LIVING IN ECUADOR - THINGS ARE VERY DIFFERENT HERE - LIVING IN CUENCA!!!

I've been busy!!  A few blog fans have mentioned, "You haven't blogged in awhile...."  I haven't even taken photos in awhile - except for my recent walk along the Yanuncay River.  Oh, and a few photos of my apartment as I endeavor to decorate and make it colorful and fun so it feels like home.

TRUTH:  I still struggle sometimes with the "home" thing.  Living in the same house back in the USA for 40 years is making it difficult for me to completely surrender here and call this apartment "home."  We went from living in the beautiful Oregon country to living in the bustling noisy city of Cuenca in AN APARTMENT!!  Of course, it was our choice.  However, it still isn't easy to completely embrace a very different lifestyle in a very different environment in a country far away from what was truly "home."

Things are very different here!  After almost one year of "Life in Cuenca," I find myself fantasizing about going back to the USA and resuming my comfortable and familiar life in my beautiful Oregon home.  Thus, a good reason to have sold EVERYTHING before coming to our retired life in Cuenca.  Well, we didn't!!  For many reasons:  not enough time, no exploratory trip first, and not knowing how to do this - moving to a foreign land without ever having been there before.  So, we still have our home of 40 years and our STUFF in storage on our land. We're continually thankful for our God-sent wonderful renters.

Well, here we are, STILL in APARTMENT #5 - and I continue to decorate and make it ours - yet it will NEVER be ours because we are renting and every penny we put into this place is not going to benefit us when we leave - but it makes me happy while we're living here.  Why am I sharing this?  Because it's always my hope that my personal experiences here will encourage someone else coming into this far away and strange land.  That when you have your doubts, meltdowns, or panic attacks (and you will!!!), you'll know that it's understandable, expected, and that "this too shall pass."

Here's a "Living in Cuenca" story for you:
In the process of my continued passion to decorate this place, Bo and I have had to add guardarropas (closets) to our apartment.  It did not come with ANY storage space.  Hey, you make due when the rental price is right!!  So, we purchased one very large wardrobe for our bedroom from a furniture store, which was so easy - ready made and delivered right away.  Well, we needed another one for the guest bedroom in case anyone comes to visit us, and also so we'd have more storage.  Again, not one closet or set of drawers in this humble little Ecuadorian flat when we first moved in.  

A "Tienda de Madera" owner referred a very reliable and excellent "Maestro" to us who would get the 2nd closet job handled.  Of course we knew we could trust the wood store owner who confidently referred this expert cabinet builder.  Well, long story short - this turned into the closet from hell nightmare.  Maestro Sr. S....... came over, got our drawing and measurements and asked for 1/2 the dough (that's my New York slang for money).  We gave it to him.  After some thought and changes on our end, we call Maestro Sr. S......, and he returns a couple days later to go over our revision.  He then proceeds to tell me his niece died and was buried the day before and it cleaned him out financially.  If we could give him more money towards the closet, he would be so grateful.  So, WE DID!  Yeah, yeah, I know.  You NEVER give most of the money for an unfinished job here - or anywhere.  Sometimes the circumstances and the heart of God says, "Break the rules."  So we did.  He wrote on a piece of paper that he would complete and deliver the closet in 14 days.

That was over a month ago!!  After many phone calls to Maestro Sr. S......., no return calls, or return calls saying, "I'll call you "manana....."  and me saying, "Don't call me, bring me my closet......"  we finally decided to go to the wood store and visit the referral man.  He is a man of integrity - truly.  He ends up driving us the next morning to "El Maestro's" house (oh, you should have seen the Maestro's face when we got out of the car....) and I was able to tell him in my not-so-gentle Spanish that he was not a man of his word, had and continued to lie to us (when I asked him to show me the closet being made, he couldn't because it wasn't there in his shop - he never bought the materials!!!) and that he had our money and we didn't believe him anymore.  The referral man was so unhappy about this situation and ended up intervening for us telling El Maestro that if he didn't deliver the closet the following week he had to give us our money back.  Yeah, right.  As if he still had the dough!!!

We ended up driving around with the Wood Store Owner, visiting his family and town, again realizing that it is now about the relationship we now have with J... than the rip-off Maestro who we no longer trusted in for our closet delivery.  J.... dropped us off later that morning and said, "If he doesn't come through, I will personally give you your money back."  Who does that??  Of course, we would never take the money from J...., but just his heart of integrity impressed us.  We asked him not to refer this Maestro to any "gringos," since we didn't want this to happen to anyone else.  

Over the weekend, J...., on his own, returned to the home of Maestro Sr. S....... and called me from there.  He said that our closet would be ready and delivered by Wednesday at 8 am (that would be today).  Again, J.... was watching our back because he had referred this expert cabinet maker.  Today, by 8:30 am, I already knew that our closet was not coming.  Surprisingly, at 4:30 PM (better late than NEVER) "El Maestro" called me, and 1/2 hour later he was downstairs with all the closet pieces.  Well, most of them.  He had his two helpers haul the parts up our 4 flights of stairs (NO, we don't have a luxury elevator - how do you think we are staying so fit here????).  The two helpers begin to assemble the closet parts.  I notice that the sides are white.  I say, "These were supposed to be Cedar!"  El Maestro tells me he can do that.  He then asks me for more $$$$.  Can you even believe this????  "Can I have $30 so I can run and get the hardware to finish this?"  NO!!!! I practically scream.  He quietly says, "Please, Leen-daa.  I want to finish this for you now."  What in the world was I supposed to do or say?  At that point I give him $40 because I don't even have change.  I'm not happy with myself, but again I reason, just finish the closet and GO!!!!!  Of course, he can't finish it today.  The sides are white, not cedar.

You know, I truly am thankful that the closet is here - though it isn't finished (white sides - how cheap and tacky after what we paid for this job from hell), we still have a closet.  I'm trying to focus on the small blessings that come from the waiting and aggravation.  Oh, can you believe that Maestro Sr. S....... tried to tell me that none of this was his fault.  He had ordered the materials back in October and they were never delivered to him.  He wanted to save J....... face when we showed up at his house.  Ask me if I believe him?  I said, "You know, S.........,  you and I aren't going to quibble about this.  Just finish the job and I'll be happy."  He then asks me if I'll forgive him.  "Yes, S........, I'm not upset with you anymore.  Just finish the job!"

The job is STILL not finished.  He has promised to return "next week" with the Cedar to finish the sides of the closet.  He has his money (except for $20 I still owe him).  I have my closet, though it's not done.  If he comes back, I'll be very surprised.  I won't be calling him.  I won't be using him EVER again.  I WILL NEVER RECOMMEND HIM TO ANYONE!  

I KNOW, I KNOW.  NEVER GIVE too much money to the hired Maestro.  Never expect that the material used will be what they promised.  All the more reason to have the product delivered and finished before paying for it.  Never expect it will be delivered in the time they say it will be delivered.  Just don't expect anything!!!  As for referrals, I so appreciate J.......  He was truly taking on this referral to make sure we were not abused.  He has our utmost respect and gratitude for putting the boot to the Maestro's back.  I wonder if J..... gave him the materials after Mr. Maestro spent our money?????  Vain imaginations, I know.  Just wondering.......

Yes, this could happen anywhere.  But, it happens here A LOT!  It's not fun feeling like someone is ripping you off.  It's not fun paying for something that never gets to you or gets to you and isn't what you paid for. Oh, did I mention, it isn't what we asked for either (apart from the white sides)???  Doesn't even match the drawing - go figure!!!  It's not fun having to explain and reason and try to have the person ripping you off take SOME responsibility, if any, for not delivering what they said they would when they said they would.  IT'S NOT FUN WHEN IT HAPPENS TO YOU!

This is one of the NOT FUN TIMES we've had here - dealing with Mr. Irresponsibility.  Yet, they are far and few between the wonderful and worthwhile times and relationships we've made and have here.  I share this only because it may help someone else stand strong and say "NO" when they are asked for lots of money for a custom made and non-delivered product.  It may help someone know that in spite of their seeing the best in someone, they may get taken advantage of.  It may not be because of your wisdom and carefully thought out decisions - you may get screwed anyway!!

I still love Ecuador and living here.  I love the wonderful, honest, and caring Ecuadorians who now consider us family and who are watching our back.  I love the opportunity God has given us to leave the USA and live in another country and culture, to be retired NOW so we can enjoy our still youthful days, and to continually add to our wonderful friendships and relationships here.  So, having to deal with Mr. Maestro Sr. S------- is another opportunity to learn patience and forgiveness, to speak truth in love, and to be able to speak words of integrity into his life.  I don't think he heard me.  He continued to look at me pitifully and try to make me believe "It's not my fault."  I'm not expecting him to come back and finish the job.  If he does - Hallelujah!!!  If not, we're moving on........That's my story, and I'm stuck with it!!!!

Some updated "Apartment #5" pics - still in process!!!

When you move to another country with a few suitcases, 
it takes time, PATIENCE, and money to start all over.  
Remember to KEEP IT FUN!!!

I've been color washing some of my walls - getting rid of the bland yellowish color we painted back in April before moving in.......

Next, I'll be making a fabric headboard (Yup!  I'll do it myself!!!) and then hanging my IKEA wall lamps for reading (thanks Rod and Jan, for muling in my IKEA bulbs!!) - then up will go some of my framed photography. 

I color-washed the dining room wall too!  We also got a larger dining room table custom made at the ROTARY, rustic-painted it, and now we have seating for six and more table room (gotta accommodate our dinner guests).

A few new touches to our living room walls and furniture!  Can't wait to get our custom-built coffee table.  Poco a poco......

My office is coming along too!  It was difficult these last few months not having my office space to retreat to.  So, now I'm really happy!!!

If the "Maestro" doesn't return, I know we can finish the sides of our closet ourselves.  For now, I'm thankful the closet is in, and all the stuff that was thrown in this room is now behind closed doors!  This is the last room to furnish and decorate as Bo's "Man Cave." We're making progress!!! 

Getting ready to color-wash the hallway.....

 I never liked this color.  It was supposed to be a mustard gold, but it was way TOO YELLOW and bland for me.  So.......

.....I splashed bright ROJO y ORO on my flat yellowish walls, color-washed them, and.......

.....now I LOVE my hallway.  It's delicious!!!

APARTMENTS IN CUENCA - Our "Before and After" remodel of our tiny Ecuadorian Flat!

To Move AGAIN or NOT to MOVE!!!!!

After moving into Apartment #5 on April 1st, having consistent hot water was not happening!  It was the first thing we asked our landlord when we were considering the apartment, and he assured us that "Yes, of course, there's hot water."  Well, just because it came out of the faucet hot when he did his demo, didn't mean it would last for a shower, or that it would be consistent throughout the day.  So, here we were again - thinking about our next place.  I wasn't happy!

Bo is fine with taking military showers, but one of my joys is taking looooong HOT showers every day.  When we were living in our Motor Coach for a year, I got accustomed to the RV lifestyle, and taking military showers was one of my sacrifices.  Well, I'm not in an RV now, and I want my HOT showers.  I also want hot water for our dishes.  Wah, Wah, Wah.  It now was decision time as we paid for our second month's rent May 1st, still considering a recent offer made to us to rent a house near Parque De La Madre.  After renting to an Ecuadorian family with lots of children for five years who destroyed their home, the owners wanted to rent to a responsible couple with no kids or pets.  We seemed to fit that requirement for them.  So, we went and looked at the house and told the owners if they were able to clean it up and fix some major damage done by the previous renters, we would take it.

We continued to talk to our current landlord about the hot water issue, and he assured us he was looking into it.  Knowing this was not an apartment issue but a building issue, our hope for this being rectified without some major expense on his part gave us two options - live with it or move!  The thought of moving again made us both weary.  Our apartment was becoming "home" and we had already put some time, money, and remodel effort into this place.  We didn't want to move AGAIN, but a two-story house?  Leaving my beautiful house of 40 years in Oregon had left a void in me.  I missed having a house.  This house offer was calling me.  We decided we would go and see it again after they cleaned it up and fixed the previous renter damage (I'm talking major cleanup and repair here).

In the meantime, we continued to fix up our apartment.  Bo reminded me when I asked him if I should put up curtains and continue the remodel since we might move again, "Bloom where your planted!"  This is where we were planted for today.  To live one day at a time means live in that day and make the most of it.  Live in it as if it's your last.  MAKE IT GRAND.  I was also reminding myself that this apartment had truly "WOW"ed us when we first saw it.  It had such potential for my decorator touch, it was in the perfect location of El Centro for us, and the monthly rent was too good to be true.  These were the major reasons for staying here.  Could I adjust to the intermittent hot water issue???

We began to have friends over for meals.  They would tell us how fabulous our little flat was.  I continued to decorate.  Bo and I found fun art for our walls.  We love art!  One of our major decisions in our spending was to do it as inexpensively as possible.  We were frequent shoppers at the Rotary Market for our furniture pieces.  We continued to put lots of love into our little place, and now it was decision time.  In a week, we would go and inspect the house that they were cleaning up for us and then let them know our final decision.

Unexpectedly, we ended up leaving for Peru for a couple days prior to seeing the house we were considering.  During our three days out of country, our landlord had beautiful wooden cabinets installed in our tiny Ecuadorian kitchen.  When we returned from our quick trip and walked into our place, we were once again WOWed.  It was a major transformation and it made our humble place even sweeter.  I put away all of our kitchen accoutrements and it felt even more like home now.  House or Apartment?  Now I'm torn.  Curtains are up, kitchen is remodeled, painting is completed, furniture is finished.  To leave or not to leave?

We went to see the house the next day.  Our decision became final.  Was I disappointed?  A bit, but had it not been for our landlord's generosity with that lovely kitchen remodel, I'm not sure what we would have done.  It sealed the deal for us.  The house was not up to our standards, though they had been working on it for a month.  So much damage had been done by their previous renters of five years, and yet they just cobbled together a cleanup and repair job that I personally would have been embarrassed to show as the final touch to anyone.  We couldn't even go into the bathrooms because of the strong unpleasant odors permeating from them.  These were things that weren't going to go away, and the work we would have had to put into this house to get it to our standard of cleanliness and living was more than we wanted to tackle or pay out of pocket.  It's a rental!  We both knew immediately that we would stay in our cozy, clean, easy-to-care-for small Ecuadorian apartment.  It had become home in less than two months because we made it our home and our Landlord had once again come through.

We've learned to make every decision here by the peace we sense about it.  We've learned to trust our instinct, to watch for those red flags that begin to wave in our faces.  We've made some decision errors since arriving in Cuenca, but they've taught us that "when in doubt, DON'T" and if we're already in a bad decision, GET OUT OF IT QUICKLY!  Being in the house did not give us a peace.  Being in our apartment gives us peace.  I quickly made a decision that I would learn to live with the hot water issue and take military showers if need be.  I would wait for hot water to do my dishes.  It was the only con.  Everything else was a pro.  So here we'll be, joyfully and thankfully.  We came home from the house viewing and walked into our colorful place and smiled.  It truly has become and continues to become home more and more each day!

Our Ecuadorian Flat - The Before and After!

The day we saw this apartment we were WOWed by the windows, the brightness, the openness and spacious feel of this place.  I had a vision!  To be creative, inventive, and frugal has always been my way to decorate and transform a place.  It's my passion!

Our place is still a work in progress.  It now has warm colors, fun and funky curtains, comfortable Ecuadorian furniture (a rare find in Cuenca unless you have it custom-made -which we didn't), and some colorful art on the walls. 

UPDATE:  Over time, we've added beautiful plants, art, furniture pieces.  It's even cozier than before!

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Having a nice kitchen is major for us.  We both LOVE to cook and entertain.  Could I live with this sparse Ecuadorian-style kitchen?  There were no cabinets, drawers, shelves, appliances, or overhead stove light-fan.  Again, I had a vision.  The paint cans were lined up and we were ready to get rid of these boring white walls and turn this into a "Bo and Linda Kitchen!"

It takes a bit of money to furnish a place from scratch.  Our four other apartments were already furnished and equipped.  Since we came here with only our clothes - we needed everything:  appliances (this ugly outdated stove didn't even work and was hauled away), furniture, dishes, pots, pans, beds, closets (no closets in this flat), etc.  We had to buy it all.  And we have and continue to - very frugally, but with thought, lots of searching, and with taste.  A place that would finally be our style and our stuff, not someone else's.  

We told our landlord that the ugly aluminum window in the kitchen had to go.  Here, Bo is helping Juan and his Maestro haul the window away.  The kitchen is painted, but what a mess.  There's no place to put anything except to pile it underneath the counters.  PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE!  I kept hoping that one day I would have cabinets, a light and fan over my stove, and my kitchen would be comfortable and classy.  Then, one day Juan offered to pay for and install the cabinets and fan unit.  He sent his carpenter over to measure and talk to me about what I would like....

My sweet kitchen today!  The window opening is framed with a nice shelf over the sink, cabinets are in, and we have a fan and light over our little stove.  My "Bo and Linda Kitchen" dream came true!

They make very wide openings for larger stoves in most places here, so we want to have some shelves made for the sides of our tiny stove unit and hope to create a bit more counterspace above.  For now, this is fine.  What a difference from that UGLY yellow stove they hauled away.  

Update:  Side cabinet by stove was made to order!  

Now we have more counter area and it looks quite lovely, don't you think?

Update!  More cabinets were built to order, and it has given us such a sense of organization and  much needed storage in this tiny Ecuadorian flat.

So many windows and what to do?  I had about 4 different drapery experts come in during the first month to measure and give me quotes on custom-made drapes.  After hearing a range from $675 to $1,800 to do all the windows in the dining/living area, I decided to get creative and frugally do it myself.  For $40, we hired someone to put up the rods (which cost another $20).  I then bought fabric and a needle and thread (I don't have my sewing machine here), and I hand-sewed the curtains myself.  Curtain Fabric Cost: $110.  YES!  Now that's what I'm talkin' about.....

Funky Fun Living Room Curtains - sheer, so the light comes in, yet our "vecinos" cannot see us.  In the daytime we slide them open and enjoy our fabulous view of the city.  (Art work above sofa still needs a wall home.  We're looking for something extra large and colorful to go on the red wall.)

Update:  It takes time to get a place just the way we want it!

We bought our unfinished dining room table and chairs at the Rotary Market near 9 de Octubre Mercado.  The painting and artistic touch had begun......

We could have left it unfinished and just thrown a table cloth over it.........

.....But after painting, lacquering, and covering the chairs, and staining and laquering the table, we like it much better!  Total cost for our finished dining set:  $115.  Yes!!
We priced bar stool for our island at furniture stores, and the least expensive we found were $60 each.  We got ours from the Rotary Market .  Total Cost for 4:  $24!  We still have to trim the legs down and lacquer them, then I'll pad and fabric cover the tops.  For now, they are painted and they work......

Ecuadorian Apartments do not have light fixtures, just bare bulbs hanging from the ceilings.  We didn't want to spend a lot on fixtures and we found these fun hand-made light covers from an artist at the 12 de Abril Art Festival for $5 each.  Since we had 11 overhead bulbs to deal with, this price was perfect.  Cost:  $55.

 Update:  We had to replace our table because it was too small for our dinner parties and English Lessons.  We also replaced the chairs because they were not comfortable for hours around the table.  

Update:  We designed this hutch from a photo we found on-line - and a talented carpenter made it to perfection.  The bottom of the hutch was a dilapidated cabinet that friends were going to have hauled away from their storage area.  I saw it, had a vision, my friends said, "take it" - and this is what graces our dining area now.  

Now we have a comfortable dining area with more storage for our art, photos, dishes, and linens.

Below, you can see the difference!  Our hallway entrance is now warm and inviting!

Update:  Photos and plants add more to the entrance.

Hallway Entrance - before I sponged over the wall....

After:  Left wall side is sponged!

The littlest Bathroom - Before!!  (I'm blinded by the white walls!!)

 Bathroom - After!  Bo built me an over-the-toilet triple cabinet with extended shelving over the    sink. We also had custom-made cabinets for under the pedestal sink on both sides.  We added our lovely towels and delicious bath smells and this is it! 

    Update:  We decided to change the guest room (sold the bedroom furniture) and made it into a TV room.  We enjoy our movie nights.

  One thing I like about this apartment is that the it is open and the rooms are large.  Bo, painting away the white walls in the master bedroom.

We have a master bedroom room large enough for a KING bed.  We also bought a triple length wardrobe (for all my clothes) which we put up against the hall-way window to block out light and sound.  It is truly our cave-bedroom - and with two white-noise units on each table, we can't hear ANYTHING!  It makes for a good night's sleep.

My girl-cave - where I spend most of my hours enjoying my art, photography, and reading.

Not one wall left in our apartment is white - and that makes me happy!

We hope you've enjoyed the "Before and After" tour and recent updates of our Ecuadorian Flat.  

I'm not afraid of color!!!!  Are you??