The Ecuador Chronicles - 2010-22
A Major Renovation Project;
Living in Construction Dust and Mess;
How to Escape in Quito
by Ray Almand
We are in the middle of a major renovation of our Quito apartment. Our half bath is being converted into a full bath and we are attaching it to a bedroom - giving us a two bedroom, two bath apartment; better for our renters and better for us when we are here with guests. There will be a later Chronicle covering this project once it is completed. But in the middle of the project how do you live in the mess?
Renovation of a home that you are living in is always a messy proposition. In Ecuador (as much of the world) walls are built of brick or block covered with plaster. In fact Ecuadorians literally turn their noses up at the idea of a sheetrock wall (no wonder your houses all blow away in some little storm!). But I will tell you, cutting openings in a brick and plaster wall is dust and mess like you have never seen before. We taped up doors, covered furniture, everything you can think of - and still dust everywhere. The final clean up will be major - and we right now are living in it.
Dust, Dust, Dust, Dust, Dust, Dust, Dust, Dust, Dust - Por Todas Partes
Here We Go - If You Want Breakfast You Must Crack Eggs
How do You Like Our Dust? We Have Enough to Share!
It Does Finally Settle; Mopping the Floor is a Regular End of Day Activity
Arched Opening Taking Shape; Jose Gaona at Work - Our Most Excellent Maestro
So, How do You Live with This -
You Have to get Away from Time to Time
The major dust storm pictured above was over in the first two days - but even after this construction is still a mess. How do you live with such a two week project - get away and enjoy yourself. After all, we chose not to move into a hotel - so we deserved a break. We decided to give ourselves a night out at one Old Town's most upscale (and expensive) restaurants - Octava de Corpus, located in the historic San Marcos neighborhood. Dalynda and I do not normally frequent such establishments, but we of course want to give our readers a complete and balanced view of Quito - we were willing to make the sacrifice. And we had a great dining companion - Dalynda's Spanish teacher, Doctora Monica Machuca Ojeda (Monica). The Doctora is a wonderful teacher - her method is to teach speaking, reading and writing at the same time. She incorporates visits to Quito landmarks into the lessons. She has recently accepted a long term contract with a North American organization, giving her limited time for private lessons. She is a great conversationalist - and we spent the evening speaking nothing but Spanish - a free lesson. She even helped me work out the subjunctive tense for a verse in a song I am writing - lyrics in Spanish.
So, what about Octava de Corpus - excellent food, excellent service, incredible wine list and a gracias owner, Jamie Burgos. But you will spend some money there by the end of the night, especially if you include wine and a starter. This is getting close to North American / European prices, but on occasion, why not.
Monica and Dalynda at Octava de Corpus - Two Beautiful Dining Companions
And a Beautuful Place for Dinner in Quito
With Owner - Don Jaime Burgos
Another Escape - to the Roof
There was another easy way for me to get away from it all. Our building has a roof top teraza one flight of stairs above our apartment (This will be our next project - it is a communal area, but it is now full of junk and in need of a good cleaning and painting and some patio furniture so that we and our rental clients can use it - and what a view - that will be another Chronicle). I took a break from construction up there recently and got some nice sunset shots of Mount Pichincha.
I Wanted to get Away from All This for a While..............
.........So, I decided to Enjoy This Instead
Would you like to visit Ecuador, Kick up a Little Dust, and watch the Sunset?
Find out how at Live Well Ecuador:
Also, Here is the Link to Octava de Corpus -