Back to the grind.......

People ask me "what will you do with yourself in Cuenca, Ecuador?"
One thing I wouldn't do is get up at 4 a.m. and go to work!

I have to keep reminding myself that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Each day brings us closer to the prize.

As Doug says.... we are on the one year plan. A year.......it seems like a long time, but yet it seems like such a short time to make the life changes we have in mind......

Meeting with an accountant tomorrow. That's step one. After that we just keep taking steps.

Can it be that easy? After all the time spent thinking and discussing and dreaming and hoping and researching......is it really as simple as this? ......
Just do it. Take that step.

As Lao-tzu said.....
"The journey of a thousand miles begins beneath one's feet."

Homeward bound

The trip home has been long.............. it's 8:10 at night and we are still at the Houston AirPort. Flight to LA was late which means we would miss the Vancouver connection.......so we rebooked on a direct plane leaving two hours later that gets us to Vancover 30 minutes sooner. huh?...good old Continental......at least they didn't charge us for the change in flights. good thing. We went to the bar and I had a bloody Mary, Doug had a beer and a shot of Crown and the bill came to 30.00! I don't think we are in Cuenca anymore Todo.
After a bite to eat, a magazine and a newspaper, we are down close to 100 bucks. A bottle of water was 3.00........and people ask me why we want to move to Ecuador?!!??

Otavalo and theMarket

What a colorful behive of activity.You will all be pleased that I did not bring home a lot of useless
 craft for you.......but it was sure hard.
I hope to bring you here on a trip so you can experience the market for its self.

Still trying to figure out how to get two of these chair swings home,.

 

Doug never even made it to the market before he bought a belt from a vendor. The young man got out his tools and cut it down to fit right there on the corner. A beautiful leather belt for 10.00

These pictures don' t show the real hustle bustle of the markets.

The town:

Cotacochi

Coctcachi is the largest producer of leather goods in Ecuador as well as the birthplace for many musicians and the making of musical instruments. The Imbaburra Volcano stands over the city.Its hard to believe that you are at 8000 feet and looking up to another couple thousnad.

There is a square where a leather market is held every Saturday. athese statues are a munument to the musicians, the leather crafters, and thr instrument makers.