plus Ecuador Bike Rentals is closed so no place to leave a $ 14,000 CDN investment....alternative get Juan Carlos to see if he can get a taxi for me....done....at the cost of $260USD....requiring for both of us travel documents.....the trip begins at 430am Monday....the flight isn't until 10am on Tuesday......we go through 5 or 6 check points ...no problems...I need to ask the driver within 15 minutes to slow down...he is doing 120 into blind corners    but that is how they drive down here...anyone who has seen these corners will understand what I mean...fortunately I know the Spanish words and he comply's ....I was actually getting dizzy....we arrive at 930am...not allowed into airport terminal until 3 hours before my flight but they have a building across from airport terminal with restaurants and I am told a sleeping lounge ....turns out it along with the food court is closed except for a coffee shop and small eatery.......lots of time to put in....only a few people here so social distancing is easy...Here I am looking like a Bandito...sitting in the eating area

until early afternoon when 5 Buses under police and army escort arrive full of Brazilians being repatriated..... I learn from Gabriel & Effie 2 Brazilian Biologists who befriend me.......nice young couple who are concerned for my welfare and offer me bottled water and food.......they work on separate farms and occasionally in the Amazon jungle.....

 All of these people flood the food court while waiting  for their departure.....all wearing masks...some are athletes, others, as I learn from Gabriel have been collected from various parts of Ecuador and together brought to the airport.....they leave the lounge area about 5pm....a few more people have arrived looking for passage to Canada...many are Ecuadorian expats I presume.....

 Sunset about 645pm...over the mountain flanking the airport,,,,,a friend of mine who's company designed this airport told me it was the only area they could find enough level land to build the runways...it is roughly 27k outside of the  city...

About 7pm I ask a security team if  they are going to open the sleeping lounge....they ask me to wait .... while they go around collecting our Canadian passport #'s and names...about 9pm they open a large area covered in hard as nails mats...they hand out sleeping bags after recording our passport details and a few of us enter....I find a dark section and set up camp.

 my dark corner...all to myself....I wake up from a restless sleep...dress and go to the wash room...notice a number of people have arrived and are resting or sleeping while many ..especially the older folk have chosen to stay in the cafeteria area.... 

Tucked into the sleeping bag given to us free of charge...not returnable as I learn...so it is home with me...came in handy as a pillow on the flight..Letty 

messaged me to tell me I was wearing the mask inside out......too late Letty.....

The airport gate for Canada.....

 in the loading walk way getting temperature checks before being allowed on board..... 

All mi amigas chicas have sent their well wishes....great group of girls....happy to know them..

 Sofia y Clara

and Anita....looks like she may be camping con su nija esta noche..... 

I arrived in Toronto early about 430pm.........custom agents board the plane and we fill out a paper as to who we are...from where did we come, how long away....etc.....then we were allowed off the plane...next check was being asked if we had a cough or other symptoms listed on a paper we were given...no one seemed to read it before answering....who is going to say YES when all they wanted to do was get home.....I had left most of my gear back in Canoa along with my motorcycle....so I was travelling with only a hand bag.....Doug called as I entered customs and said they would meet me outside at  the pick up area...they drove both their car and mine down so we would remain isolated as I am now in quarantine for 14 days. 

Arriving home by 630pm, I find that Vickie has pre prepared dinner ...in the fridge is homemade Shepherds Pie.....cauliflower soup....shredded cheese and onion topping.....in freezer, frozen pancakes and real maple syrup (in Fridge)....also homemade BANNA CHOCOLATE BREAD....on the counter is a Squash and all the fixings including seasoning for a Spaghetti  Squash dinner ...banana for dessert....in the fridge ground beef  and a bowl of snacks including Easter Eggs....oh..also homemade strawberry jam..... 

 Dinner last night was Vic's soup...delicious and not so healthy the fried onions which I had in the freezer......on the computer screen is Katrina the Russian girl I know on line as she is an HU member and travelling for the past 3 years around the World...currently stuck in Argentina.

Again thank you Vickie and Doug.

and to all including family who offered to shop for me....