One of the primary goals for our trip to Cuenca is to see if William can breathe and feel well at the high altitude (2,560 m, 8,400 ft). He has had trouble in the past with altitude, and after his month in the hospital with Covid in early 2022 we are concerned.
During our first few days we learned that walking uphill is very tiring for William. We develop a strategy to taxi up into El Centro and then walk downhill to our Airbnb. This works well, and we continue it during the second week of our stay. William’s strength is improving - that is until he comes down with a stomach bug. After a week of over-the-counter medicines, he breaks out the antibiotic we always bring on our trips. It’s just been two days on the antibiotic, but he is feels much, much better.
The down-time while William suffers with the stomach bug gives us time to focus on the documentation needed to obtain an Ecuador Professional Visa. This visa would allow us to come and go as we choose (the tourist visa allows only 90 days) and if we only leave Ecuador for less than 90 days in the first two years after the visa is issued, we can obtain residency.
A first step in the Professional Visa is documentation from our schools regarding our degrees. We both graduated with bachelor’s degrees from the same university, so we have obtained official copies of our transcripts, diplomas, and letters explaining that we took classes in-person from the Office of the Registrar. This year Ecuador instituted an additional requirement of an official letter from the school certifying our studies relate to an international standard (classification) of fields of study. This proves to be a stumbling block which the Office of the Registrar is not willing to provide. We’re directed to our school advisory offices. Anne’s advisory office basically says that they can’t help because the university uses a U.S. classification and not the international standard. The head advisor for William’s school is more understanding and indicates she will try to help, recognizing that the Office of the Registrar has abandoned his request. We’ll need to wait until early next week to see if she comes through with a letter.
During our first few days we learned that walking uphill is very tiring for William. We develop a strategy to taxi up into El Centro and then walk downhill to our Airbnb. This works well, and we continue it during the second week of our stay. William’s strength is improving - that is until he comes down with a stomach bug. After a week of over-the-counter medicines, he breaks out the antibiotic we always bring on our trips. It’s just been two days on the antibiotic, but he is feels much, much better.
The down-time while William suffers with the stomach bug gives us time to focus on the documentation needed to obtain an Ecuador Professional Visa. This visa would allow us to come and go as we choose (the tourist visa allows only 90 days) and if we only leave Ecuador for less than 90 days in the first two years after the visa is issued, we can obtain residency.
A first step in the Professional Visa is documentation from our schools regarding our degrees. We both graduated with bachelor’s degrees from the same university, so we have obtained official copies of our transcripts, diplomas, and letters explaining that we took classes in-person from the Office of the Registrar. This year Ecuador instituted an additional requirement of an official letter from the school certifying our studies relate to an international standard (classification) of fields of study. This proves to be a stumbling block which the Office of the Registrar is not willing to provide. We’re directed to our school advisory offices. Anne’s advisory office basically says that they can’t help because the university uses a U.S. classification and not the international standard. The head advisor for William’s school is more understanding and indicates she will try to help, recognizing that the Office of the Registrar has abandoned his request. We’ll need to wait until early next week to see if she comes through with a letter.
Some of our plans are cancelled or put on hold due to William’s stomach issue, but on Friday he feels up to going to a chocolate and wine tasting at IdiomART. As the group assembles, we meet expats who have lived in Cuenca for years as well as snowbirds from Canada, the US, and Iceland. The tasting is led by Melissa Perez-Singer, a Guatemalan-American who is now living in Ecuador. Melissa discusses the history of cocoa, the chocolate-making process and the company Kamm, which works with the Chachi Community to source cocoa directly from the indigenous farmers. The most valued variety of cocoa is the “fino aroma” representing 5% of world production, of which 63% is in Ecuador.
Melissa explains the chocolate tasting process: sight (no white), snap, smell, taste. We start with 85% chocolate. The group of 16 of us practice with one piece, then she gives us another piece for our official tasting accompanied by a glass of wine. The fino aroma chocolate is incredibly smooth and not at all bitter, as one could expect with 85% chocolate. We go on to taste flavored chocolates including chai tea, ginger lemonade, salty caramel and big mango. The 85% and the ginger lemonade are our favorites. The tasting concludes with a small cup of hot chocolate - 100% pure powdered cocoa in water. It is a fun two hours.
Since William is still feeling ok and we’ve already thrown diets to the wind we splurge with pasta dinners at Mangiare Bene. William selects the pasta carbonara while I have the meat lasagne. Wonderful treats!
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