Well here I am in Ecuador!!
The flight was long and stressful with the cat. He was OK except for when on the plane as there is a lot of noise (especially during landing and takeoff). He didn't even mind all the people. At times I thought he would tear his way out of the carrying case: He certainly tried many times.
If I was travelling with an animal, that is somewhat easily frightened like Tiger, I would not travel from Vancouver, BC all the way to Ecuador in one day. I would overnight somewhere so as to give him and myself a break.
Outside of the stressful trip down United Airlines broke the tow-handle off one of my new pieces of luggage. I will have to put in a claim for that. On the upside, getting Tiger and all my electronics through customs went off without a hitch. The only person to ever look at Tiger's paperwork was the Agroliodad (Department of Agriculture) representative at the Quito Airport. But he was very nice and waived us through. There was also a very nice Ecuadorian woman (who was scanning all the luggage as we entered the country) who took a great liking to Tiger.
In a previous post I had mentioned that United Airlines had a restriction of 10 days to get the paperwork done for Tiger. I wanted to make sure I was going to be able to board the flight in Vancouver so that paperwork had to be perfect. As it turned out United Airlines did not even look at Tiger's paperwork. Very strange since they were the ones, so I was told, that pose the 10 day restriction. However, after landing Quito, I learned that the Ecuadorian Consulate mis-informed me about the 10 day limit: That limit IS imposed by Ecuador and not United Airlines.
Since I had a feeling (before leaving Canada) that this might be a stressful trip, I decided to book a few days stay near the Quito Airport just to have a little downtime. The place I am staying is called the Quito Airport Suites and is managed and owned by a very young man (roughly 25) from the US by the name of Domenic. It is located in the small village of Tababela (about 40 minutes from Quito).
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| Quito Airport Suites Lounge |
There are a few things I don't like about the place.
The big ones are that when travelling with heavy luggage like mine (2-90 lb large bags) I had to drag them over rough and very wet ground to the entrance and then cart them up a flight of stairs into my room. To add more detail to this, it was late at night (1am (2 hours ahead of Pacific Time) with the rain coming down and after my flight was one hour late in leaving. I would say that if you planned to stay here it would be OK if your luggage was more manageable than mine. I suggested to Domenic that he consider putting in some paving stones to improve things.
Another not great thing is the planes roaring overhead between roughly 8pm and 11pm and some coming in at 20 minute intervals. This is one of the countries two existing international airports and is VERY busy, but fortunately and seemingly well organized. Eventually there maybe a third international airport at Salinas (on the coast). It's a new airport which is starting with domestic flights only.
Now for the good side.
The rooms are nice and the price is reasonable ($47 US per night including breakfast). Also dinner was very good last night. It cost me $8 US and which was a very nice chicken taco dish with all the trimmings (quite filling). But the best part is the very helpful and friendly people that take care of the place (many of whom speak English).
There goes another one of those planes! And about 20 minutes later there goes another one! Fortunately, they are gone pretty quickly.
Judy is the maid, cook and bottle-washer and she does whatever it takes to make your stay pleasant. Her name is pronounced HOODI (Spanish J's sound like the English H).
Wow, there is just so much to write about! This could end up being the multiple chapter book that I never thought I would write.
The country is very pleasant and so far, all the people are just wonderful (even people I have met walking in the street). My Spanish isn't that great yet, but somehow you manage to get by.
What presented a bit of an additional stressful event was that I was concerned about the fact that Tiger (my cat) had not had a poop since I left home on the morning of May 10th despite having a litter box ready and waiting (This was now May 12th). So, thinking that he might be better outside I carted him down the stairs and plunked him down to sniff around and do his thing. What I didn't understand is that this was a new and foreign place to him and that he was frightened. While he was looking around I turned looking in the opposite direction for no more than half a minute and then he was gone. Oh my GOD!
After completely scouring the perimeter of the building and accompanying grounds, I noticed some holes in the high walls of the concrete and brick fence surrounding the facility and thought he might have gone through.
I went out into the street and called his name. No Tiger. I talked to some local Tababelans (Ecuadorians from Tababela) in my very broken Spanish saying that my brown cat is lost (Mi gato marrón es perdido – Mi = my / gato = cat / marrón = brown / es = is / perdido = lost). But no one had seen him. One persona (person) told me he had seen a black and white cat (which I saw later as well).
Many hours of calling and no Tiger. Until early morning (about 2am) on May 13th I was out calling for him after all the dogs had quieted down for the night and Diana, Domenic's fiance, called to me saying Tiger is here. I rushed over and found him hunkered down behind some boxes in the laundry room that was on the outside of the building. He couldn't get out because there was a wrought iron gate keeping him in. SIGH of relief!!
Now he is domiciled safe in my room. Although today is a tad warm (22 degrees C on my cellphone) even in my room (Yesterday it was quite comfortable - today not so much). But it will cool down once the sun goes down. Most of today has been overcast, but bright and warm. It feels like mid-summer back in BC, Canada (where I am from).
Needless to say, I am quite tired after this rather strenuous adventure with Tiger. But all is back to normal.
I am leaving for Cuenca tomorrow morning at 7:55am on Aerogal. Since I had been unable to confirm (from Canada) whether it would be a problem to get Tiger in the cabin of the plane, Domenic was kind enough to go out to the airport with me and act as translator. As it turned out, they spoke English quite well and I was able to confirm everything on my own as well as having a very kind and attractive young Ecuadorian woman to help me. The taxi cost $5 US from the Quito Airport Suites to the airport (about 10 minutes away). A taxi coming from the airport would be anywhere from $8 to $10 US. Because of this cost Domenic recommended I take the bus back to Tababela which I did.
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| Quito Airport - New As Of Last Year |
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| Quito Airport Food Kiosk Where I Had A Very Yummy Lunch |
Along the way I was summoned by a guy laying cable underground and it turned out he was wanting a chance to practice his English. So we swapped back and forth between Spanish and English. What a nice guy. The people of this country are very friendly (La gente de esta país es mui amistosa).
I am really loving Ecuador.
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