During the past two months of renovation and sprucing up the exterior of my house, dozens of neighbors have stopped to comment. They tell me that my place used to be known as the Ghost House (Casa Fantasma) because of the metal bars on the windows, the peeling paint, the lack of care. They remark on my unique branch-woven fence, the lively painted posts, the lush garden and they thank me for bringing love and life back to the house. Since my street is the approach to the El Salado thermal baths, many people walking by stop and admire my unusual abode. I've met other foreigners who live further down the hill (Canadian, Russian, Danish, German) as well as my nearest neighbors who are Ecuadorian but live in Ambato (an hour away) and only come a
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