Obviously, once I'm "on the ground" I'll get a better idea of what I'm looking at, but for the moment...
I have been focusing on Vilcabamba as a retirement destination, over Loja (creo que demasiado ciudad) and what I've been reading has made me wonder.
I've been a tour guide here on Maui for six years. I'm sick of tourists.. I truly AM interested in phasing into another culture, if not melting into it completely (5'6", Spanish surname).
What I'm hearing is Vilcabamba has become that horrid thing called a "destination"! and the Gringos are flocking to it, bringing with them the same competition for space (AND mental space!) that permeates the culture I want to ditch!
To me, that means (like Maui) the "real" people, our hosts, are becoming less and less a part of the day to day living and more used as adjuncts to the good life of the visitors. I'd rather be the one adjusting.
So, being highly attracted to that area of el campo, I'm now looking at Zamora, where, it seems, the weather is better, the beauty as lovely as Maui's (okay, not the buildings!) and a definite lack of wanna-be's.
Anybody out there living in Zamora as an ex-pat? How about a reality check.
I have been focusing on Vilcabamba as a retirement destination, over Loja (creo que demasiado ciudad) and what I've been reading has made me wonder.
I've been a tour guide here on Maui for six years. I'm sick of tourists.. I truly AM interested in phasing into another culture, if not melting into it completely (5'6", Spanish surname).
What I'm hearing is Vilcabamba has become that horrid thing called a "destination"! and the Gringos are flocking to it, bringing with them the same competition for space (AND mental space!) that permeates the culture I want to ditch!
To me, that means (like Maui) the "real" people, our hosts, are becoming less and less a part of the day to day living and more used as adjuncts to the good life of the visitors. I'd rather be the one adjusting.
So, being highly attracted to that area of el campo, I'm now looking at Zamora, where, it seems, the weather is better, the beauty as lovely as Maui's (okay, not the buildings!) and a definite lack of wanna-be's.
Anybody out there living in Zamora as an ex-pat? How about a reality check.
