First Days In Ecuador, August 2016
/Random photos: views from our new home in the Quito suburb of Miravalles, the farmers market, inside the house, yard, more market produce. Luca wanted a new haircut and this is the shortest it's ever been on the sides! He was acutely homesick days 1-3 and cried each night, :(. School started, he made friends, and now it's "don't wait with me when the bus (school bus pickup is at front of our gate) arrives"! So, now I'm relegated to the hiding behind the gate, :)
I've struggled with what truck to purchase, new/used/make/model/year etc., so per usual, I resorted to a spreadsheet. Google Sheets, no need to relearn no commands, they are all very similar to Excel. Free. Hurray. I spent 2 weeks searching and driving and researching. The dominant web platform in Quito is PatioTuerca. Some postings are quite old, but most are alive and have current contact info and pics. Well, transparency of the history of the vehicle is pretty good, but the usage and possible damage/collision history is not something that I could find. So, after several false starts (wrong engine in the truck; seller doesn't show up; bait and switch), I said--let's go new.
I was very excited to have talked myself in the 2nd best truck I could find--but it was NEW! And shiny. And $ way over budget. Still, new, and diesel and had pretty good reviews. Not the truck I wanted (Toyota, HiLux, 4x4, Diesel--those start at $47k here). The used HiLux, back to same lineage history and inability to use services like CarFax to check for major issues. Anyway, I set a time to meet with the Asesor. He would not come of the price--there is no negotiation here. Damn. I said, OK. I will be back next week, once I move money around. Expect an email from me, Monday with details (this was Friday).
On Monday, I met with my landlord Sebastian to pay the rent and talk about other things. I mentioned I was buying a new truck and, where can I park it on the compound. He gave me directions and I joking asked, it's a nice truck--but I really was seeking a HiLux, like yours. Sell it to me....he said, to my shock, I was going to put it on the market this week! Whaaat....
Every time I see his truck I think, "Damn, 17" rims and protection, plus non-descript appearance". The key superior mechanical part is it's LSD in 4L. Not a diesel, and the horsepower plus the torque is less than the Mazda. Still. HiLux. Built at the Toyota factory in Thailand and then delivered built--not assembly here in Ecuador. That's plus to me, which the Mazda folks took as "unpatriotic". 75K miles, 2 owners. Sebastian and his "buddy". 2007, and he's a trustworthy guy who has the funds to maintain his vehicles (Including his 4-5 motorbikes). Lineage transparency! Yes.
Close the door and it's "CLUNK" and never tinny, like the others. Saves $10k, but not new and dirty. He uses it on some rough terrain. I'm pleased to be mobile!
Now that we're mobile, I gave my first "tour" on horseback on Friday, Sept 16. Two American's, Luis the ranch-hand and myself as the "other guide". Ha. 4.5 hrs loop around the Volcano Cayambe--no pics and it was a quiet ride, as I don't know the route, the horses, the country-side (this is North of Quito and not Cotopaxi), plus I was focused on learning the trail. Anyway, I spent 3-5 hrs each day for 10 days on a horse in the Wind River and my body didn't hurt as much as after this trip. Let's say the saddle was not "right". Some pics of the Hosteliera, which is on an enviable mountain top with spectacular views of Volcano Cayambe.
Gallery of random shots of the Hacienda/Ranch. Cayambe is the city. No pics of the volcano yet, but this ranch is on the very top of a hill facing both the City and Cayabme.
Below are photos of Luca's first visit to the ranch. The black and white dog is "Baca" and, yes we untangled some pigs!
