April Showers -Abril Agua Mil

River in dryer times

Today

Looking up stream to the Max Ulhe Bridge

The rainy season has finally come in full force.  This week has seen rain every day and not just the light rains of the last few months.  The rivers are really swollen and it's a sight to see for us who live beside the river.  There is no fear of flooding, but familiar rocks are gone from view.  Of course with the heavy rains comes roof leaks.  The landlady has had someone out before but the tile roof seems to have a mind of its own and I have to go into the attic with a couple more buckets until the rains stop, so the tiles can dry, before  a repairman can come and readjust the tiles.

Our other adventure this week was looking for a new vacuum (apriradora).  When we arrived we bought a small canister vac as most of the house is parquet floor and the carpet in the bedrooms is old and with little nap.  Well, it just was not doing the job on the dog hair on the carpet so off we went to find a good old upright vacuum (aspiradora vertical).  Checked, Corral, not uprights, went to the Electrolux store . . . oh my, is it made with pure gold I wanted to ask but my Spanish was not good enough, then she told me the one from Italy was even more.  But to give you an idea of how helpful folks are, the young gal working there said they had what I needed at Sukasa down the block.  She walked us down the block, took the vacuum off the display shelf and demonstrated it...we bought the Eureka with the power brush roller.  Now that thing can really suck!

On my list of things that are not readily available has been Epsom Salts and pectin. I started asking at farmacias for magnesium sulfate, one directed me to Botica Olmedo on Juan Jaramillo and Borrero.  I asked for magnesium sulfate and they gave me Sal Inglesa, English Salt, makes sense since Epsom is in England.  They also had pectina!  Both were spendy but at least they can be found like so many other things we had heard were not available.  You just have to ask and expect to be directed to an unlikely place...

This week also held many wonderful meals shared with friends in their homes and out and about.  We laugh that if I reported all the great dining you would ask . . don't they do anything but eat?  Well, actually we all eat three meals a day.  Here you are just more likely to share it with friends! 

We are still waiting for our passports and residence visas to be returned from Quito.  Nothing happens quickly we have learned...

Take care and  have a great week.  We began celebrating our 25th Wedding Anniversary last night with friends Jim and Carolyn in their home and plan a date night at Casa Alonso on Tuesady.  I will look like a tourista and take pictures to share!  I understand it is a beautiful and special place.  More to come! Chao!!!