We pray that everyone is safe, and all your families are healthy.
We are all doing fine. Lisa’s mother has had to extend her stay here in Ecuador because all flights into and out of the country have shut down. The President has ordered mandatory curfew, all restaurants closed except for take out and no movement except to hospital, to obtain food and for emergencies.
We are fortunate, we have been stocking up on supplies for months now expecting something like this to happen. We also grow much of our own food. We can still pickup chicken from my friend’s organic farm. We are only allowed to drive on odd numbered days or even numbered days determined by the last digit of our license plate.
There are 155 confirmed cases in all of Ecuador. We would not have so many, except that many Ecuadorians live and work in Spain and flew home after the Epidemic was in full swing. Our President should have shutdown international flights a month ago and we would not have had any cases. So far there is one person dead but was confirmed to have had other health problems before the Corona Virus. Such is the case with most deaths in Italy, these people were already sick when they contracted Corona Virus. If it was expanding here at the rate it is in the U.S., we would have had 155,000 cases today. We feel blessed to be here.
Here in our little Pueblo, everything is peaceful. No reported cases here so far. Almost no traffic in town. Getting from our house to town is easy. From town to the city of Loja is another story. The police have set up a roadblock just across the river and will only let you through for gas purchases, food and only with one passenger. Other than that, life is good. All our favorite restaurants are offering takeout food with curbside service. Our friend Jose is coming up everyday from town and working in the yard for Lisa’s mom.
My Visa application is on the back burner. Nothing will happen for at least another 15 days. I have to say that the Visa process is hard enough without this setback. It appears that I will have to obtain another 2-year temporary visa. The laws changed on January 1, and everyone must show $400 per month coming into an Ecuador bank for the previous 12 months, no matter how much money you may have in the bank. Silly me, I had my interest rolled back into my CD’s so they will not count that as income. They also ignore the $50k in my savings account here in Ecuador. Crazy huh? Turns out Lisa will get her permanent Visa before I do. Don’t as me why, it just gives me a headache to think about it. I must keep reminding myself that the average IQ in Ecuador is 83.
We have various construction projects that must take place here, but it has all come to a screeching halt. It’s a blessing, since I have had gout in my right foot and have pretty much been confined to bed for the last 7 days. Starting to feel better now, but not ready for Soccer.
All else is good, and Trudy says hi to all. More to come later.
Dios te Bendiga!
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