Mobile Again!

The end of the week has been especially busy. Thursday night, Nick's new friend came over with his Mom and Dad. Mocha, the Pombo's and the Grimms came for dinner. Nick and Mocha had a great time! Connie said that Mocha slept for 8 hours straight, which was a record.

Mocha made himself right at home.

Earlier in the week, trees were cut across the river and they're still being worked on. We've had trees cut and they've simply been cut up. These logs were squared up, post fashion before being hauled off.

Garbage is picked up multiple times weekly. Every garbage day, this little lady goes through the garbage, putting food scraps in a bucket.

The car was going to be ready on Friday. It was a cash deal so we had to go to the bank to get the money; also, we had to have ANOTHER document from the bank for the crate. Everything was accomplished at the bank and the document dropped off at Paulo's office. We were then off to the Renault dealer. This is our new car, the Renault Logan

Mick has just paid and the cashier is counting the money

As with purchasing anything, there are innumberable papers to sign.

Marielisa is giving instructions.

Under the hood, with Henry translating.

We're ready to drive off.

The car had been brought from Quito and had only 2 km. After having driven from the dealer on Av. Espana to 12 de Octobre, it still had only 2 km. Mick said that the odometer was not connected. I added that they had driven it from Quito. Henry called the dealer who insisted that it had been carried to Cuenca; however, they would send a technician to our apartment to reconnect it. We stopped for our first tank of gas (premium is $2.18 per gal.) and when we arrived at our apartment, the technician was already there. He raised the hood and immediately reconnected the odometer. The technician said that Mick and Henry should take it around the block to try it; when they returned, the tech had left. Things are done differently here. Mick said that the odometer connection is different and that since it can be done so easily, if you purchase a used car, you really don't know how many kilometers are actually on it.

Anyway, we're mobile again. Mick once again has his independence and I can run to the supermarket without an additional $4 tacked on to the grocery bill. Life is good in Cuenca.

Until next time,

Mick and Kathy