Feb.1 to 6- First week back in Salinas

Wednesday was our first full day back in Salinas. The condo we had bought in December was undergoing major renovations- new bathrooms, a wall removed and bar built in the kitchen, new ceilings and a new coat of paint everywhere- so in other words we would be living in a construction site for the next few days/weeks. First on the agenda was a trip with Mike Gibbs, our incredible contractor, mgibbs78373@yahoo.com  to the store to pick out granite and sinks for the bathrooms. What fun! It was definitly great picking out new stuff, something we hadn't done for many years.

 Next we went with our friend Eddie to buy mattresses. Uwe and I had been sleeping on the box springs that the previous owner had left behind so these were a necessity. We went to a couple of stores in La Libertad and finally settled on four singles and one king. These were immediatly loaded ontu a pickup truck with two of the stores employees and off we went back to our condo.  The singles fit into our condo elevator easily but the king!! No way- so the two fellows carried it up the stairs all the way to our 16th floor apartment. It took them over 1/2 hour and they both arrived soaking wet with sweat. Needless to say big tips were given out.

Then Eddie arranged for our internet and TV hookup. Though they took three appointments/three days and several hours each to complete hookups, within the first week we had both internet and dish TV service, an almost impossible achievement in Ecuador.
Mucho gracias, mi amigo Eddie!
He is also available for driving you wherever- Guayaquil, Montanita etc
eduardo.iglesias101@gmail.com

When we had left Salinas at the end of October and even during our one week back in December, the weekend crowds at the beach were few. Not so now. It seemed that everyone in Guayaquil and surrounding area descended upon little Salinas  and the beach on the weekend.  The following are some photos of the beach crowds.
                       
                                 Looking off our balconey to  Chipipe Beach

Along the Malecon at the Main Beach

A view from a friend's condo along the Main Beach

There were also lot's of kids play stuff available

And we found a great Steak house- a new restaurant right down the road from our condo- Toro Rosso- Red Bull in Portugese? probably a Brazilian Restaurant.

Here is Uwe's very nicely done 'Loma Fino' filet minion

Next week, more stuff to do.