APPLYING FOR A VISA IN ECUADOR - OUR RESIDENCY VISA OUTCOME - HOW THIS ALL ENDED!

On April 26th, Friday, Bo received e-mail notification from the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores that our documents were finalized and we were to report to the immigration office on Thursday, May 2nd at 12 noon.  Because we had applied for an investment visa residency, we would have to first pick up our original CD certificate from the immigration office and take it to the Banco Central Del Ecuador and have it registered.  We were then scheduled to return to immigration between 2 and 4 pm, and then they would finalize our visa stamps in our passports.

Of course, we hoped for the best but prepared for the worst.  After all, this hasn't been the smoothest process for us, but what else could go wrong to delay what we have been so long waiting for?  We grabbed our original passports, $640 cash ($320 each) for our final visa payment, and hopped a bus to immigration.  At approximately 12:15 pm they called Bo's name, and we were at the front counter (like old times).  This time, we were given our CD certificate and two other forms and told to take them down to El Banco Central and someone would help us there.  I specifically asked, "Are there any other forms or information we need to provide to them or just these papers?"  I was assured, "Just these papers!"

We were delayed getting to Banco Central because we were given wrong bus information by the "Securidad" guard, who assured me when I drilled down on him that he was Cuencano and knew the bus system.  Well, we hopped the wrong bus and had to get off quite a distance from the bank, so we ended up walking the rest of the way.  When we arrived there, we were told by the machine-gun-toting information man to go to the 2nd floor.  There, we were intercepted by the one and only person who could have helped us - he was on his way to lunch with a co-worker.  Had we arrived one minute later we would have missed him.  Lunch time in Cuenca can run from 1 pm to 3 pm for some.  Apparently, he knew we were coming, but because of our delay in getting there due to wrong bus information, he must have figured we weren't coming and decided to take his lunch break.  

Once in his office, he asked me for a certain form.  I questioned him, "What form?"  He then showed me a form that was necessary to begin this process.  NO!  This can't be happening!!  Inside I panicked, but I calmly said in Spanish, "Sir, I specifically asked the front desk person at immigration if I needed any other forms but these, and she assured me I didn't!  I don't believe they know about this form!"  He was silent for a moment, looked at me (probably seeing my distress - I wear my heart on my sleeve) and then replied, "No problem.  Let me see your husband's passport.  I can still do this."  God's favor prevails again!!  We sat quietly while he busily began his task of registering our CD certificate.  This is to assure we don't withdraw that large sum of money prior to the year it is certified for (all a part of the investment visa residency requirements). 

At last!  He kindly handed us two stamped and signed documents that we were to return to immigration.  He told us that we could get the form he required and bring it to him later.  I asked, "Sir, is it necessary?"  He looked at me, then he shrugged and said, "No.  Don't worry.  It's not necessary."  Go figure!!  We smiled, shook his hand and thanked him, and rushed out of there before he changed his mind.  Yes, things change here from one moment to the next.  When you get favor here, RUN WITH IT!!!!

We took a cab back to immigration (by now I was emotionally and physically tired), and returned there at 2 pm.  Before approaching the security guard, I quickly glanced at the registered CD documents from the bank man and suddenly noticed that they had spelled Bo's last name wrong, as most people do.  LONGWOOD not LONGOOD.  Mr. El Banco Central CD Register Man had put in that deadly "W."  Knowing how critical it is to have every name correct for the visa process, we looked at each other with dread.  Would this mean having to go back to the bank and more visa delays?  Bo calmly said, "Maybe they won't notice.  Or maybe they will!  We'll see what happens."  What else could we do?  NOTHING at this point.  Again, I quietly prayed for God's favor.

So, we handed our bank registration documents to the "Securidad" guard, along with our passports, and we began our next wait.  There were several ex-pats still in the waiting area chatting amongst themselves, sharing their stories about their attempts to get their visas.  I listened awhile but finally ended up tuning most of it out, having already been through it and knowing that eventually most of them too would prevail and be in the same seat we were now sitting in - waiting for that final stamp in our passports.  I refused to focus on that "wrong spelling" issue, and now my faith had kicked in.

At 3 pm they called Bo's name.  We walked up front and were told by one of the front desk women to please go and pay our $320 each at the "Banco" window, then return to her with our payment receipts.  She then added, "They are now getting your visa stamps in your passports."  WooHoo!  I was happy.  Could this be it?  Would we be walking away with our residency visas, at last?  What could possibly go wrong now?  Bo and I walked over to the "Banco" window and handed over our money.  We got our receipts, walked back to the front desk and were waited on immediately.  The immigration woman asked us to sign a form, and then she handed us our passports STAMPED WITH OUR RESIDENCY VISAS.  YES!  FINALLY!!!  Apparently, the wrong spelling on the registered CD form was overlooked (or missed) and we now had our finalized visa passports! 

We were told to go to the back and begin our Cedula process, but because it was now 3:30 pm, the security guard in the back closed that door on us.  He said they closed at 4 pm, and they already had too many people already waiting for services (all three of them).  I tried persuading him with my Spanish, but he would not crack a smile or show any emotion.  He just said, "No.  Come back tomorrow between 8:30 am and noon."  So we turned around and left.  Applying for our Cedulas can happen any day.  We were just content to walk away with our visa stamped passports, knowing that we now can continue living here indefinitely.

As of today, May 2, 2013, we are able to leave Ecuador for up to 90 days per year (through May 2, 2014).  We have to abide by this visa law for two years, and then we are free to come and go as we please.  We plan to return to the USA to finalize some things there in the near future.  For now, we are going to celebrate this day - always giving God all the glory for His continued favor and victories.  We continue to live here in Cuenca one day at a time, ready for whatever changes present themselves to us.  We've been here 5 months now, and we never know what's around the corner.  Time will tell!

 A FEW PHOTOS OF OUR BLOCK AND DAILY WALK TO OUR WONDERFUL MERCADO

Our "calle" - one block from the mercado!

A grain store along our block!

Delicious Squash pieces, ready for sales.

I have no idea what this vegetable is!  Do you?

Cutting up huge and meaty squash.

This vendor is munching on her lunch, surrounded by her plethora of fresh vegetables.

Some vendors sit and wait while others are busy making their sales.

Avacados are huge, meaty, and sell for 20 to 25 cents each. 

We shop almost daily, find wonderful vendors selling unique and fresh foods (this vendor is cutting Bacalau or Salted Cod Fish), and only have to walk one block to the open market.

COST OF PRODUCE IN CUENCA - More on our frugal lifestyle!!!

Mango, parsley, chard, pineapple, plantains, garlic, cucumbers, carrots, green peppers, peas, beets, avocados, broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes.  All this for $12 - Really?  Yes Really!!!

I remember reading different blogs and looking at photos of Cuenca's mercados when Bo and I were planning to relocate here.  It was one of the first things I looked forward to doing once we landed - finally, going fresh produce shopping at the various Mercados.  Here we are, 3-1/2 months later, still loving our almost daily shopping trips to the wonderful colorful and abundant markets in El Centro, and also shopping from the street vendors along the way.  We have our favorite vendors now whom we know by name, and we get lots of special treatment and favor.  You can see in the photo that the pineapple is perfectly peeled because one of our favorite vendors takes care of us.

Here's a breakdown of what this produce cost us which should last us several days:
1 Pineapple (sweet & juicy)    $1.25
2 Mangos (huge & meaty)        1.00
7 Carrots (sweet & Fat)             .50
Peas (shelled, bagged)            1.00
7 Tomatoes (huge)                  1.00
5 Avocados (delicious)             1.00
7 Beets                                   .50
4 cucumbers                          1.00
Garlic (peeled cloves)               .50
4 Plantains (ripe)                    1.00
Chard (large bunch)                  .50
Parsley (large bunch)                .25
Cauliflower (large head)           1.00
Broccoli (large head)                1.00
11 Peppers                               .50

Our Ecuadorian families tell us how much more we can get for our money if we would go to Feria Libre (some think we are getting gouged).  Soon, we will trek out there for a shopping trip with our friends who will show us the best vendors to buy from (we've been there but not to actually shop).  We will do a price comparison to see if it's worth it to save a few dollars.  However, for the convenience of being able to walk four to eight blocks to the markets from our apartment, and because it's only the two of us and produce here is fresh and organic and spoils if not eaten quickly, we don't know if it's going to be worth the long trek to Feria Libre and back.  We'll see.  For now, we enjoy knowing our vendors and feel we are getting a lot for our money.  It's also rewarding to frequent and bless our favorite vendors.

This is the 9 De Octubre Mercado which is very close to our apartment.  It is a very busy, clean, and abundant market that has wonderful meats, seafood, vegetables,and fruits plus food and juice vendors.  We sometimes shop here but enjoy the 10 de Augusto Mercado and their vendors more, where we mostly shop since moving to El Centro.

It's the 16th of March, and so far we've spent a total of $121 of our $289 food budget in groceries, household, wine, produce and protein (poultry, beef, seafood and shrimp).  We've had several dinners at our home with friends.  We cook most of our meals and eat in more than we eat out.  Our food/household bill for just the two of us back in the USA was between $600 and $800 dollars.  We purchased organic meats and produce (so spendy there) and the cost of groceries and household items was so much more.  Here, we eat even healthier (we do not buy prepackaged or canned foods) and spend less because we only buy what we need as we run out of that item.  Living in the heart of the city prevents us from having to stock up on items because we can walk out our door and find a tienda close by to pick up what we're out of.  This, I love about living in El Centro.

We recently attended a party where an ex-pat couple shared with us that their monthly grocery bill runs $700 to $800.  It's just the two of them, but they say they entertain a lot and shop mostly at SuperMaxi.   They also expressed that their monthly living expenses were in the ball park of $3,000 or more a month.  I share this because it will become a personal budget for each and everyone coming to live in Cuenca.  No one can say how much it is going to cost another person for groceries, housing, transportation, medical, etc.  We, ourselves, can live here on less than $1,300 a month because we are purposing to live frugally.   It is our desire to eat healthier, live a simpler less costly lifestyle as we continue to learn about and explore this area and culture to see if it truly is where we want to plant ourselves for a long-term commitment.  Remember, we did not previously visit Cuenca to know what to expect.  We just packed our bags and came!  

We continue to document our daily spending, to shop daily at the local markets (Yes, we buy our meat and seafood at the open markets, and yes we're still alive and well), and to purpose to stay within our monthly budget.  My really fun frugal shopping trip today landed me in a second-hand store (and I read there weren't any to speak of here!!!) where I found 5 pair of fabulous practically new designer jeans, perfect fit (I've lost 10 lbs of ugly fat since being here - woohoo) for guess how much?  $28, really?  YES REALLY!!!

I told you Cuenca has everything one could possibly need!  Even a thrift store!!
I'm happy and I love Cuenca city life more each day.

One of Bo's delicious salads we love to munch on - Avocado, Tomatoes, and butter-fried platanos (plantains) - with fresh limon, a drizzle of cold-pressed olive oil, and sea salt.  YUM!  Walking miles and miles each day and eating mostly Paleo is our choice for a healthy lifestyle.

Bo's Beef Bone Broth simmers on our stove daily - and this is one of Bo's bone broth soups - with beef, potatoes, and fresh chard.  WE LOVE CREATING DELICIOUS SOUPS!