12 countries in 12 years

Showing posts with label gringo gouging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gringo gouging. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

THE REAL REASON LIVING IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY Is Not Sustainable for most EXPATS

THE REAL REASON LIVING IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY Is Not Sustainable for most EXPATS.   No matter where you move to expats can feel culturally misfitted, however, we think even more so in developing countries. Numerous fears keep us from branching away from the touristy cities and enjoying all of what a country has to offer and so we stay confined to the most popular tourist areas, paying touristy prices but is that really sustainable for the long haul? Imagine living and spending like a tourist for the rest of your life?  We think it's time to avoid the retire abroad crowds and live the expat life minus the high prices and crowds.  What do you think? How to Go Abroad Like a Pro with Our Due Diligence Reports!  http://tiny.cc/dyzddz 

         

Sunday, October 27, 2019

That's It! You Will Never See Us Make Videos Like THIS Again!

That's it! You will never see us make videos like this again!  We probably have at least 20 or more videos about this subject from South and Central America and now Europe. But eventually all good things must come to an end. We are going to still share our secrets, tips and strategies to those people who are interested in our retire earlier and better LIVE WELL ABROAD information and classes.  Would you like to do what we’ve been doing for years?  http://tiny.cc/dyzddz     --- We got you covered!   


Thursday, February 28, 2019

If We Followed This Bait and Switch You Can Say Bye-Bye

If We Followed This Bait and Switch We Would Not be able to Live Abroad! We've seen the bait and switch in action, while even helping expats get through the gringo bubble...some folks actually have to pack up and go back home because they simply can't afford it anymore after the gringo bubble forms. Most people don't know how to get through the bubble when it happens... but because we go local from the start it doesn't affect us so much, however in some ways it does, like rising mercado prices and even grocery store prices.   

            

Thursday, February 14, 2019

3 Good Reasons TO MOVE to Cuenca Ecuador Right Now!

This is 3 good reasons to move to Cuenca Ecuador and the last reason is a good reason to move  to Cuenca RIGHT NOW! Watch the video to find out why we say "right now" on number 3. And of course there are many great reasons to move to Cuenca but these are our three for right now. :-)


       

Sunday, December 2, 2018

Just When We Thought Prices Were Back to Normal, the 'Retire Abroad Media' Are At It Again!😦😟

Just When We Thought Prices Were Back to Normal, the Retire Abroad Media Are At It Again folks, pumping Cuenca Ecuador! 😦 They found out Cuenca is cheap again and here they come! Be ready for price hikes by the end of 2019! The big IL conference is going to be the mid part of August 2019!  You've heard of "first come first serve", right? Well in this case it's "first come, first best price deals" in Cuenca Ecuador. You know how it works!

       

Tuesday, June 19, 2018

3 Good Reasons NOT Move to Panama RIGHT NOW!

Yes guys, we have 3 good reasons NOT to move to Panama AT THIS TIME. As we all know things can change but it will take time. When the real estate prices become so out of control that you can't or don't want to afford it and when the major banks are in turmoil from their past mistakes, it makes for a poor quality of life, actually, it makes it unlivable. This is why you should take discovery trips so you can research an area BEFORE you move there.



         

Saturday, April 28, 2018

Ecuador Wants to Know if Gringos Are.....Cuenca Ecuador Interview 2 VLOG

Seeing as this is the second time today we've been stopped by University students about this and based on the questions asked both times around, we can deduce that Ecuador wants to know if gringos are...



       

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

The Happy Gringo - Cuenca Ecuador 2018 VLOG

What type of gringo is the happy gringo living permanently abroad?  In essence it boils down to several factors...you tell us what you think.     

Sunday, April 1, 2018

What's the Proper Way to Compare to U.S Prices? Cuenca Ecuador Gringo Targeting VLOG

We've always said we shouldn't compare but if we were to compare, what's
the proper way to compare to U.S prices? We're enjoying another day in
Cuenca Ecuador.


       

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

The Gringos Are Here! Cuenca Ecuador February 2018 VLOG

The gringos are here! We must have spotted over a dozen gringos today while we walked around in Cuenca Ecuador.

   


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Saturday, January 13, 2018

It's Not about Beauty - Cuenca Ecuador VLOG

It's not about beauty....whether your pretty or not, handsome or not...it's about...

   




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Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Hey Gringos, If You Go to Mexico, Ecuador or Panama THIS Will Happen, But You Can Stop It!

Yes, if you're a gringo you can ALWAYS count on this happening to you. It doesn't matter if you go to Mexico, Ecuador or Panama but there are ways you can stop it.

                


Hello Friends!
For 6 years now we have posted great information about crucial insights that provide the other side of living abroad. From us, you'll get REALITY. We are now making exclusive videos for those people who want a deeper understanding of life in a developing country; to find out more about visit us on Patreon.

Friday, July 7, 2017

7 Things You Can Count On When Visiting or Moving to Cuenca Ecuador

Whether you are vacationing or moving to Cuenca Ecuador permanently, you can always count on certain things to come about during your time here. This is the stuff not usually addressed but things you really would want to know for a safer more comfortable stay.

1.     You can count on something in your newfound adventure in Ecuador to not go the way someone said it would.

This will happen again and again.  Why?  Well it happened to us too like this.  Before moving to Cuenca Ecuador we asked a couple of resident expats some questions.  The answers we received seemed satisfactory at that time, until we actually moved here and saw with our own understanding that we did not get complete information. It was someone else’s experience.  




2.     Surprised about how different everything is.

We can read about all of the cultural difference of a country until we’re blue in the face but it does not become a reality for us until we experience it firsthand. Culture shock does not have to be bad thing when we think about why things are done differently.




Example: At first glance when we see the tall walls with spikes or glass shards and electrical wire around the homes, we think there must be “a lot of crime” but in reality that is not the case at all. Without the protection of a tall wall and electric wire, that home would be the one invaded first, while the ones with the protection have virtually no crime.  It’s sort of an oxymoron but it is just how it is. 


3.     Gringo gouging and targeting

No gringo will be singled out from being told a higher price; it’s just part of the game. Newcomers may not even know they’re being asked a higher price and they just pay. This is exactly how a small persentage of a population can raise prices; that small percentage of gringos stand out like a sore thumb.

It’s amusing when a vendor tries to gouge us and we quote a lower price; for example, a vendor isn’t expecting to be haggled with and they shrink back with slight hesitation and then smile and start playing the negotiation game. But inside their head their thinking, “oh someone whose lived here a while and knows the prices”.

It has become increasingly apparent to us that more and more local sellers of goods, services and rentals do not like to negotiate prices with gringos, especially in the touristy areas. This is a phenomenon that happens because only a small portion of gringos are willing to haggle for the REAL price, everyone else pays right up.  We walk away until we find one that will work with us.

4.     Dashing rather than walking

One of the potentially perilous challenges of foreign living in most places is that pedestrians need to be careful walking across streets. We’ve never read the drivers manual for Ecuador but we’re thinking that it should say that pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks. Not so however,  be prepared to dash for the other side and especially if there is a lot of traffic, even at crosswalks.  Most drivers do not stop at stop signs either, so before you start walking across that street make sure no car is barreling around the corner first.

5.     Altitude breathlessness

For most people breathlessness and maybe a headache can be expected for the short term until you get used to the thinner air.  You might initially think you will not feel as thirsty in Cuenca’s mild weather but due to the altitude you will need more water, so drink plenty of water so you don’t dehydrate which can make headaches worse.  Longer term effects of living at high altitude can be found in this study.

6.     Barking dogs, crowing roosters, mooing cows

Most neighborhoods in Ecuador have dogs that bark throughout the night. This can be a good thing if the dogs are protecting the neighborhood but a bad thing if they’re just stray dogs barking at each other. In Cuenca we had both barking dogs and mooing cows in the morning. The mooing didn’t bother us too much and we eventually got used to the dogs barking. Some expats have reported crowing roosters in the wee hours of the morning.  Btw, there is no Cuenca neighborhood that is immune to barking dogs.in most cases.

The real issue on this is that most of Ecuador’s towns are designed as you would see a high density area, with real estate crammed together into small spaces.  Some neighborhoods in Cuenca have passed laws that require neighbors to report each other for noise violations.  However when it comes to dogs, many people actually need them for security.  We did.  Therefore, these laws do not appear to be the panacea that they might have originally seemed.

On the contrary, it is turning Cuenca Ecuador into a mini u.s.a. with its myriad of laws and over regulation of people.  Not exactly the lazzesfaire paradise you were led to believe.

7.     Expectations not materializing

This is a biggy because of our dear Retire Abroad Magazine writers (RAM) that love to raise people’s expectations and a recent phenomena, the pumping bloggers do it too.

The more we expect something to be a certain way, the more we become disappointed when it doesn’t pan out. We believe that this is one of the main reasons, people come here and then leave a year or two later. We could say they never should have bothered coming however, we believe that if they left with good-will then it's good they tested the waters and had the experience and perhaps just because of that it's quite okay they came and lived for awhile in Cuenca Ecuador.

These are just some of the things you can count on when you get here. There’s more but we’re not counting. All we're doing is balancing out all the glowing reports that omit the things that people ought to know before they come here. Like saying Cuenca Ecuador is a "magical" place. Its fine to ‘be positive’ and see the glass ‘half full’ and all that, but there is a point where, well, you’re hyping it.

If you would like to add, use the comment section below.

If you liked this article, we think you will like these too.
 












Hello Friends!
For 6 years now we have posted great information about crucial insights that provide the other side of living abroad. From us, you'll get REALITY. We are now making exclusive videos for those people who want a deeper understanding of life in a developing country; to find out more about visit us on Patreon

Sunday, May 14, 2017

Retire Cuenca Ecuador, Are You Ready for This? Ecuador VLOG

Guess where we are guys! We're here in Cuenca Ecuador enjoying every minute of it and sharing this commentary with you about retirement abroad. Maybe we'll see ya there.

                  



Hello Friends!
We have posted something new, several times per week for 6 years about crucial insights and every day life experiences that provide the other side of living abroad. From us, you'll get REALITY. We are now making exclusive videos for our devoted followers who are ready for the big move abroad and need a deeper understanding of life in a developing country; to find out more about this other platform, come see us on Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/HMFamilyLife

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Just Another Day Looking at Rental Properties in Salinas Ecuador

This is the pattern we are seeing in Salinas Ecuador in the rental market. Just another day in Salinas...simply amazing...

                  

We're an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy Abroad. We live in Cuenca, Ecuador and travel the Ecuador coast whenever we get a chance. Come along and enjoy some of our experiences with us!

Sunday, June 12, 2016

Best Place to Retire on a Budget - TAKING NO PRISONERS -

 The title says it all. Need we say anything else? 

                          


We're an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy Abroad. We live in Cuenca, Ecuador and travel the Ecuador coast whenever we get a chance. Come along and enjoy some of our experiences with us!

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

11 Ways to Spot a Tourist Abroad

As we’re walking down the street in El Centro we spot a gringo couple we have never seen before.
     “I ask, “Do you think they are tourists or residents?”. 
     “Ummm, they look like tourists. Notice how they keep looking up at the buildings and looking around a lot?”
     “Yes, and look at the huge camera dangling from the guys neck.”
     “Yep, definitely tourists.”







Cuenca Tourist group

There is nothing wrong with tourism. We were tourists once too, for about a week…LOL…here’s 10 more ways to spot a tourist.
 


1. Tourist pay the asking price and do not bargain.
 


2. Tourists wear huge floppy brimmed hats and Panama hats often.
 


3. Younger tourists wear shorts and flip flops, even in 68 degree weather in the Andes Mountains.
 


4. Tourists are always taking photos and have expensive cameras hanging around their neck.
 


5. When walking, instead of looking ahead they tend to look up at the architecture and many of them stumble and fall and hurt themselves.
 


6. Tourists wear lots of shiny, dangling jewelry.
 


7. Newcomers tend to rubberneck.
 


8. Tourists act rich because they’re on vacation.
 


9. Tourists are not usually aware of their surroundings and that’s why many of them get stuff stolen from them.
 


10. If they’re riding the bus they're also talking in English loudly and drawing attention to themselves all the while totally oblivious to their surroundings. Btw, many tourists get pick pocketed on crowded buses because they aren’t paying attention. This has actually happened a couple of times, that we know of.



11. Tourists think the traffic is going to stop for them, therefore, they start walking the cross-walk only to find out the hard way that drivers don't stop for pedestrians in Ecuador.
 


This can't be all the ways to spot a tourist. Can you think of any other ways to spot a tourist?
 


Until we write again, check out these articles on tourism and residency abroad.






We're an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy Abroad. We live in Cuenca, Ecuador and travel the Ecuador coast whenever we get a chance. Come along and enjoy some of our experiences with us!

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Reader Shares Her Annoyances and Challenges of Living in Ecuador

Note: this post taken from a commenter to one of our videos, “Simple Pleasures of Living in Cuenca Ecuador”. Click here to watch the video and read the comment.











Hi Frank/Angie: I truly enjoy your blog. “Your blog is spot on about the simple pleasures and the little annoyances about coming here; I thought I'd let you know about other very minute differences and/or challenges when someone considers possibly living here (you may or may not agree with me):
 


(1) Toilet Paper/Paper Towels, no matter the cost, are really CHEAP (as in low quality)!!! They fall apart the moment a drop of water falls on them.
 


Frank and Angie respond: we concur and it seems to be all scented with perfume!



(2) Back home, you may clean your house 1-2X per week; here, be prepared to dust/mop every single day (very dusty here), and be sure to consume food only in the kitchen/eating area (no eating in bedrooms), otherwise you may encounter some "uninvited guests" in your home (happened to me 2x).
 


Frank and Angie respond: we agree, it’s dusty, especially when living off a road that is not paved. We just got back from the coast of Ecuador and you’re right about the little critters over there and crumbs. The ants were atrocious…and cockroaches too. Yikes.     Cuenca not so bad…Cuenca has spiders. :-{
 


(3) learn to cook from scratch; not only is prepared food expensive, but contains many ingredients you may not want.
 


Frank and Angie respond: we totally agree! Price of imported foods is high here. We’ve been cooking from scratch for 30 years so we’re used to it. The food in Ecuador is going to be taxed even more now. Brace yourselves. One of my sons said it well, “The only thing that is cheap in Cuenca is the produce”.  But now, even some of that is going up in price.
 


(4) If you make a purchase (clothes, small electronics, etc), make sure you really want it, as it is NOT so easy to make returns as it is in the US.
 


Frank and Angie respond: Yes, we figured that out early on in 2011 and it is still true today in 2016. Although, we have been able to exchange a few items, which they are much better about.  When we made a large electronic purchase a few years ago, we made sure to get it in writing that we got 48-hours to try/test out the product to make sure it was in good working order and they (La Victoria) honored it.  Although we had to negotiate that time frame as they initially only wanted to give you only a same day return if you took it home and it didn’t work.
 


(5) You mentioned it many times, but there certainly is price shock here (4 pieces of sliced prosciutto $6!!) Ecuador definitely is NOT cheap for those who think they can still have the purchasing power they do in US!!
 


Frank and Angie respond: I know, and many newcomers would agree. We read all the time about how expats continue to eat their favorite brands of foods (if they can find them) and then realize their grocery bill is almost as high or even higher then it was in North America!  Its pretty consistent to see only people from super expensive large metro areas describe this place as cheap.  Compared to more reasonably priced areas as the u.s. Midwest etc. its about the same or higher.
 


(6) As a young mother, I was used to hop in my car, put baby in car seat, and go to the mall or wherever I needed to go with relative ease; not so here…definitely need to "buddy up" with someone, as young women out and about alone are easy targets for not-so-pleasant things to occur to you... Keep the anecdotes and experiences coming, and I hope to meet you guys soon!
 


Frank and Angie respond: Yes, we totally agree and we have expounded on this subject many, many times, but it is difficult to try and tell others how they should behave when they move here. It seems that something bad has to happen to some people first before they will listen to caution and reason.

 

Until we write again, you might like to read these articles about moving to and living in Ecuador.




 We're an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy Abroad. We live in Cuenca, Ecuador and travel the Ecuador coast whenever we get a chance. We just adventured throughout the country of Panama for five weeks! Come along and enjoy some of our experiences with us!

Friday, January 15, 2016

Buying Real Estate in Ecuador? Read This First! (UPDATE 2016)

Update 2016 - Hello folks, we have another updated article for you. With this article EVERYTHING we said in it four years ago, July 2012) still stands true today, the only really new update is we think more expats are renting and checking out Cuenca with a fine tooth comb FIRST before investing in real estate. There's been far too many scams going on abroad with gringos rushing in without doing their due diligence research first.



Ecuador has been
referred to as one of the lower priced retirement havens on Earth.  So then, why does it appear that a lot of
people that are moving here are overqualified? 
Judging by what we’re seeing there’s a lot of people coming to Cuenca
Ecuador that could easily be going to a lot of other places, why go to the
least expensive retirement haven on the sales pitch of the retirement press?  Well duh, it’s cheaper, I hear you saying. Or
is it?  Please follow me on this.




Update 2016 - Is property cheaper in Ecuador? Well, that depends a lot on where you want to buy and what condition the property is in. Lots and land is out of this world for a developing country!! Cuenca's market is higher than many towns its same size in the U.S. Why do people keep saying the real estate prices are cheaper in Ecuador for? All a person has to do is some online research to see it isn't true.  





The very first real estate book I ever read (are we talking
about real estate again?) was William Nickerson’s “How I turned $1000 into a
million in three years
” and if memory serves me right, it came out in the
fifties.  That was a long time ago, so forgive me if I don’t remember
correctly, but it seems that back then in the book he spoke of income to real
estate ratios, and I think it was 25%. 
That is, if someone was making $25,000 a year they could theoretically
afford a $100,000 house.  Those figures
changed through the decades and the amount of indebtedness that North American
families took responsibility for.  





Eventually people took on more and more debt and the amount
of house they could buy was only three times their incomes.  Research shows that the historical average
median affordability number for the U.S. has been 2.7 times income as an
average. i.e. multiply household yearly income by 2.7 and that’s the maximum
affordability ratio under safe lending practices. This is just a median figure,
so Donald Trump types don’t fit into this equation.  This was before all the recent banking
scandals of course, where people that really couldn’t afford the housing were
put into brand new super expensive housing with practically no money of their
own.  The affordability ratios were quite
skewed to the upside during that period.





Relating this
information to Cuenca Ecuador, my son was on a Cuenca Ecuador newspaper
yesterday, looking through the jobs section. 
He tells me there are job offers for Ecuadorians with accounting degrees
starting at $1000 a month.  Some of the
higher paying jobs were for $1500 a month. 
This is obviously the higher end of the pay scales for the well educated
folks.





If you wanted to assume two higher income earners, let’s say
$2500 a month family income, I don’t think you could call that “median income”
here in Ecuador.  My guess is it would be
the higher end of the earning population.  A local told us that a doctor’s salary here in
Cuenca is $2000 a month. So let’s just play along with this for a moment:  $2500 a month is $30,000 a year multiplied by
2.7 = $81,000.





That’s the maximum that the higher earning families would be
spending on housing according to this example. 
 Remember folks, that’s the maximum affordability for the higher income
earning households
here in Cuenca. 
This article does not even begin to address the “median” income earning
households, although we have written some such figures previously on this blog.  Too, professionals such as doctors and
accountants aren’t going to live in mediocre housing, so I have to believe that
you can get a pretty nice house for that.





A couple of weeks ago
I got an email from a reader asking for contacts to see houses up to
$150,000.   He had never set foot in
Cuenca Ecuador before.  I hope you’re
starting to see a picture here.





Can anyone spell, BUBBLE? 
It looks like this, G-R-I-N-G-O.  This
article is in no way intended to offend or degrade.  It is meant to inform, and if just a few
gringos avoid getting stuck into real estate they can’t later sell to a greater
fool, then I’ve done my job.  Oh, I
realize that some that get in early enough may make some money off their real
estate when they sell.  But that’s
speculation.  Are you a seasoned
speculator?  Or are you just gambling?





Remember when we were in Salinas and we were asking the
(gringo) real estate agent to show us the beachfront penthouse condo?  Well guess
what, she was also touting (because we did not ask to see…) a few “other” used
condos owned by gringos that needed to get out of their high priced real
estate.  You gotta love these gringos.




Update 2016 - When we first visited Salinas in the winter 2012, property prices in Salinas on the Malecon were already somewhat high and now Salinas real estate market "on the Malecon" has almost doubled in price, and...the area the gringos love called Chipipe Beach has also skyrocketed. For an example (wish I would have made a screenshot): in Chipipe you could buy in 2012 a four bedroom three bath house (not on the beach) maybe one to three rows back for $75K. Today that same house is $180K.  Chipipe rents and real estate prices are almost comparable to Panama's now. Take a look at this small 1 bedroom, 1 bath 109M Casita, asking 160,000 dollars. Whose buying this stuff?



Two to three rows back from the Salinas Malecon in 2012 you could get a fixer upper house for $25K (seriously) and today (not sure if it is fixed up or not but,) these VERY SAME houses go for $65 to $120K. These homes are nothing special, older homes with out-dated 70's green tiles on the bathroom walls, maybe 140M, three or four bedroom, no green space but a small lot, maybe what they call a "garage", which is actually some tiles. It would need updated and remodeled.



If we were going to buy property in Ecuador, we would first, get to "know the market" and when we found something we liked. we'd make a reasonable offer that coincides with market prices before all the foreigners came. This takes several days of research both online and on the ground but is well worth it in the long run.



Buy property because you want to live in the home and in the area, not because you want to turn around and make a profit...there is already too much of that going on. The markets in well-worn expat areas of Ecuador are already over-priced and that means you might have a hard time getting out. 





On another note...


our latest updated version of our DIY Cuenca LandingGuide has just been published.  And we go into more detail about the Cuenca real estate market in the book! It's still possible to find a deal in Ecuador but not in the tourist areas. Avail yourself of the latest information on
how to save money and go local in Ecuador.  The DIY Ecuador Coast Guide also has a lot more detail about the coastal real estate market as well.




If you liked this article then you will probably like these too.






Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Bargaining in Cuenca Ecuador Is Not What It Used to Be

Sure, anyone can go to a fruit stand or a Mercado and bargain up a storm, and you should because it is very much expected to do so.  But lately we’ve been noticing that more shops, stores and services are unwilling to bargain, even though they do not have any set prices on anything.



In 2011 everyone bargained and loved to haggle with you, and for good reason; you’re in a country where it is expected to bargain. However, we’re seeing a change happening with some of the shop-keepers and even at the Mercado where the ladies seem really set in their pricing.
 


Set prices would be fine with us if they would post the prices!  Post their prices? But we don’t see any posted prices and so you know what that means, right?  Ah yes, two different prices for two different people. Did anyone say price gouging? Heaven forbid anyone might call it “discrimination”.  What if I don’t want to be different? What if I want to pay what they pay? Have they thought about that?
 


Negotiating a rental is different too. Some home rentals say negotiable in the ad but not nearly as many as when we first got here, and unfortunately, when they do say negotiable in the ad, many times they don’t really want to lower the price, especially when they see a gringo, or they add something more into the rental package like an aliquot, which if it was not advertised then it makes it a bait and switch advertisement.  They have figured out they can just wait it out until the next gringo comes along that 'doesn't negotiate'.

What’s happening to the Cuenca where haggling and bargaining is the norm? The haggling aspect of South America is what gave Cuenca part of its charm and enjoyment.  Haggling with the locals can bring an interaction that says, “Hey I want to pay what you pay” which shows respect and humbleness from the foreigner…and they like that.  We hope that charm does not disappear.
 


And why just lately, last year or two are we seeing more local people less likely to haggle with you even though you’re in a country where it is very much culturally acceptable to do so?  Is this “no haggling’ just with the foreigners or the locals too?
 


Is it our fault? Have we gringos bombarded their little Cuenca with the prices we are willing to pay? Have we set certain precedents, showing them that we are capable and willing to pay much more than the local? Do we walk around behaving better than the local people by flaunting our clothing, accessories, and attitude and money?  Isn’t that where price gouging begins, from the behavior of others?
 


We’re committed professional frugalists, and as such, we don’t quit bargaining, in spite of our fellow compatriot’s behavior.   If someone won’t negotiate, we go elsewhere.  That sets the tone from then on for the next person, or even ourselves, in the long run.  Consider it a public service.  



Hopefully the "we go elsewhere" part, won't leads us straight on a one way ticket out of Cuenca. Ouch!  Displacement anyone?  There's more to say about that at another time.

We’re not sure about anywhere else in Ecuador but Cuenca over the course of the last five years has changed and that change has meant the loss of some of its charms out in the market place, especially in the tourist areas and that’s sad, it’s sad indeed.
 


until we write again...
 


If you liked this article we think you’ll like these ones too.




We're an Expat Family of Five, Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy Abroad. We live in Cuenca, Ecuador and travel the Ecuador coast whenever we get a chance. We just adventured throughout the country of Panama for five weeks! Come along and enjoy some of our experiences with us!