A new day filled with new problems

Luis very kindly got a cheque from the bank (cheques work very differently in Ecuador, they are printed and laminated with all the relevant details kind of like a bond so obtaining one is no easy process). By the time of its arrival my insurance company agreed all was well and that they would finalise everything from their end and that they were sending some dude from an associate company in Quito at that very instant. So, foolishly sucked in I graciously explained the situation to Mariana so they could both begin the task of taking the cheque back and having it canceled.

01 My New Home

Turns out I was a fool! The second the cheque had been reversed my insurance company phoned to say they wanted me to stay another two days in hospital while they ummed and arred. Thoroughly hacked off I took the process into my own hands and after inquiring whether Mariana would stay behind to take the flak I escaped into central Quito worrying the hell out of the Voz Andes finance staff who thought I'd gone and done a runner but sod em, if you want something doing properly... After being refused such a large withdrawal at four banks I rested on making a $20 phone call to England, transferring my entire savings account onto my credit card so I could pay the bill on that and be done with it. After a full gory explanation to some Indian gent this was granted and I returned and paid the total in full.

02 English Institute

In the mean time Mariana had been doing some inquiries of her own and discovered that the woman from the previous evening was a greater blundering moron than first presumed. Turns out I could have been released then and there with the help of a simple guarantors voucher placed against any old credit card or a variety of equally facile options to give me the time required for sorting my finances. So after a quiet suggestion from another member of the finance department we placed an official complaint and exited into the afternoon sun.

A short taxi ride later and we were on the outskirts of Quito and the location of Mariana's beautiful Casa. The large house is situated in the quiet "Valle delos Chillos" on a plot of land shared with her brother. I have my own room complete with double bed, en-suite and amazing view over the valley, finally I´ve landed on my feet. I will be spending the entirety of my recovery here alongside the kids (Maria Jose and Jon Pierre), Mariana, her husband (Frank), Kaisar and their dog (Lucas).

03 Rey Luis´ Castle

The grand house was built by the family with the help of her brother (Luis Vicente) who lives next door in a fortress cum garage, with his daughter (Jenny), her husband (Jorje) and their 5 month old baby (Jorje Luis). Behind the house is the rented "English Institute" where Mariana conducts classes and I shall spend some of my time studying. All in this entire place is nothing like the small town house/apartment bang in the middle of a city that I expected and will be an ideal place for some proper R and R.

04 Random Fruits

05 What A Viste of Cotapaxi

06 Cool as Ice

07 Rumiñahui Volcano

08 Down the Valley

09 Room With a View