jueves, 7 de marzo de 2013
Some Thoughts of life
lunes, 12 de noviembre de 2012
Golf, Omelets and the High Cost of the American Dream...
by Donald Murray Sr. on Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 7:23am ·
I have just recently returned to Ecuador from a mostly-stealthy trip to the states. Had to do a routine medical visit to keep my V.A. docs happy, did some shopping as directed by the Pocket Babe and snagged my paragliding canopy while I was there. Glad to be back home in Ecuador and thanks to those few who knew I was leaving for keeping an eye on the Pocket Babe for me while I was away. Common sense dictated that I shouldn’t advertise the fact that I’d be out of the country for a week.
Diane and I talked about what I had been missing and what I might want to do, once back in the states. Before I left, I honestly couldn't think of anything at all. There were no special restaurants or activities that I had been missing. In fact, I found my return to be mostly frustrating!! I landed in Miami, rented a car and drove north to the Tampa area. The traffic was absolutely horrible!!!! Many cases of complete gridlock on I-75 and I-95; nothing moving for nearly an hour in one case. I had the opportunity to practice my newly developed patience!
The prices for everything were shocking! In only 6 months, I had already forgotten! Gasoline at about $3.40 per gallon compared to $1.45 in Ecuador. Lunch with a Diet Coke for $12 compared to about $4 for a comparable lunch in Ecuador. The non-stop hustle and the omnipresent "hurrying" that was everywhere I looked was so very disturbing to me. I now looked at all those who were scurrying about like cockroaches and wanted to sit them down in front of me, slap them hard in the face and remind them how short life really is. I wanted to tell them to stop selling so much of their precious time to their bosses. I wanted to shake them and tell them to get off the hamster wheel, say no to the advertising agencies who want you to buy the newest iphone or the latest gizmo so you can “be successful.” What a load of crap!
I awakened early one morning, about 5 o’clock. I was staying north of Tampa, at the secluded, vacant lake-house of a close friend who had offered this great place to stay while I was in town. A foggy, heavy mist covered the water as 5 geese swam lazily near the shore. I stepped outside, inhaling the crisp morning air. I am definitely not a city guy and this was very peaceful. In fact, this was the lake where Diane and I had lived before moving to Ecuador. No sign of the sun yet. I was hungry and thought I’d slip over to the Waffle House a few miles away. I quickly shaved after a hot shower, dressed and jumped into the rental car, now focused on a spinach and tomato omelet only a few minutes away.
I walked inside and was greeted by a couple of the hard-working women behind the counter. I had chosen to wear my Vietnam Air Force Veteran hat, proudly proclaiming my Geezer status. I snagged a seat at the counter and asked for a large tomato juice and the aforementioned omelet. A table of 4 guys in their early 40’s and dressed for an obvious day on the golf course said hello and, noticing my hat, thanked me for my service. We began to talk.
“Looks like you guys are headed out for some golf today.”
“Yeah…got time to play 18 but have a business thing this evening”, said one of the guys.
“I remember those days”, I lamented. “There was never enough time.”
“You retired now?”
“Yeah, in Ecuador”
“Ecuador? Why Ecuador?”
I began to tell them “why Ecuador” and what my life was like before retirement with 70 hour weeks, 23 offices to run, spread sheets, Board meetings, side businesses and a stress level that was off the charts!
I began to describe the culture I had discovered in South America…a culture that values family over work and places making a profit secondary to other things that are more important.
“Yes”, I said...there are other things more important than making a profit. They invited me to join them at their table as these young American business hustlers began to describe their lives and their levels of stress and anxiety. The stress and unhappiness poured from them like pus from an infected wound.
It was familiar on many levels; First, because in them, I saw the former me. We discussed the prime directive that drives the American business model, “MAKE MORE MONEY”. We discussed that model as it pertains to the pharmaceutical companies and the existing for-profit health care model in the United States as well as the corporate greed present in the petroleum industry and the banking industry. Their confessions of stress and dissatisfaction continued to pour from them for the next 45 minutes. They had, indeed, sold their lives to their employers, now barely finding time for their wives and children. They had fallen into the trap and saw a glimmer of hope from our conversation. They had fancy cars and nice homes and were in debt beyond belief, forcing them to remain on the hamster wheel. Their wives were also working as is the norm. These guys were not exceptional in this way.
They listened carefully as I described a different way and they asked intelligent questions. It was as if they had never considered a different life. They had been successfully programmed and were doing what was expected by our culture.
I’m not sure that one needs to leave the United States to make different lifestyle choices permitting more free time, more family time and less stress. In fact, I’m pretty sure one can definitely make those choices anywhere they live. It is, perhaps, a counter-culture mindset in the United States but is the mainstream culture in other places. I am not saying it is easy. With the constant bombardment of information encouraging one to remain on the hamster wheel, it takes a leap of faith to jump off. But it’s right there for the taking.
The guys left later than they should have to make their Tee time and they all wanted my email address. They aren’t ready to retire but they are looking for another way…another life. Like I said, it’s right there for the taking but I’m afraid that greed will win out over all else for most. Many believe that the acquisition of “stuff” is the key to happiness. I’m certainly not the first to suggest otherwise as many others have said the same thing many times before.
As I cleared customs and immigration last night in Quito, there was one person working to clear our plane load of some 350 people and all their luggage and declarations. The line moved rather quickly considering! As my turn approached, I noticed that no baggage was being examined by hand and the one person who was working was simply giving the x-ray machine a quick glance every now and then as he continued to feed pieces of luggage into the front of the machine. I snagged all my bags, and my paraglider canopy as they squirted out the back side of the x-ray machine and headed out to catch a cab, grateful to be back home where some things just aren’t that important…but the right stuff is! I can already feel myself slowing down again to merge with the pace of this culture. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh….. home!
lunes, 5 de noviembre de 2012
SERVICES FOR EXPATS & CHARACTERISTICS
QUITO
Pablo Prado
Pablo Prado, an experienced tour guide who speaks excellent English with legal license from the ministry of tourism, can handle all ex-pat needs, including transportation (even with animals), shopping for your home,visa process with reliable lawyer that can show excellent references without being more expensive, translation, setting up health insurance, errands, securing an Ecuador phone number, finding the best places to stay while in Quito, transporting your things to the coast,buying a vehicle and legalizing it. Logistics in general, negotiator and public relation skilled, Pablo has many valuable connections both in Quito and on the coast. He and his wife, Sylvana (a physician in Quito), lived in Bahia for a time, so they are very familiar with the north central coast.
..........................................................
SERVICE'S CHARACTERISTICS
> Briefing about culture and the country, safety while driving,shopping or just taking the right decisions when travelling, higienics care and first aid solutions in case of need, hotels reservations,bilingual full english interpretation, knowledge of routes, tips for the variuos geographical areas and weathers, real estate assesment and contacts, experience on relating the client with Ecuador, people and the different zones ; are some of the characteristics during a contracted service
>> Please read the above carefully so this services are not compared with taxi driver's or other drivers that are not guides with a legal licence or don't speak english.
sábado, 16 de junio de 2012
T O U R S I N E C U A D O R
OTAVALO INDIAN MARKET AREA TOUR / 1 DAY
FROM QUITO
Early departure to Otavalo after breakfast. Drive through the North Panamerican Highway,
known as the "Avenue of the Volcanoes". On route we'll visit Calderon village and the bread-
dough made figures famous handicrafts from this town. Short visit to Guayllabamba, valley of
fruits, citrics and avocado plantations. Next village on-route will be Cayambe, another Andean
community of the highlands where we can find the Equator's line crossing the road. This, a rich
area of flower farms( roses, carnations, gypsophilia) and agricultural products; green farms
scenery.
Here we'll try the typical biscuit and the string cheese that will give us a taste of the region's
traditional delicacies
Finally the charming indian city of Otavalo will welcome us. The Indian market here
is the most popular of Ecuador and a very important one in South America for the
variety of its textile products, the colorful atmosphere,and the warmth of the people,...their
culture,
Typical lunch in a restaurant of the area.
Afternoon: visit to the nearby villages of Peguche/ waterfall and Cotacachi (the leather products
town), goos place for shopping here.
Dinner and overnight stay in the area : on a 2 or more days program
OTAVALO AND VOLCANOE LAKE / 1 DAY
FROM QUITO
Lunch: in the area : NOT INCLUDED
AFTERNOON:
Drive to San Antonio de Ibarra, to see a peaceful, clean and authentic andean village and the woodcarver's shops to appreciate their art .
Back to Quito through a different road. End of services
CLIENTS REPORTS CBV"S
jueves, 16 de junio de 2011
From: Malkum Gibson (USA)
To: Pablo Prado (pablopra1@yahoo.com)
Date: 15th June 2011
Subject: Guide of the Year!
GUIDE OF THE YEAR!!:
Pablo,
Hope this find you and yours happy and well.
Just a quick note to thank you for a wonderful
time here in Ecuador, and looking forward to
seeing you before we leave for home. Had an
easy drive to the coast (made it in two hours)
and have been just relaxing and enjoying time
alone with Marci. Still not sure about the spa
thing yet. Much to do here at Coco Beach .
Had a nice afternoon in Canoa, met both the
David’s while there. Business tomorrow with
David Blank here. Once home we’ll put our
heads together and get a good business
plan setup for you.
Again thanks soooooooooooooo much !!!!!
Just a quick note to thank you for a wonderful
time here in Ecuador, and looking forward to
seeing you before we leave for home. Had an
easy drive to the coast (made it in two hours)
and have been just relaxing and enjoying time
alone with Marci. Still not sure about the spa
thing yet. Much to do here at Coco Beach .
Had a nice afternoon in Canoa, met both the
David’s while there. Business tomorrow with
David Blank here. Once home we’ll put our
heads together and get a good business
plan setup for you.
Again thanks soooooooooooooo much !!!!!
Malkum & Marci
miércoles, 15 de junio de 2011
MORE TOUR REPORTS/ LATE ONES ( CBVs )
Good morning Pablo,
Home at last…long day traveling home.
Susan and I had such a wonderful time
in Ecuador and much of it is due to your
insight and wisdom.
in Ecuador and much of it is due to your
insight and wisdom.
Will have more to share later…still a little
sleepy. Hope all in well in your world this
morning and the headache is gone.
sleepy. Hope all in well in your world this
morning and the headache is gone.
So great to meet your Sylvana.
Be Well My Friend
john
John R. Crites
9171 US Hwy. 22 & 3
Clarksville, OH 513
937.623.8330
jrcrites@frontier.com
FROM JOHN CRITES / TOURIST IN ECUADOR and
CBV'S COMPANION IN THE COUNTRY
----- Mensaje reenviado ----
De/From: John Crites
Para/FOR: Pablo Prado
Enviado/SENT : mar, junio 14, 2011 11:31:04 PM
Asunto/ISSUE : RE: Greetings
Good Evening!
I hope this missive finds you in good spirits
after a restful evening.
after a restful evening.
I will indeed pass along your greetings to
Susan and Cathy.
Susan and Cathy.
Oh well……all is well here at home.
Look at your page…very well done.
Did you do it….also read the blog by
the lady who is a writer as is her husband
…interesting.
Did you do it….also read the blog by
the lady who is a writer as is her husband
…interesting.
Well I need to get to sleep, for some reason
not to tired.
not to tired.
We enjoyed our tour of Quito at night a great
deal. You have a truly beautiful city.
deal. You have a truly beautiful city.
Will keep in touch and hope that someday
soon you and your beloved and travel to Ohio.
We have spare bedrooms and would love to
be your “tour guide,” here in America.
soon you and your beloved and travel to Ohio.
We have spare bedrooms and would love to
be your “tour guide,” here in America.
Be Well New Friend.
-john
jueves, 26 de mayo de 2011
MORE REFERENCES BY PATRICIA ADAMS AND DEBBIE JONES
Patricia Adams Farmer.We are having
a wonderful time here with Pablo. He's
taking us around town on a whirlwind
shopping tour. Today we see our attorney.
I don't know what we would do without
Pablo to guide and translate. It's been a
wonderful experience!
Debbie Jones Dubbois. I suspect Pablo
will be getting a lot of referral business.
:D It's just great to know there is someone
available and reliable that that can help
us maneuver through the big transition.
I'm looking forward to hearing about your
shopping spree! Especially the bed part. :D
will be getting a lot of referral business.
:D It's just great to know there is someone
available and reliable that that can help
us maneuver through the big transition.
I'm looking forward to hearing about your
shopping spree! Especially the bed part. :D
miércoles, 25 de mayo de 2011
Pablo, some feedback for you posted by Kelly
on the Coco Beach Village facebook group page today, "
on the Coco Beach Village facebook group page today, "
We just got back from a fabulous day of touring in
Quito. Pablo was a wonderful tour guide. We had a
great lunch of typical ecuadorean mountain style food.
Pablo was so accommodating to whatever we wanted
to include in our tour. He taught so much about the
history of the city and of Ecuador in general and we
went to the fruit and vegetable market (my request
so I could learn about some of the tropical fruits).
I would recommend him to anyone that has time
in Quito. Thanks Lesli for the recommendation!"
Lesli
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