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Ecuador: Cotacachi - good police work:
I want to share about the wonderful police work done in Cuenca when they apprehended the thugs who kidnapped my friend from Vilcabamba and brought her to Cuenca last year. My friend was extremely impressed with their professionalism and kindness towards her. This is not always going to be the case no matter where you live.
Ecuador: Unable to reach coffee girl:
Coffee girl, I'm unable to respond to you message. It won't go through. So sorry. Please try to contact me again.
Ecuador: Thinking about Cuenca. Please Advise!:
Hi Jennifer, I actually do live in Cuenca and have for a number of years. As was wisely mentioned already, the only way to know for certain is to come check for yourself. I'm happy to share with you why we love it, and some of our reasons might resonate with you. For us, the weather is temperate, not too hot and not too cold. We feel this way because my husband is from Ohio, and I from NY, too cold for us. We moved here from the beaches of SC, and way too hot for us! Many people complain about a lack of sunshine here, but my 50 plus plants on my 2 terraces might disagree. It's gorgeous today with blue skies, sunshine, and a high of about 72. We have neither heat nor air conditioning, but have purchased a small electric heater that takes the chill off for us when needed. Because most of the building are concrete with tile and wood floors, it can get quite chilly, and not appealing to "beach folks", or those who come from Florida. As a New Yorker, I love to walk, and Cuenca is wonderful for that, but not without hazards. Many of the sidewalks are in disrepair and some slope suddenly, so you have to be careful where you walk. I found them as bad or worse in Charleston, SC where we lived for a number of years. By walking, you get to enjoy the beautiful 4 rivers, the gorgeous architecture, and the friendly people. There are lots of trees, mountain views, and tons of neat reasons to explore. However, do not do sight-see when crossing
the street because you definitely will not make it to the other side! The same sweet people who smile and greet you on the sidewalk can quickly become cold blooded killers behind the wheel (slight exaggeration). Crossing the street is dangerous so you have to be alert at all times. Learning Spanish is very important, and there are many neat ways here to do it. If you love the symphony, you'll love our free concerts in Cuenca. If you want to learn to dance salsa, or study about medicinal herbs, or take free zumba classes in the park at night, you'll love Cuenca. The fiestas seem to never end and are just plain fun. I love the volunteer opportunities here, and you can really make a difference with those less fortunate. I will warn you, prices have increased significantly here over the past year. Rents have gone up, and there are some restaurants I just can't afford to visit. We are vegetarians, and eat organic, and it is much easier and cheaper to do here than compared to the States. The major drawback for me is the fact that we have 10 grandchildren in the States we adore, and many are still quite young. So....we budget to go back once a year every year, because those relationships are so very important. Skype does help. Many people return to the States because they can't handle the separation from family. As a former type A personality, as maddening as it can be occasionally, I love the slower pace of life. You can learn patience here, because most things just don't happen quickly in this culture. We have learned to adjust....somewhat. LOL Not everyone can. Can you get ripped off here? Yes. Sometimes from gringos, sometimes from locals. Common sense goes a long way. I certainly wasn't immune to it in the States. I hope this gives you a little glimpse of life here, and feel free to message me if you have any other questions. Love to help newbies. And....I don't have a single thing to sell!
Ecuador: Rebuttle to Article by Huffingtonpost:
Couldn't agree more, Brandon. Maybe the author was talking about Cuenca, Spain?! LOL
Ecuador: eddsaid blog:
Edd has become a grandfather over the past few years and loving it! He spent the last few months visiting his family in the States. He returned not too long ago, and I wouldn't be surprised if another article surfaced in the not too distance future.
Ecuador: Bus connection to Cuenca late at night from airport?:
We always fly into Quito from the States. With the opening of the new airport, we now stay at Hosteria San Carlos in Tababela, 10 minutes from the airport. It's a lovely place, reasonably priced, and you can arrange for pick up when you arrive. We've never bused it back to Cuenca, choosing to fly,however I would not personally take the long ride into town and catch the bus in the middle of the night.
Ecuador: House Swap?:
My husband and I would love to do some exploring of the coast. We live in Cuenca in a desirable residential neighborhood on the Tomebamba River, 10 minutes walking distance to el centro.
Our condo comfortably sleeps 4. If interested in making a swap, please PM me. Thanks!
Ecuador: Charity:
There's also Fundacion Avanzar. This not for profit provides 9000 breakfasts/year for parents of children on the pediatric unit at Hospitale Vicente Coral Moscosco. Sometimes this is the only meal they get per day. As volunteers on the pediatric unit, we provide hugs, and entertainment in the form of games, coloring sheets, crafts, reading, computer face time and more. We have a ludoteca on the unit, but the majority of the children can't get out of bed, so we bring the entertainment to them! Also, we have available, knitting and crocheting training for those parents at their child's bedside 24/7, a requirement of the hospital. If their skill level is good, Avanzar pays them very well per piece. The items they make are sold, and the proceeds put right back into the foundation. I'm proud to have been with this wonderful organization for almost 2 years. I also have an extensive healthcare background, and find this work very rewarding.
Ecuador: Expats, do we need better manners?:
It seems to me, the number of gringos who do their best not to make eye contact, or who pretend they haven't heard you when you offer a friendly greeting, has increased over the past year. What I find distressing, is that they reinforce the perception of the ugly American. If they behave this way with fellow ex-pats, then I have to assume that same, cold attitude is conveyed to our wonderful "hosts". However, being a NYC girl, I also realize that this behavior is not uncommon for "city folk", and Cuenca is a good size city. I suspect this doesn't occur as frequently in more rural areas. So, my husband and I make it our mission to be as warm and friendly as possible to the Ecuadorians in an effort to counteract some of the ill manners of my fellow countrymen. We make a point of making eye contact with the gringos we pass. If they choose to look the other way, we just keep on going. When eye contact is made,, we're ready with a smile and a warm greeting. Making the effort to be welcoming makes life much sweeter! It's purely a selfish thing..
Ecuador: Oxygen Tanks?:
I'm a respiratory therapist, retired in Cuenca, and very familar with Glo. If their operation in Quito is on a par with their office in Cuenca, then rest assured, your father-- in law will be well cared for. They provide top of the line equipment, and their equipment maintenance protocol is excellent. Much good luck!
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