OBTAINED PERMANENT RESIDENCY IN ECUADOR AND NOW HAVE A CEDULA

The day I went into pick up my passport with my new Visa, I had a photo taken of myself with the two women in Maité Durán's office (Johanna Calcedo and Karina San Martin) who helped me the most with obtaining my Residential Visa as a Retired Person in Ecuador.

It took about 6 months for me to obtain permanency in Ecuador, because my fingerprints sent for a crime check  were rejected 3 times by the FBI. Finally, Ecuador made an exception to my having the FBI check, because my State crime check came out clean.

Not sure why the FBI rejected my fingerprints. Sometimes I think the FBI just doesn't like fingerprints taken by Ecuadorian police. Some people told me that older people have finer fingerprints, and this is a problem, yet I never had any problem getting fingerprints cleared when I lived in the United States.

My fingerprints were scanned when I became licensed as a Psychologist, and everything went smoothly. However, obtaining residency in Ecuador was delayed for me because supposedly the FBI was unable to read my fingerprints. Yet I prevailed, and obtained permanent residency in Ecuador.

Below is a copy of my 91EC Ecuadorian Visa. Hurray!

Luckily, I applied for a brand new passport in June, even though my passport wasn't due to expire until late 2016. Thanks to having the new passport, I won't have to trouble myself over obtaining a new Passport or a new Visa for another 10 years!

It was easy getting the new passport, too. Employees from the US Embassy in Guayaquil came to Cuenca, and I applied for my passport locally. I had to submit photos and a $110 processing fee. A  month later the passport was ready, and I paid a driver $35 to pick up the passport in Guayaquil.

One morning last week I  went to the immigration office in Cuenca at 7:30 am to obtain a form I needed for my Cedula (Ecuador's Identification Card). All I had to take with me was a copy of my passport photo and Visa, and a payment of $4.00. Oh, I took information printed out by Johanna in Maité's office. After about an hour, I obtained the form I needed to get the Cedula from Immigration. Below the picture of the Immigration office is a photo of my Cedula.

The Cedula itself was issued by the Registro Civil, at Manuel Vega and Alfonso Herves in Cuenca. Again, I arrived early in the morning, well before 8 am. I submitted the form I received from Immigration, and a $5 fee. My fingerprints and a photo were taken. Lots of Ecuadorians were getting their Cedulas too. I was impressed with the efficiency with which everyone's data was collected and Cedulas were distributed. By 9 am I was the proud owner of a Cedula.

The Cedula is Ecuador's Identification card. Now that I am a resident of Ecuador and have a Cedula, I can open a bank account here. I am eligible for government health insurance too, but my health is good so I am going to forgo this.  I opened a bank account at Banco de Guayaquil right away, though.

The following day I went to the SRI (Servicio de Rentas Internas) office on Remigio Crespo and Loja, to register. Every couple of months I'll submit my receipts for groceries, and anything else I purchase. The tax I pay is reimbursed to me because of being over 65. Isn't Ecuador progressive?

So, that's all for now, and I am thrilled to be able to report the very good news that I am a permanent resident of Ecuador and am free now to enjoy life in this country without any Visa concerns.

Back in January, I struggled with the decision whether to pursue permanency in Ecuador. I knew the process would take me out of traveling mode, cost money, and cramp my style. I actually considered the possibility of living 3 months in Ecuador then moving on to Columbia, Peru and Bolivia. 

However, all countries in Latin America have Visa regulations, and I decided it was best to move forward with obtaining residency in Ecuador. Though it was a costly and time consuming process for me, it is much easier as a US Citizen to obtain residency in Ecuador than it is for an Ecuadorian to obtain residency in the US. So all in all, I count myself fortunate. Things could have been worse!

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and look at the photos. September I'll be traveling to Los Organos, a beautiful beach in Northern Peru, and to Piura, also in Peru. I'm celebrating my success obtaining permanent residency in Ecuador by pursuing my favorite activity--travel. In this case I am headed back to Peru, where I spent 3 months the end of 2014. I'm so excited.

I'll post all about my trip to Peru (lots of photos to be included) in my next update.  In the meantime, all the best to you for an excellent September. 

CELEBRATING 66th BIRTHDAY IN CUENCA, VISITING ARTESA CERAMICS, AND VIEWING A TERRIFIC TANGO PERFORMANCE

A few weeks ago I posted about visiting the Eduardo Vega Galería in Turi. Recently a friend and I went to the Artesa Ceramics Factory (Artesa is actually no longer associated with Eduardo Vega) on a Friday, when "seconds" are on sale. The ceramics sold on Fridays are available at a much lower cost than those at Eduardo Vega's Gallery. My friend actually bought some plates from the selection of "seconds" (items priced much lower due to slight defects).

 Below are more "seconds", shown close up:

 Below are photos of the store (featuring new items for sale at full price) itself:

Lastly is a photo of Artesa employees wrapping ceramics for export out of the country:

Anyway, I mentioned that I turned 66 this year (on July 20). I love July 20 and always think it's the best day of the year. So I'm glad this birthday turned out so great. It was even better, in a way, than last year's birthday, because I didn't get at all stressed out about it. My friend Eva took me out to a wonderful Restaurant,  Aji Rocoto, on July 19. Below we're seen together:

Eva had prawns and I had the seared sashimi tuna. I've only eaten at this restaurant once before, and have always wanted to return. The food was better than any I've tasted in Ecuador. And what a fuss the retaurant staff made over me. They served a free dessert and sang Happy Birthday. The Ecuadorians at the table next to ours joined in. And so did the Americans sitting at the table on the other side. It was a really special day before my birthday (or birthday's eve).

The next day (which was my actual birthday) another person treated me to lunch for my birthday.  We went to Chill & Grill, which is not as expensive as Aji Rocoto, and they did not make such a fuss over me. Yet it was a fabulous lunch and I really appreciated Janda for taking me out!

 

The following day Eva and I went to a marvelous tango performance at the Teatro Sucre, performed by Julieta Brizzi and Maryson de Pablo of Carpusa Tango. The following are some photographs of their performance. I am also including photographs of the couple who danced that night, Bill and Judy Collins.  I've seen many performances in Cuenca, and this one was by far my favorite:

The next day I moved out of the house I've been sitting for 5 weeks into a house I'll only be in for 5 days. The woman who lives in this house couldn't have picked out a better time for a trip to the beach, as it's been cool and overcast in Cuenca. Nonetheless I am enjoying being here. I particularly enjoy Doyle, the English Bull Terrier I'm caring for. He is seen below:

Doyle is a little bow legged yet he has a lot of personality and is really cute!

That's all for now, and I appreciate your taking the time to look at the photos on my blog. I'll be posting another update in a few weeks. Hope you're enjoying the month of July as it winds down and that August is a good one. Abrazos from Ecuador!

Visit to the Gallery of Cuenca's Ceramics Artist Eduardo Vega

Yesterday I finally went to the gallery of well-known Ecuadorian Ceramicist, Eduardo Vega. My friend and I caught the Turi bus across the street from the Banco Pichincha, on Avenida Solano in Cuenca. We waited awhile, since the bus only goes to Turi once an hour. Our bus fare was 12 cents (instead of 25 cents) because of being over 65. By taking the bus we avoided a taxi fare of $3. The bus trip was easy and pleasurable. We ascended a steep hill after coming to the base of Avenida Solano, and within 20 minutes we arrived in Turi. There is a bus stop for the Eduardo Vega Galeria, and we got off right in front. The following photo is of Vega's home:

Next are photos of the entrance to the gallery, and some of the ceramics on display:

Mr. Vega studied art in France and is well acquainted with many of Ecuador's leading citizens:

The following are different pieces I found especially beautiful:

 Next is a photo of the workshop, below the gallery:

 

Below is a display dedicated to Ecuadorian Olympic Champion Jefferson Leonardo Pérez, for whom Eduardo Vega designed a plate in his honor: 

 The gallery boasts outstanding views of Cuenca, seen below:

We didn't buy anything because even the coffee cups, at $28, were beyond our budget. However, business is thriving. Next is a photo of visitors making purchases at the gallery's cash register:

Below is a scene of the gallery from the upper level:

 More beautiful ceramics on display:

Lastly is the mural outside the entryway to the gallery:

After leaving the gallery, we walked up the hill to the Cathedral at Turi.

We viewed Cuenca from the outlook in front of the Cathedral.

And finally is a view of the Cathedral itself:

So that's all for now, friends! Thank you for reading my blog and looking at the photos. I'll be posting in a few weeks. Last week I received my new passport, which I applied for in May because the passport I've been carrying will expire next year. I recently received word that my Visa as a Retiree has been approved by the government of Ecuador (YAY!) and wanted to have the Visa affixed to a passport that is new. Next month I'll be sure to post photos of my Visa and Cedula as a permanent resident of Ecuador!!! When I am done paying for all of this I'll be able to travel and enjoy myself throughout Ecuador. I am looking forward to more trips and posting about them.