Wednesday, Apr 13, 2016
The sun was out this morning in all its brilliant glory. I love how bright it shines and how blue the sky looks when I head out of the house in the morning. I didn’t think the heat was so great working out today, but hey, it’s South America…pass me the tanning oil. 🙂
We got our package today! We’ve only been waiting for a little more than a month since it was shipped from the States, but it made it. It was a test package to see if we could actually get something delivered to us. I guess it works!
Here are the details of our package in order to avoid it being opened and/or kept in customs, or having to pay a hefty duty on the contents. It can’t weigh more than 4 kg (8.8 lbs), and it can’t have a value greater than $400. They call this a 4×4.
We had a large bottle of pure maple syrup, two bottles of pure vanilla extract, black pepper, other dry condiments, chai tea, and green tea. We got most all these things from Costco in the States and it totaled about $40. Now this is the downside…it cost $72 to ship, and then an additional $5 handling fee to pick it up at our post office! What can I say, you really have to love maple syrup and vanilla extract. 🙂
I was out walking on the malecon before dinner and saw a phenomenal sunset. 
 Just a orangish-red round ball of fire hanging over the edge of the Pacific. Absolutely beautiful! My phone doesn’t come close to capturing it, but maybe you can get an idea.
We made dinner and ate out on our balcony tonight. I know you will think I’m crazy, but I actually felt a chill in the breeze. I think I may have climatized to the Ecuadorian heat, but after all…it is now fall here in S. America. Break out the sweaters! 😉
It’s been another great day living and learning in Ecuador. I am so glad I took the risk to leave my familiar path and look for new one’s to follow, and one’s to make on my own. It isn’t perfect but so far it is everything I hoped it would be.
I will say good night with a video of the sunset I watched. It is only one minute long and worth watching to the end. For me, these moments are balm to my soul, filling me with wonder, respect, and awe to be alive and connected to our planet and everyone on it.
Chao.
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Thanks for the picture of the Ocean and the sunset. It was beautiful. It was interesting to hear about the mail. I am Leary of sending anything to Canice my granddaughter in Mexico. She said that people steal the parcel sometimes as they are poor. I would put a trace on it.
Living outside the country made me realize what a great delivery service we had available whether it’s USPS, Fedex, or UPS. It’s fast, cost effective, and rarely is anything lost or stolen in the delivery process.