A Month of Sundays
Randy, Kobe (age 18), and I have been on Lockdown for approximately thirty-two days. It is frustrating at times but for the most part, we have been doing well mentally and physically. I plan on going grocery shopping with our friend and taxi driver, Rodrigo Saca of Paute this Wednesday, April 22nd. Last Tuesday, April 14th when Rodrigo and I were on our way to Cuenca, we were stopped by the police. They asked for our IDs and Rodrigo's official document stating he has permission to drive into Cuenca. There were also military people present. There was a delay because of a police officer who told Rodrigo that his official document has to be on his windshield and not on the passenger side window. Rodrigo said that I needed to go to Cuenca to buy food and medicine. The government is strict these days. Buying food in Cuenca is not enough. Now medicine has to be mentioned. We did make it into Cuenca.
When we arrived in Cuenca at the Supermaxi Supermarket (Las Americas location) there was no parking. The store opened at 7:00 am and we arrived at 7:45 am. It was Tuesday, April 14th. Rodrigo dropped me off so I could stand in line and he waited until someone left the parking lot to park his taxi. Afterward, he waited in another line. We were both sprayed with industrial rubbing alcohol on our front and back by a security guard. We already had our masks so a security guard provided disposable gloves for us and we had to use hand sanitizer on our disposable gloves. Rodrigo and I entered the store at the same time even though we were in opposite lines.
The store was less stocked than normal. Many items like produce, cheese, and flour were running low. We were able to find most of the items we need. There was plenty of toilet paper. I gave Rodrigo my money, Cedula, and Supermaxi discount card to pay for the groceries since only one person is allowed in line. Each of us was allowed a shopping cart. Leaving Cuenca was not difficult. The curfew is still 2 pm to 5 am every day. This Wednesday, April 22nd, Rodrigo and I will be leaving my house around 6:00 am because the three Supermaxis are open from 7:00 am to 12:30 pm every day except Sunday. The fourth Supermaxi was being remodeled until the quarantine began. Rodrigo has special permission to drive Monday - Friday from Paute to Cuenca and back when there is no curfew.
Now there is a new rule. People can only run errands on the days according to the last number on their Cedula (National ID) in the city of Cuenca. According to my Cedula number, I can run errands on Wednesdays. Randy runs errands in Paute because the rules are less strict. There is spraying of customers but not nearly as much as in Cuenca. The Cedula rule is not as strict in Paute. Cuenca taxi drivers have to be back home by 11:30 am and can only drive on certain days. Also, Cuenca taxi drivers can only drive from Cuenca to the town of Descanso in the Paute Canton. Cuenca delivery people can make deliveries until 7:00 pm. On the weekends, only essential workers can drive. If anyone needs to drive on the weekends or during curfew, it is only if there is an emergency.
We will see if the quarantine is lifted sometime in May. Randy, Kobe, and I are safe at home. Thank goodness we have a large house and a large yard. We are able to go outside in our yard which we appreciate. Our four dogs are able to roam. The rules do not apply to pets. Will everything get back to normal? This remains to be seen.
The policemen and policewomen are patrolling the highway (autopista). They are on the side that goes towards the town of Paute.
Del Rio Hospital in Cuenca. It is a private hospital. The parking lot is almost empty. It makes me wonder if the inside of the hospital is not busy. Only people who are in an ambulance or have an appointment are allowed in the parking lot and inside the hospital.
Supermaxi Las Americas (Cuenca). The parking lot is full. Rodrigo had to wait 20 minutes for a parking spot.
The line went all the way to the street. Supermaxi is inside a mini-mall. Rodrigo had to wait in the opposite line. It took 30 minutes to get inside the store. We were sprayed with industrial-strength rubbing alcohol (front and back). We were given disposable gloves to go with our face masks.
This is the view of Del Rio Hospital in Cuenca as seen for the rear window on the driver side of Rodrigo's truck. The parking lot is still almost empty. I assume that there is plenty of room for more patients.
Kobe (age 18) has adjusted to his long hair. Long as in a 1/2" afro. He is very good at washing his hair twice a week. I help him take care of his hair by making sure it is brushed and combed. This quarantine helped us discover aloe vera and its benefits. The aloe vera is doing wonders for Kobe's hair. Unisex beauty salons are shut down.
Cookie (Girl) is one of our four dogs. She is fortunate that the quarantine doesn't apply to her and our three other dogs.
When we arrived in Cuenca at the Supermaxi Supermarket (Las Americas location) there was no parking. The store opened at 7:00 am and we arrived at 7:45 am. It was Tuesday, April 14th. Rodrigo dropped me off so I could stand in line and he waited until someone left the parking lot to park his taxi. Afterward, he waited in another line. We were both sprayed with industrial rubbing alcohol on our front and back by a security guard. We already had our masks so a security guard provided disposable gloves for us and we had to use hand sanitizer on our disposable gloves. Rodrigo and I entered the store at the same time even though we were in opposite lines.
The store was less stocked than normal. Many items like produce, cheese, and flour were running low. We were able to find most of the items we need. There was plenty of toilet paper. I gave Rodrigo my money, Cedula, and Supermaxi discount card to pay for the groceries since only one person is allowed in line. Each of us was allowed a shopping cart. Leaving Cuenca was not difficult. The curfew is still 2 pm to 5 am every day. This Wednesday, April 22nd, Rodrigo and I will be leaving my house around 6:00 am because the three Supermaxis are open from 7:00 am to 12:30 pm every day except Sunday. The fourth Supermaxi was being remodeled until the quarantine began. Rodrigo has special permission to drive Monday - Friday from Paute to Cuenca and back when there is no curfew.
Now there is a new rule. People can only run errands on the days according to the last number on their Cedula (National ID) in the city of Cuenca. According to my Cedula number, I can run errands on Wednesdays. Randy runs errands in Paute because the rules are less strict. There is spraying of customers but not nearly as much as in Cuenca. The Cedula rule is not as strict in Paute. Cuenca taxi drivers have to be back home by 11:30 am and can only drive on certain days. Also, Cuenca taxi drivers can only drive from Cuenca to the town of Descanso in the Paute Canton. Cuenca delivery people can make deliveries until 7:00 pm. On the weekends, only essential workers can drive. If anyone needs to drive on the weekends or during curfew, it is only if there is an emergency.
We will see if the quarantine is lifted sometime in May. Randy, Kobe, and I are safe at home. Thank goodness we have a large house and a large yard. We are able to go outside in our yard which we appreciate. Our four dogs are able to roam. The rules do not apply to pets. Will everything get back to normal? This remains to be seen.
The aloe vera is also doing wonders for my hair, skin, and lips. We have an aloe vera plant in our yard and plan on planting more aloe vera plants. Randy also uses the aloe vera for his skin.
Micaiah (Girl) is in the backyard. She still has lots of room to roam because there are hills behind our backyard. Micaiah likes to kill and eat chickens. This is why she is in the backyard.
This the view from the scenic spot on our trails. Part of the Paute River can be seen. It has been cool, humid, rainy, and cloudy these last couple of weeks. We are fortunate to live in a rural area where it is not too crowded. We have our own natural spring which provides water for us.
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