Total Pageviews

Wednesday, April 1, 2020

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.... 
   

Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Semi Lockdown Canoa- March16 to 24th

On March 17th the Ecuadorian Govt made the right decision to close it's borders....incoming flights prohibited....and as the next few days passed....driving restricted to alternate days depending on the 1st digit on your plate (license)......then further travel outside of your province required government authorization with a form to be presented to any officer stopping you. Hotels/hostels/restaurants & bars ordered closed and of course the new buzz word Social Distancing encouraged.

Ecuador is divided into 24 provinces..Canoa is in Manabi Pr. ...so I believe I can move around this one during certain hours which currently are from 5am to 7pm ...(thereafter a curfew) but only on M, W, F, and Sunday for me......I have yet to test it.

     Depending on whether I take the northern route to Quito...I pass through 3 provinces...south 4. and could encounter road blocks in any of the cities or villages in between.......so best to wait this out as I am in a good place.

Will post a few pictures of the beach......at sunset and others

 Letty and Sophia fed me the other night

 hard to beat this....645pm

early morning not a creature is stirring


 deserted


 the line in the pic is apiece of palm hanging down 







 Sammy, Maria &Juan Carlos"s son, the manager of hotel owned by his sister Alexandra 


 feet in the sad watching the evenings go by.....




Be safe.....looking forward to things returning to normal...

Sunday, March 15, 2020

March 9th-15th-Enjoying Canoa

My travels have been limited to San Vicente and Bahia 15 k down the road.......a number of early rain showers which generally dry up by noon. Temps have ranged from 27 to 30C  during the day with night time temps rarely below 25....no air conditioning but a fan has a cooling effect....I am posting some random shots taken since the 8th......

My plan was to check out of Sundown tomorrow and return to Quito to meet up with Davos Garces owner of Ecuador Moto Tours to begin the process of getting the moto in my name....not as simple as in North America....involves registering first with The National Transit Authority which may take time to get in the system allowing you to get a licence/insurance etc.....Davos will navigate me through this as my Spanish is basically non existent.......however as of early this am Davos who was returning from Africa is stuck in Islanbul.....the 2nd leg of his flight to Panama cancelled as that country stopped all in flights........In addition to that the Ecuadorian Government announced yesterday that as of Monday night no incoming flights allowed into Ecuador.....no time period given....means both of us may be stuck out of our countries.....my itinerary still says confirmed for the 26th but that will likely change. As a friend said what better place to be stranded.......on the beach.....muy atractivas chicas just down la playa,,,Anita, Sophia, Clarita and Letty....feliz senoritas.

 Anita y Elefonte

 At Bambu with Anita and Johnny

 Anita helping Johnny navigate the land tax system

 el alcohol hace una chica mas  feliz.......BROMAS/CHISTeS 


 17 k of beach deserted at 9 am...pictures taken opposite directions

 never mis the Sunsets 

 Jeff hamming in his kitchen

 outside eating area at Carol y Jeff's

 Tom, Johnny and Kathy at Rincon de Esperanza for pizza


 Bahia across the bay from San Vicente


 At Bambu for Friday Happy Hour



 Sophia y Clarita


 Carol camera shy in her living room......I was at thier home as they put me in touch with my bank in Georgia as I had an ATM problem....great friends...Muchos gracias por tu ayudar 
 Mi chicas amigas...Anita, Esp, Letta, Clarita y Sophia 
 

Will post again when I know more about my moto and exit from Ecuador