Jackie got to redo her fingerprints this morning because the FBI rejected her first attempt. We lunched Wednesday with a lady who also failed on her first attempt at fingerprinting. She was told by an FBI employee that it is fairly common with 'older' women to have difficulty being printed. She recommended a solution that enhances the swirls and ridge lines on your fingers. Our lunch companion used the solution and was successfully fingerprinted. Hopefully J's prints are readable this time, as this is a crucial component in acquiring visas and cedulas in Ecuador.
Fingerprinting seems to be a bit different in reality than it appears on CSI Elbe. And I always believed that show was so realistic, fact-based and educational.
Most times we have returned to our building after a big shopping adventure, we are met at the door by one of the building staff with a cart. They will not only transfer the shopping from the taxi to the cart, but they bring the cart to our unit and unload it where we request. Makes us feel special. One time the security guard saw me wrestling a large box of pans, and offered to take it for me. Maybe I just look incompetent?
The building also has housekeepers who clean every public surface (floors, elevators, pool and sauna, rooftop terrace) daily. This includes mopping. We have taken to eating off the hallway floors. Quite sanitary.

This is the Supermaxi where everyone shops. They have a lot of our money so far. The two machines by the entrance are ATMs. They dispense your withdrawals in fives, tens and twenties (mostly tens) no matter the amount you request.