The idea of a strike is a very powerful one, used by Ayn Rand in Atlas Shrugged. It means to withdraw ones labor, effort, and moral and practical support. It is the way a peaceful person may protest against the status quo. Over the past several years, I have tried to win over a property tax system that destroyed our business and I also was working in a corrupt system in another business. In June of 2012 I basically left these situations by withdrawing “sanction”. I sold my business and walked away from my morally corrupt partnership.
Since that time I have devoted myself to family matters and the concerns of the 2012 elections. During that time I strengthened my position and began to explore the possibility to literally “leave” a corrupt system. I think now that I have examined the challenges we are facing in the United States, and I should let it fend for itself. As in Atlas Shrugged, I will move to my own Galt’s Gulch to continue my efforts as self-owner and sovereign individual.
I refuse to accept the premise as did the cocktailing women in Atlas Shrugged “that times of trouble are good for us. It is good that people are growing poorer. To accept privitations is a moral virtue. “I was knocked into consciousness during a discussion of politics with a well-known woman in Lima, Peru recently. In our discussion of Peru’s politics I commented that “I understand your President is a communist” to which she responded “he’s not a communist he is a populist which is worse!”. Ah ha, that was the John Galt moment!
That is our current administration in Washington, either a group of moochers or a group of looters. We live in a period where government regulation, taxation, and outright control of the means of production have eaten away at prosperity in America. I have been fed up with being told what to do by know-nothing bureaucrats, and sick of having the fruits of my productive efforts confiscated bit by bit. I would prefer to not support either an ungrateful society of envy or corrupt partners. As long as this is the thought process in the United States, I refuse to participate in further obamabarassments. As Ellis Wyatt said “I’m gone. Don’t try to find me. You won’t. I am on strike.” Not to be overly dramatic, people will always be able to find me; but until I find the right situation I am on strike!
Thursday, February 28, 2013
reason, justice, freedom, production, achievement
I love to read books, especially those that hold valuable lessons for today. Here are a few recent favorite quotations for you to read and guess who wrote them. More importantly, do you feel as if these quotations hold a lesson for you today? They have indeed been very valuable to me in considering what we have been experiencing on a daily basis.
Who wrote this:
1.
“holding enormous official powers, he schemed ceaslessly to expand them, because it was expected of him by those who had pushed him into office. He had a cunning of the intelligent and the frantic energy of the lazy.The sole secret of his rise in life was the fact that he was a product of chance and knew it and aspired to nothing else.”
2.
“you stand in the midst of the greatest achievments of the greatest productive civilization and you wonder why its crumbling around you while you’re damning its life-blood-money.”
3.
“Did you really think we want those laws observed?” “We want them to be broken. You’d better get it straight that it’s not a bunch of boy scouts you’re up against… We’re after power and we mean it. . . There’s no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the
power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren’t enough criminals one
makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes
impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of
law-abiding citizens? What’s there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of
laws that can neither be observed nor enforced or objectively interpreted – and
you create a nation of law-breakers – and then you cash in on guilt. Now that’s
the system, Mr. __________, that’s the game, and once you understand it, you’ll
be much easier to deal with.”
4.
“[Man] is free to evade reality, he is free to unfocus his mind and stumble
blindly down any road he pleases, but not free to avoid the abyss [that] he
refuses to see.”
5.
” A program of voluntary government financing would be amply sufficient to pay for the legitimate functions of a proper government.It would not be sufficient to provide unearned support for the entire world. But no type of taxation is sufficient for that-only the suicide of a great country might be and then only temporarily.”
6.
“The crowd knew from the newspapers that he represented the evil of ruthless wealth; and – as they praised the virtue of chastity, then ran to see any movie that displayed a half-naked female on its posters – so they came to see him; evil, at least, did not have the stale hopelessness of a bromide which none believed and none dared to challenge. They looked at him without admiration – admiration was a feeling they had lost the capacity to experience, long ago; they looked with curiosity and with a dim sense of defiance against those who had told them that it was their duty to hate him.”
Answers:
1. Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged,description of the “Head of State” United States
2. Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, John Galt
3.Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, Dr. Floyd Ferris,Associate Director and “Top Co-ordinator” of the State Science Institute
4.Ayn Rand. The Objectivist Ethics
5.Ayn Rand,Government Financing in a Free Society,February 1964
6.Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, Hank Reardon on trial
Oh my God, I am an Objectivist and am in love with Any Rand!
Who wrote this:
1.
“holding enormous official powers, he schemed ceaslessly to expand them, because it was expected of him by those who had pushed him into office. He had a cunning of the intelligent and the frantic energy of the lazy.The sole secret of his rise in life was the fact that he was a product of chance and knew it and aspired to nothing else.”
2.
“you stand in the midst of the greatest achievments of the greatest productive civilization and you wonder why its crumbling around you while you’re damning its life-blood-money.”
3.
“Did you really think we want those laws observed?” “We want them to be broken. You’d better get it straight that it’s not a bunch of boy scouts you’re up against… We’re after power and we mean it. . . There’s no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the
power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren’t enough criminals one
makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes
impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of
law-abiding citizens? What’s there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of
laws that can neither be observed nor enforced or objectively interpreted – and
you create a nation of law-breakers – and then you cash in on guilt. Now that’s
the system, Mr. __________, that’s the game, and once you understand it, you’ll
be much easier to deal with.”
4.
“[Man] is free to evade reality, he is free to unfocus his mind and stumble
blindly down any road he pleases, but not free to avoid the abyss [that] he
refuses to see.”
5.
” A program of voluntary government financing would be amply sufficient to pay for the legitimate functions of a proper government.It would not be sufficient to provide unearned support for the entire world. But no type of taxation is sufficient for that-only the suicide of a great country might be and then only temporarily.”
6.
“The crowd knew from the newspapers that he represented the evil of ruthless wealth; and – as they praised the virtue of chastity, then ran to see any movie that displayed a half-naked female on its posters – so they came to see him; evil, at least, did not have the stale hopelessness of a bromide which none believed and none dared to challenge. They looked at him without admiration – admiration was a feeling they had lost the capacity to experience, long ago; they looked with curiosity and with a dim sense of defiance against those who had told them that it was their duty to hate him.”
Answers:
1. Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged,description of the “Head of State” United States
2. Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, John Galt
3.Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, Dr. Floyd Ferris,Associate Director and “Top Co-ordinator” of the State Science Institute
4.Ayn Rand. The Objectivist Ethics
5.Ayn Rand,Government Financing in a Free Society,February 1964
6.Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, Hank Reardon on trial
Oh my God, I am an Objectivist and am in love with Any Rand!
Monday, February 18, 2013
Ecuador - A balanced view after returning home
Of particular concern as a United States citizen is what is loosely
described as economics. The conservative think tank Heritage has published its
Index of Economic Freedom for a number of years, and it is an excellent and
thought provoking ranking.
In this ranking the United States is ranked 10th with an overall score of 76, grouped in a category of “Mostly Free”. If you think this is good, think again, as the United States is below Canada and Chile! Much of Latin and South America are in the “Moderately Free” group. This includes:
#44 Peru 68.2
#49 Costa Rica 67
#50 Mexico 67
#53 El Salvador 66.7
#71 Panama 62.5
#80 Paraguay 61.1
#85 Guatemala 60.0
For those who are able to look at the glass half full rather than half empty, the World Average score is 59.6 and the Regional Average is 59.4. This puts Ecuador in context with its 46.9 score. It is interesting to note that when compared to the United States Government Spending at 47.8 compares favorably to Ecuador’s 47.3, United States Fiscal Freedom at 69.3 is overshadowed by Ecuador’s at 80.1 and while below the United States in Monetary and Trade Freedom it is close.
On its website, Heritage.org, they describe the slant of the index in
these terms. “Economic freedom is the fundamental right of every human to
control his or her own labor and property. In an economically free society,
individuals are free to work, produce, consume, and invest in any way they
please, with that freedom both protected by the state and unconstrained by the
state. In economically free societies, governments allow labor, capital and
goods to move freely, and refrain from coercion or constraint of liberty beyond
the extent necessary to protect and maintain liberty itself.”
Now for those of you who may consider this as a pure Ayn Rand
Objectivist approach you are probably right. While I too would love to live in
utopia, I realize that that this is not realistic. This index does however
strive with this filter to rank nations on a 100 point scale comprised of 100
point scales indexed above. The Index of Economic Freedom is found at
www.heritage.org/.../economic-freedom/index-of-economic-fr..
In this ranking the United States is ranked 10th with an overall score of 76, grouped in a category of “Mostly Free”. If you think this is good, think again, as the United States is below Canada and Chile! Much of Latin and South America are in the “Moderately Free” group. This includes:
#36 Uruguay 69.7
#37 Columbia 69.6#44 Peru 68.2
#49 Costa Rica 67
#50 Mexico 67
#53 El Salvador 66.7
#71 Panama 62.5
#80 Paraguay 61.1
#85 Guatemala 60.0
Lowly Ecuador ranks not in the “Mostly Unfree” but in the ranks of
“Repressed”. At #159 with a score of 46.9 it is below Bolivia (#156 47.9) yet
above Argentina (#160 46.7), Venezuela (#174 36.1). Please note that Zimbabwe
(#175 28.6), Cuba (#176 28.5) and of course North Korea (#177 1.5) are the
absolute bottom.
For those who are able to look at the glass half full rather than half empty, the World Average score is 59.6 and the Regional Average is 59.4. This puts Ecuador in context with its 46.9 score. It is interesting to note that when compared to the United States Government Spending at 47.8 compares favorably to Ecuador’s 47.3, United States Fiscal Freedom at 69.3 is overshadowed by Ecuador’s at 80.1 and while below the United States in Monetary and Trade Freedom it is close.
Just listening to our President today with his populist message to
avoid sequester I can imagine a day when these scores even out. In the near
future, those interested in Ecuador as an alternative to the United States also
need to measure the rhetoric of President Obama with the newly elected
President of Ecuador Rafael Correa. In these measurements, I count it as a tie.
I return to a conversation several months ago with Anna Maria Garcia, a
resident of Lima Peru and founding family descendant. I commented” I understand
that your President is a communist” to which she responded “He’s not a
communist, he is a populist which is worse.”
Our decision may boil down to watching a train
wreck at home, the country I love, or in Ecuador, a country that ranks above
the United States in Fiscal Freedom. Watching my own purse may be desirable in
a country with nice people, good infrastructure and a cost of living while as
an expat remaining somewhat detached from the negatives. After all, if I wanted
to remain in the United States, disagreeing in total with the direction of our
Country, continuing to sacrifice myself as all of the other disinterested
individuals. Perhaps I admire the many rational individuals in Ecuador
realizing as Ayn Rand that “there are no conflicts of interest among rational
men.” I must consider as a rational man the reality, context, responsibility
and effort seriously lacking amongst my countrymen, but strangely present in
Ecuador.
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Cuenca Ecuador Real Estate tour and Quito Conference
I was pleased to attend the International Living conference in Quito,
Ecuador. This conference entitled Fast-Track Ecuador Lifestyle and Opportunity
Conference was held February 7-9, 2013.
Already committed to attend the conference, I jumped at the opportunity
to arrive a few days early in order to travel to Cuenca for a real estate tour
as well. Flying into Quito at near midnight, I was able to grab a few hours of
sleep before returning back to the domestic Quito terminal to catch a 45 minute
flight to Cuenca. Once in Cuenca, I began a whirlwind agenda with 20 others ,
traveling throughout the city, touring and walking through some two dozen
rentals, condos for sale and single family homes.
Airport Terminal Cuenca
All was arranged by our host,
Maribel Crespa
In the early morning hours we joined several expats from the US for
breakfast, which was especially great one on one time peppering them with
questions about living in Cuenca. We toured the city, stopped for an enjoyable
lunch at terrific La Esquina in old town; an Argentinian restaurant cooking
food on farm implement disks(all the rage in Cuenca). We capped it all off
literally with a tour of the Homero Ortega Panama hat factory.
Cuenca View from Hills
La Esquina
Calle Larga Y Hermano Miguel
Tel 284-5344
Homero Ortega Museum and Workshop
Ave Gil Ramirez Davalos 386
Tel (593 7) 280-9000
www.genuinepanamahat.com
Mercado
Mercado
Hotel Mansion Alcazar, Cuenca for my next stay!
Hotel Victoria
Calle larga 6-93 Y Presidente Borrero
Tel (5937) 2827401
Over the two days we spent about eight hours touring real estate
filling the other hours with walks throughout the city, a trip to the nearby
cloud forest and dinners on our own. Below please find some examples of
properties:
Condo roof top garden
2 br/2 ba, with studio,terrace, walk in closet in master bath, laundry
room,1 parking place,1 storage area. 1185 sf, 249 sf terrace. Close to the
historic district $158,000
2 br/2 ba, outside garden, 1 parking space, 1 storage area. 936sf in
Pencar Atlas $15 hoa fee $79,900.
2 br/2.5 ba in one of the best condos in Cuenca. 2290sf with a great
outside terrace with river view. 2 parking areas, 1 storage with TV area, walk
in closets and laundry room. $155 hoa, ANNUAL taxes $150
For Sale $245,000 or for rent including HOA at $705 per month.
Overall the condos we visited over several days probably averaged
$150,000, with a low of $79,000 and a high of $300,000 for a penthouse unit.
Overall keeping in mind that everything is negotiable I was very impressed.
We also had the opportunity to walk through a number of beautiful homes
ranging from $95,000 to $360,000. Several examples are:
Old Cathedral
Cuenca Street
Homes
4 br/ 2 ½ ba,4820 sf in great neighborhood with 2 parking and 1
storage,Native hardwood throughout with family room,terrace,laundry room,maids
quarters,garden.$360,000
3 br/3 1/2ba, 3875 sf riverfront home with 2 parking 1 storage, family
room with wood and tile floors, garden,bbq area, bar,maids quarters.$298,000
$150K condo construction view of sports complex(the flying saucer)
This was a very enjoyable and fruitful several days. I gained
tremendous insight into Cuenca and its possibilities. We only touched a few
rentals, but did hear of 2-3 bedroom units renting for $300-$400 per month.
As one can imagine quality of life is an important consideration for us
as we adventure to Ecuador. Cuenca with both historic and new town areas has a
population of 350,000 (right now), and overall I found Cuenca to be historic,
charming, and very very livable.
Cuenca Home,Kitchen
Travelling back to the conference in Quito I was interested in also exploring
it’s many historic areas, looked at a American School for our daughter and also
a hostal for sale. Quito has many beautiful and historic structures but it felt
less charming and livable. Quito is definitely a capital city with all of the
hustle and bustle of a city with 3 million people.
Puertolago, Near Otavalo
Swissotel
Ave 12 de Octubre 1820 Y Luis Cordero
Casilla 17 21 565
Tel (593 2) 256-7600
Swissotel was a great selection for our conference. With 232 guestrooms
and a banquet conference area of two ballrooms( divisible to six) and a total
of 19 smaller rooms it was state of the art. I was anticipating a good six
group but we apparently overflowed the room block, so I was in a bit of a shock
to see some 600 people, primarily from the US and Canada, gathered to learn
about moving/retiring in Ecuador.
Octava de Corpus, Quito
Father and Son dinning experience
Ecuador Wine
"Surf and Turf"Octava de Corpus,Quito
The conference was very informative,
intersperced with ample time to visit the city at luch, socialize at breaks,
visit markets, and meet with vendors ranging from real estate and legal to
tours and language schools. Overall the sessions were very informative. Some of
the most interesting presentations were from expats themselves residing in a
variety of Ecuadorian locations. Not to be missed were sessions on legal and
immigration matters and on health.
Cotopaxi American International School, Quito
Here are a few of the most informative contacts:
Moreno di Donato (attorneys)
Estudio Juridico
Offices in Manta, Quito and Cuenca
Sandra Baquero Perez
Sanestar International Shipping
Guayaquil, Ecuador
USA Tel (855) sane-star
Cel (593 9)969-0583
Hostel Revolution, looking for business opportunity in Quito, Ecuador
Nick Hodges,CPA/PFS,MBA,CFP
NCH Tax and Wealth Advisors
1661 East Chapman Avenue, ste 2A
Fullerton, CA 92831
Tel 714-870-4542
Simon Bolivar Spanish School
Foch E 9-20 and 6 de Diciembre
Quito, Ecuador
Tel(593 2) 254-4558
Quito, Cuenca or Jungle locations
Old Town, Quito
Gerardo Pinaogote
Spondylius Ecuador Real Estate Svc
Tel (59)(398)963-1656
Salinas area real estate
Based on our current status we are interesting in a more detailed
return to Cuenca. Keep you posted!
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Cuenca vs Quito Ecuador
I was pleased to attend the International Living conference in Quito,
Ecuador during the first week of February.
I had the opportunity to tour about two dozen rentals as well as condos
and homes for sale in Cuenca prior to the conference and then return to Quito
for the conference. In Quito we explored many of the historic areas, looked at
a American School for our daughter and also a hostal for sale.
I found Cuenca to be historic, charming, and livable…more so than Quito
which while still historic it felt less charming and livable. Quality of life
is an important consideration for us as we adventure to Ecuador, Cuenca with
both historic and new town areas has a population of 350,000 (right now) while
Quito is definitely a capital city with all of the hustle and bustle of a city
with 3 million people.
Here are a few of my favorite shots of Cuenca.
Cuenca
Cuenca
New Cathedral
Vega Ceramics
El Mercado, Cuenca
Beans Anyone
Hotel Mansion Alcazar, Cuenca 
Here are a few of my favorite shots of Quito.
Hostal Revolution
Academia Cotopaxi
Academia Cotopaxi, Quito
Surf and Turf at Octava de Corpus
Candied Figs, Octava de Corpus
Puerto Lago, near Otavalo
Puerto Lago, Hostel
Puerto Lago, HostelSchools in Quito and Cuenca Ecuador
Try as I did to tour schools, for our daughter who will be entering 9th grade, response was a concern. While schools were out for a new two week holiday imposed by the government, administration was at work.
After numerous requests to web sites, I managed to schedule only one school visit. I have included that school first. Others I was interested in are simply listed for imformation and were not visited.
Cotopaxi American International School
De las Higuerillas Y Alondras(Monteserrin)
Casilla 17-11-6510
Quito Ecuador
Tel (593-2) 246.7411
Fax (593-2) 244.5195
www.cotopaxi.k12.ec
We had to schedule our appointment through facebook, as the school as all the others as well did not respond to email or requests through the normal channels or those available on the web sites. We had a pleasant morning visiting this school. As an American school, we feel that this may be the best solution for our school needs. Pre-School through 12th grade in the American style, this school provided instruction to Ecuadorian and Expat children. With a international group of approximately 500 students, the school provides Ecuadorian educational certificate as well as American.
We had a very nice conversation with translator regarding the school and its system and requirements by the woman in Admissions and Outreach. Tuition starts at $7119 per year for pre-school and goes to
$15,757 for 10th -12th grade.
Other fees include $300 application fee, a Capital Assessment Fee(unknown) and kinder to 3rd grade $43 per month lunch cost. They do offer a 2% discount for advance payment of at least 50% of the annual cost. They do offer transportation under security from the City area $810 per year and the Valley area $925 per year.
They facilities are nicely arranged in a secured facility. They are clean and well maintained. The classrooms are nicely appointed and have internet capability throughout the campus as well as smart boards and more. This school appeared to be a nice option.
Other Schools of interest:
British School Quito
Via Cununyaco,KM 2.5 Tumbaco
Tel (593 2) 2374 649-650-651
P.O. Box 17-21-52
Quito, Ecuador
admissions@britishschoolquito.edu.ec
www.britishschoolquito.edu.ec
Application material available on line, tuition information is not.
Pre-K to 12th grade.
Alliance Academy International
Casilla 17-11-06186
Quito, Ecuador
Tel: 011(593-2)226-7510
www.alliance.k12.ec
Christian school with US based curriculum. Bible classes taught.Pre School -12th grade. Again application materials are available on line, tuition is not.
Schools in Cuenca
I was unfortunately not able to hold my appointment to see the one school who did respond in Cuenca. It is my understanding that there are a few private American standards schools but it will wait until my next visit.
CEDEI School
Gran Colombia 11-02 Y General Torres Esq
Cuenca, Ecuador
Tel 2839003/2823452
www.dedei.org
I was unable to find admissions information on the website. I was able to contact them through the website however.
This school is apparently a school and a language school as well. Apparently they will be adding a Decima(9th grade by US standard) for the 2013-2014 year, and a further grade until 12th grade each year after. The website lists several other Cuenca locations, and it was not easy to navigate as to what was school, language school and exchange programs.
After numerous requests to web sites, I managed to schedule only one school visit. I have included that school first. Others I was interested in are simply listed for imformation and were not visited.
Cotopaxi American International School
De las Higuerillas Y Alondras(Monteserrin)
Casilla 17-11-6510
Quito Ecuador
Tel (593-2) 246.7411
Fax (593-2) 244.5195
www.cotopaxi.k12.ec
We had to schedule our appointment through facebook, as the school as all the others as well did not respond to email or requests through the normal channels or those available on the web sites. We had a pleasant morning visiting this school. As an American school, we feel that this may be the best solution for our school needs. Pre-School through 12th grade in the American style, this school provided instruction to Ecuadorian and Expat children. With a international group of approximately 500 students, the school provides Ecuadorian educational certificate as well as American.
We had a very nice conversation with translator regarding the school and its system and requirements by the woman in Admissions and Outreach. Tuition starts at $7119 per year for pre-school and goes to
$15,757 for 10th -12th grade.
Other fees include $300 application fee, a Capital Assessment Fee(unknown) and kinder to 3rd grade $43 per month lunch cost. They do offer a 2% discount for advance payment of at least 50% of the annual cost. They do offer transportation under security from the City area $810 per year and the Valley area $925 per year.
They facilities are nicely arranged in a secured facility. They are clean and well maintained. The classrooms are nicely appointed and have internet capability throughout the campus as well as smart boards and more. This school appeared to be a nice option.
Other Schools of interest:
British School Quito
Via Cununyaco,KM 2.5 Tumbaco
Tel (593 2) 2374 649-650-651
P.O. Box 17-21-52
Quito, Ecuador
admissions@britishschoolquito.edu.ec
www.britishschoolquito.edu.ec
Application material available on line, tuition information is not.
Pre-K to 12th grade.
Alliance Academy International
Casilla 17-11-06186
Quito, Ecuador
Tel: 011(593-2)226-7510
www.alliance.k12.ec
Christian school with US based curriculum. Bible classes taught.Pre School -12th grade. Again application materials are available on line, tuition is not.
Schools in Cuenca
I was unfortunately not able to hold my appointment to see the one school who did respond in Cuenca. It is my understanding that there are a few private American standards schools but it will wait until my next visit.
CEDEI School
Gran Colombia 11-02 Y General Torres Esq
Cuenca, Ecuador
Tel 2839003/2823452
www.dedei.org
I was unable to find admissions information on the website. I was able to contact them through the website however.
This school is apparently a school and a language school as well. Apparently they will be adding a Decima(9th grade by US standard) for the 2013-2014 year, and a further grade until 12th grade each year after. The website lists several other Cuenca locations, and it was not easy to navigate as to what was school, language school and exchange programs.
A Beautiful night at Octava de Corpus, Quito Ecuador
We were all shook up after a 7.0 earthquake in Southern Columbia rocked
us during our day in Quito, Ecuador. I almost mistook the rocking for a
hangover from our Calle La Ronda experience the night before, where Cuy and
large bottles of Club Cerveza were the order of the evening, or perhaps it was
residual from our night in raucous Plaza Foche area where consuming 3 liters of
beer was our calling; before washing back to our hotel. No, it was just a
gentle rocking that called us out after our long day of conference with
International Living. We needed to get back
to the Quito historic area, but this time for a far different treat, a culinary
and cultural experience that will not be forgotten. Many of the homes in this
area have stood up to the test of time, and many earthquakes. Tonight’s visit
took us to just one of these homes and a visit with our genial host, Jaime
Burgos.
Jaime has created a wonder in old town, Octava de Corpus, a gastronomic
boutique house. This historic home at the historic center of Quito is the love
and passion of Jaime, who we found holding down the front stoop on this quiet
night at the beginning of Carnival. We were afraid that we should have called
ahead, but while the rest of the well to do Ecuadorians had decamped to party
elsewhere, we were treated to a run of the house hosted by our consummate host.
While Facebook, Twitter, Trip advisor and Lonely Planet and many many others
sing internet praises, all of that was checked at the door, as we emerged into
a world unto itself. The Octava is #27 of 322 restaurants rated in Quito and
#82 of 404 Lonely Planet things to do in Quito just to add to its Wine
Spectator awards.
Our ultimate host reminded of days my days with Patrick Terrail at Ma
Maison, as our new found friend and guide moved us first to his wine cellar and
then upward into the variety of well-appointed dining rooms. While we could
have settled anywhere, we found ourselves admiring the art and character of
each of the rooms. From floor to ceiling the passion and love of history, wine,
art and quite frankly perfection were not lost on my son McKenzie or me.
Finally at the urging of our host we settled next to a window with a nice
rooftop view of the area, feeling secure and at home next to the three foot
thick wall in the corner. Jaime explained that on most evenings he would be bustling
with as many as eight on the wait staff and perhaps an equal number in the
kitchen, but tonight we were his only concern. Our host is Transformer…owner,
host, sommelier, bartender, and wait staff and much more.
Swapping stories, we selected a bottle of Vina Chaupi Estancia, Alyce,
Meritage 2007. Apparently Ecuador is not just Panama Hats and Roses, but the
home to a bud of collection of fine small vineyards. While McKenzie had his
eyes focused on a bottle of Vega-Sicilia Cosecha 2002 “Unico”, Ribera de Duero,
I was set on a wine from Ecuador. This was an excellent bottle at $42.00.
McKenzie was none affected by our 9500 foot elevation or our previous night’s
activity, so he also enjoyed a very nice Ukrainian wheat vodka with only a few
cubes of distraction, while settling on our selections for the evening with Jaime’s
guidance.
McKenzie selected a warn shrimp appetizer suspended over crushed ice,
and then a Ceviche salad, and I enjoyed a special salad of the house. Our
entrees, “Surf and Turf”, a fine Lomo with two prawns as big as your hand and
for dear old dad a Lomo “Jack Daniels”. Note huge dessert people, only I choose
to finish our dinner with dessert. I was well rewarded by the candied figs and
cheese. As our talk moved north and south, our host was bustling and ever
informative. After one more after dinner tour of the cellar, Jaime insisted on
showing us several home exteriors on the immediate street that “may be for
sale” and would be suitable for a B and B or Inn. With a promise to be in touch
with his real estate finds, we were tucked into our off market taxi procured by
Jaime. Wishing our host good evening, McKenzie tucked his card into his ever
expanding rolodex, this one marked as a must return and a possible destination
for one world traveler looking for that special place to “pop the question” if
he ever tires or travel and dining with dear old dad.
Octava de Corpus
Gastronomia Boutique House & Wine Bar
Casa Republicana de la Junin, Plaza San Marcos
Calle Junin E2-167 Barrio San Marcos
Tel 2952989
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)