Diane and I are on the verge of the adventure. After six months of planning and hard work, we finished up at our apartment yesterday, all our belongings are now in storage and we are exhausted beyond imagination. It was an experience that we hope we will never repeat.
Today we travelled from Denver to Miami. Air travel is such a crap shoot. Even when you get to the airport in plenty of time, TSA has the opportunity to derail your schedule. (Note: Never use gallon zip lock bags to house your quart size bags--it just messes with their head; and if you are traveling out of the country for five+ months, don't even think of taking multiple deodorants or anything else!) Eventually we managed to get through Security, but the cost was great. We missed our 7:40 a.m. flight, arriving at the gate after the plane had left. The next flight was full, so we waited for the next and at 11:05 a.m. were awarded the final two seats on a nonstop. We got to Ft. Lauderdale around 5pm. Once we were reunited with our bags (which had been pilfered), a nice man with a thick Colombian accent offered to drive us to Miami in his Town Car. It was the highlight of our day. The car was clean and cool in the FL heat - 90 degrees when we arrived. Traveling with six months' luggage is a challenge, but John and his Town Car helped to redeem the day. I still dislike flying for its artifice and sham security but I can't swim to Ecuador.
More often than not, over the past few months, when we told others of our plans [including our children], they would answer 'Why Ecuador?' There are constructive reasons like health, retirement, adventure, economical living, and so forth; but the answer is not found in the statistics. Although Diane has seen Ecuador from its Pacific beaches, she did not envision relocating here. When I told our Hispanic associates we intended to move to Ecuador, practically every person would respond, 'Ahhh, EcuaDOR.' And they would tell how they were from this place or that, but they would much rather spend time in Ecuador. It was this spiritual dimension that fed the flame. We came to Denver the first time on much the same fuel. Leaving family and friends in Detroit, Diane and I came with a dream - newly wed and wondering what was next. Thirty seven years, five children, and two beautiful granddaughters later, again we we are about to find out what is next.
Quito is a mountain city comparable in population to greater Denver - 2.5 million. We found the downtown neighborhood in Denver immensely enjoyable: Cherry Creek with its endless bike path, the Central Library, Denver's striking Art Museum, walking and Mall Shuttle distance to Coors Field, a great church - St. Johns Lutheran, Washington Park, our favorite French restaurant -Le Central, Denver's Performing Arts Center, etc. You get the picture. Diane even rode her scooter downtown to work and back. We will seek out a neighborhood in Quito equally as enchanting. Ecuador has a twelve month growing season and its days are comprised of 12 hours each of light and dark. The weather? It rarely goes above 80 and rarely drops below 50. The altitude is about 9,000 feet. We expect the altitude and low humidity to be as healthful for Diane and me as Denver's climate [without Winter's rigors]. At some point in the next five months we also intend to explore Cuenca. At 8,000 feet and a half million residents, it is another possibility for long term residency.
Why Ecuador? We will begin to learn that answer tomorrow when we fly Ecuador's LAN airline to Quito. With any luck, we will not miss our plane this time. We look forward to introducing you all to the adventure as it unfolds around us. Thanks for looking in.
Bob
BTW: Before we left Denver, Diane took some pics of our apartment. Many of you have seen it, but not this empty or clean.
More often than not, over the past few months, when we told others of our plans [including our children], they would answer 'Why Ecuador?' There are constructive reasons like health, retirement, adventure, economical living, and so forth; but the answer is not found in the statistics. Although Diane has seen Ecuador from its Pacific beaches, she did not envision relocating here. When I told our Hispanic associates we intended to move to Ecuador, practically every person would respond, 'Ahhh, EcuaDOR.' And they would tell how they were from this place or that, but they would much rather spend time in Ecuador. It was this spiritual dimension that fed the flame. We came to Denver the first time on much the same fuel. Leaving family and friends in Detroit, Diane and I came with a dream - newly wed and wondering what was next. Thirty seven years, five children, and two beautiful granddaughters later, again we we are about to find out what is next.
Quito is a mountain city comparable in population to greater Denver - 2.5 million. We found the downtown neighborhood in Denver immensely enjoyable: Cherry Creek with its endless bike path, the Central Library, Denver's striking Art Museum, walking and Mall Shuttle distance to Coors Field, a great church - St. Johns Lutheran, Washington Park, our favorite French restaurant -Le Central, Denver's Performing Arts Center, etc. You get the picture. Diane even rode her scooter downtown to work and back. We will seek out a neighborhood in Quito equally as enchanting. Ecuador has a twelve month growing season and its days are comprised of 12 hours each of light and dark. The weather? It rarely goes above 80 and rarely drops below 50. The altitude is about 9,000 feet. We expect the altitude and low humidity to be as healthful for Diane and me as Denver's climate [without Winter's rigors]. At some point in the next five months we also intend to explore Cuenca. At 8,000 feet and a half million residents, it is another possibility for long term residency.
Why Ecuador? We will begin to learn that answer tomorrow when we fly Ecuador's LAN airline to Quito. With any luck, we will not miss our plane this time. We look forward to introducing you all to the adventure as it unfolds around us. Thanks for looking in.
Bob
BTW: Before we left Denver, Diane took some pics of our apartment. Many of you have seen it, but not this empty or clean.
I will be sure to show Ashlyn these pictures of your apt. She will surely be saddened that she missed the opportunity to enchant your neighbors with a rousing tap routine.
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