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Expat Life: We haven't done THIS in a very l-o-n-g time!

Hooray!

This week coronavirus lockdown restrictions were relaxed as Ecuador appears to have “flattened the curve.”

We learned that a handful of restaurants have been allowed to reopen with proper safety protocols.

After 2 ½ months of our biweekly, grocery store trip being the “Big Event” at Casa Staton, we were beyond anxious to dress up a bit and walk into town to enjoy a sit-down meal somewhere other than our dining room!

Even though more cars are allowed out, we found most streets to be nearly empty.

Parque de la Madre, a large park normally filled with families on the weekend, is taped off and deserted.

It’s heartbreaking to see how overgrown and unkempt the entire space has become.

When we arrived at Café del Museo we were stopped at this table to have the bottom of our shoes sprayed. At the restaurant entrance we stepped into a tray to again clean our shoes (not sure what’s up with the focus on that particular article of clothing), applied hand gel, and had our temp taken with a little gun that aims between your eyes.

Once seated we could pretend that things were “normal” again, and decided to celebrate the special occasion with Bloody Marys.

Here's the Staton version of Surf & Turf—a lovely piece of salmon with lemon butter sauce for Cynthia and a big ole cheeseburger for Edd. (Notice how far away the closest guests were sitting.)

On the way home after a fabulous leisurely meal we discovered our favorite ice cream store, Tutto Freddo, has reopened with social distancing partitions between tables.

We were too full for dessert so instead bought a liter of deliciousness for later.

Hope you’re now able to be out and about where you live or, if not, that you will be soon!

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