The pump arrived! The pained expression in the picture is because that sucker is heavier than it looks!
So I talked with R down in Salasaca about the logistics of getting the pump through customs. He responded to me, saying that the provincial government was supposed to send a document to Quito exempting the pump from customs fees. But, in typical Latin American style, Thursday was a holiday, and so no one worked on Thursday. And then, for good measure, they just decided not to work Friday either (and these are the government officials!) So, according to R, my permission to take in the pump is sitting on someone's abandoned desk in Pelileo right now. So they are going to "try to handle it on Monday," but if the customs officials give me trouble, then I am to leave the pump there, get all the names, etc, and then we will fight to get it back. Sheesh!
In other news, I am furiously preparing right now, so I don't have time to post much more. Yesterday was Spend-A-Fortune-At-Target Day as I bought 150 dollars worth of soap, toiletries, antibacterial hand stuff, a new watch, sunglasses, batteries, toothbrush holders, razors, etc, etc, etc. Today is Freak-Out-While-Doing-Laundry Day. A little stressed. Scratch that. Very stressed.
Oh, and then I realized that I had nothing booked in Quito even though I am arriving at midnight tomorrow!!! Oops. And I need my own room since I MIGHT have a 1300 dollar village pump with me. So I just called a hostal in Quito that has single rooms, and I am pretty sure I have a room for Monday night, but I remembered why I hate speaking Spanish on the phone, especially when the connection is bad! And they hear my Spanish and think because I speak Spanish that they can talk 100 miles a minute while the static cuts in and out! And Mark was listening to NPR in the background in English! Argh! So, I think I have a reservation! I hope!
Next update might be tonight... might be from Quito...
1 comment:
Your tale reminds of bureaucracy in Spain, 'tho maybe it's slightly better here. Would you be able to get the pump through if you tell them the paperwork has already been sent? That sometimes works here if you're lucky.
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