Whewy! Cuenca is hot right now and while we took a break from the heat in the shaded Park Calderon, a couple of expats recognized us and said hello! We were just wondering, should we leave Cuenca for France? A lot is going on in Cuenca right now for the holidays...enjoy the sights and sounds.
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 people who want a deeper understanding of life in a developing country; to find out more about visit us on Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/HMFamilyLife
Welcome to Gringo Good Samaritans, integrated with our 8 years of living in Cuenca Ecuador and traveling the world. We create informative videos and articles helping people come to awareness of what's happening in our world so they can enjoy their retire early lifestyle with their families, healthy, happy and free!
Showing posts with label gringos in Cuenca. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gringos in Cuenca. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 8, 2017
Wednesday, November 1, 2017
Bus Trip Gone Bad on Way to Cuenca Ecuador ...But Here's Cuenca! Vlog
There's a first time for everything, right? This is a first time this has ever happened to us on a bus on the way to Cuenca Ecuador.. But...here's Cuenca!
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. https://www.patreon.com/HMFamilyLife
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. https://www.patreon.com/HMFamilyLife
Saturday, July 22, 2017
What Are Prices Doing in Cuenca Ecuador in 2017? Real Estate VLOG
If anyone is wondering what prices are like now, here is what prices are REALLY doing in Cuenca Ecuador for 2017?
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.
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.
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.”
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!
“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, January 13, 2016
Summertime in Cuenca Ecuador January 2016
It's been absolutely gorgeous in Cuenca lately. The weather has been uncommonly warm, even at night. Some days we wish we had a ceiling fan...it's that warm! I haven't turned the heater on in weeks! Today was nice too and we had a much needed afternoon thunder shower...love those...and the rain is really needed right now in Cuenca. Enjoy the video!
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!
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!
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Reminiscing about Our Life in Cuenca Ecuador: Our Chapters
Everyone who moves to Cuenca has their own chapters to write or tell. For us the story goes something like this. We moved to Cuenca and everything was great; everyone was super nice; and nothing really ever bothered us, not even the smog seemed to bother us, much. It was only after we had been living in Cuenca for awhile in the second chapter of our lives that we began noticing the environment we live in and how it affects our lives.
Chapter 1 – 3 Months to 1 Year:
Culture Surprise: I wouldn’t say we had “shock” but we had lots of surprises when we first got here. Like men peeing right in front of you, or three people riding on a motorcycle, or pedestrians not having the right of way, or huge cow pies on the sidewalks, and many sickly, stray dogs roaming the streets; drunks sleeping it off in nice Cuenca areas; tall cement walls surrounding homes, topped off with electric wiring; noisy music, parties, and firecrackers whenever; and guards standing outside businesses with sawed off shot guns; etc, etc. Surprise, surprise.
Doing Errands: When we went out we’d kid with each other saying, “I wonder how many things on our “to do” list we’re going to get done today? A good day was getting a least one thing done, a REALLY good day was accomplishing two things on our list, and an amazing day was completing three errands. Why? Well mostly because of schedule differences with the local business community, or because of circumstances changing on that day, or people not showing up, or just because things are done VERY different here. You’ll see when you get here...lol
Processing Paperwork: It’s funny how when it is all over you stand back and laugh about it, but when you are going through it, it somehow is not that funny.
Just to give you a hint of what processing paperwork is like here: how many times can you hand over the same paperwork for five people in a given month? How about four times, will that work for you? Instead of telling you all on the same day that “This needs changed, we need this document for that person, and this sentence needs to read clearer and this needs translated…"; they will only tell you one thing your paperwork needs and then the next time you go in, they’ll let you know one more thing, and well, by this time days, weeks, even months have passed...and there is new immigration laws, and you need one more piece of paperwork from the states… In a hurry does not compute in Latin Land so, do not be in a hurry... I guess you'll see when you get here...lol
For the first year or so, the newness of everything about living abroad kept us in a euphoric type existence. “What’s the hurry anyway”? And that’s the attitude you have to have if you move here. Everything gets done eventually anyway, just not USA PRONTO, PRONTO!
Chapter one was good for us and it was a good learning experience. It was a fun and exciting time as we did all of the local festivals, events and foods, except for cuy; we simply have not had any curiosity about eating pets. We gobbled down lots of fattening and unhealthy but delicious pastries from the many bakeries; we have gotten to know many Ecuadorians on a personal level, learned Spanish, and have got acquainted with the public transportation, local businesses, the weather and local culture and customs, providing us with the familiarity we needed to make a more profound decision to stay or not to stay. As you know, here we are.
Chapter 2 – One to Two Years
After a year or two, you begin to notice more than just the surprising cultural things but some things that could make you want to leave, or stay in this place they call best retirement country in the world.
Here's something to think about: it’s funny because the environment hasn’t changed, the smog levels have not changed, the efficiency has not changed too much, the drivers and traffic has not changed BUT YOUR PERCEPTION about these things has changed!!
Before, you didn’t care or didn’t notice, but in chapter two some of these things might start to annoy you, especially if you start getting sick, or get robbed too many times, get ran over by a car, or haven’t learned the language, etc, etc…you may wonder, “Why am I here?” This is only for some people, mind you, because not everybody is the same. We’re still here because we have accepted what is.
You may have to get out a piece of paper and write down the advantages and disadvantages of living abroad to put everything into perspective. Understand “nowhere on earth is paradise”. I realize that may sound really cliché but there is so much truth in this statement that it must be said again.
Personal Safety: Here’s another funny one that happened to us in our second chapter of living in Cuenca. After almost two years of living in Cuenca was the only time we were ever pick-pocketed in our entire lives. Who gets pick-pocketed in the USA? Yes, it can and does happen in certain areas of the U.S, such as heavily populated airports or train stations, concerts and touristy destinations, but the likelihood of it actually happening in comparison to Ecuador is almost zilch. In fact, plan on getting pick-pocketed in Ecuador unless you take the necessary precautions not to.
We wrote numerous articles explaining to our readers “how not to get pick pocketed” but we still got pick pocketed because of our carelessness; we broke our own safety guidelines that we wrote about! Can you believe it? You can read about it here.
Most people who get pick-pocketed or purse snatched, are still in chapter one phase of their moving abroad experience; meaning they just do not exhibit the awareness they need to have in developing countries. It is not just about crime either. It’s not uncommon to be taken advantage of in other areas of our life and that is why you not only just need “eye awareness” but “trust awareness” and “understanding awareness” and finally “knowledge awareness” about how things work in a foreign land because they all sum up to discernment and diligence. Without them you are a naïve duck in a pond full of piranhas.
The second chapter of our lives in Cuenca was the time when we learned to speak Spanish pretty well, we knew what to expect in most interactions and situations with the local folks, we knew how to get to anywhere we needed to go, we knew where we liked to eat, what bus to take anywhere we needed to go, and simply understanding the basics of how life works in Ecuador. It all must still be great because after two years we stayed. One thing though, we have learned to avoid the real smoggy streets as much as possible, for now.
Chapter 3 – Four Years Plus
We’re living in this chapter right now and we have settled in and feel that Cuenca is our home. Cuenca has one drawback that we have not been able to adapt, however, and that’s the smog; everything else is small potatoes compared to this one downside about living in Cuenca. In fact, most things about living in Cuenca are wonderful aspects of life you wouldn’t have or get in the U.S. We have so much to reminisce about that is great in Cuenca, but we'll save it for another day.
When Frank and I went to Panama recently, after about 3-days we realized all over again what we love about Cuenca are the things that originally led us to Cuenca, Ecuador in the first place! Actually in our hearts we knew it all along, but sometimes for it to “sink in” you have to leave it for a bit, or in our case, travel somewhere else to see the things we might “take for granted”. Panama does not have the abundance of fresh, healthy foods at reasonable prices. Grocery store shopping in Panama is just like shopping at Safeway in the U.S – no, make that the highest priced stores in the u.s. and we left that four years ago. No thanks!
To have a great landing and find out more about the culture in Ecuador with a digital friend that acts like your best friend, get the DIY Cuenca Landing Guide.
If you liked this article, we really think you will like these 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!
Chapter 1 – 3 Months to 1 Year:
Culture Surprise: I wouldn’t say we had “shock” but we had lots of surprises when we first got here. Like men peeing right in front of you, or three people riding on a motorcycle, or pedestrians not having the right of way, or huge cow pies on the sidewalks, and many sickly, stray dogs roaming the streets; drunks sleeping it off in nice Cuenca areas; tall cement walls surrounding homes, topped off with electric wiring; noisy music, parties, and firecrackers whenever; and guards standing outside businesses with sawed off shot guns; etc, etc. Surprise, surprise.
Doing Errands: When we went out we’d kid with each other saying, “I wonder how many things on our “to do” list we’re going to get done today? A good day was getting a least one thing done, a REALLY good day was accomplishing two things on our list, and an amazing day was completing three errands. Why? Well mostly because of schedule differences with the local business community, or because of circumstances changing on that day, or people not showing up, or just because things are done VERY different here. You’ll see when you get here...lol
Processing Paperwork: It’s funny how when it is all over you stand back and laugh about it, but when you are going through it, it somehow is not that funny.
Just to give you a hint of what processing paperwork is like here: how many times can you hand over the same paperwork for five people in a given month? How about four times, will that work for you? Instead of telling you all on the same day that “This needs changed, we need this document for that person, and this sentence needs to read clearer and this needs translated…"; they will only tell you one thing your paperwork needs and then the next time you go in, they’ll let you know one more thing, and well, by this time days, weeks, even months have passed...and there is new immigration laws, and you need one more piece of paperwork from the states… In a hurry does not compute in Latin Land so, do not be in a hurry... I guess you'll see when you get here...lol
For the first year or so, the newness of everything about living abroad kept us in a euphoric type existence. “What’s the hurry anyway”? And that’s the attitude you have to have if you move here. Everything gets done eventually anyway, just not USA PRONTO, PRONTO!
Chapter one was good for us and it was a good learning experience. It was a fun and exciting time as we did all of the local festivals, events and foods, except for cuy; we simply have not had any curiosity about eating pets. We gobbled down lots of fattening and unhealthy but delicious pastries from the many bakeries; we have gotten to know many Ecuadorians on a personal level, learned Spanish, and have got acquainted with the public transportation, local businesses, the weather and local culture and customs, providing us with the familiarity we needed to make a more profound decision to stay or not to stay. As you know, here we are.
Chapter 2 – One to Two Years
After a year or two, you begin to notice more than just the surprising cultural things but some things that could make you want to leave, or stay in this place they call best retirement country in the world.
Here's something to think about: it’s funny because the environment hasn’t changed, the smog levels have not changed, the efficiency has not changed too much, the drivers and traffic has not changed BUT YOUR PERCEPTION about these things has changed!!
Before, you didn’t care or didn’t notice, but in chapter two some of these things might start to annoy you, especially if you start getting sick, or get robbed too many times, get ran over by a car, or haven’t learned the language, etc, etc…you may wonder, “Why am I here?” This is only for some people, mind you, because not everybody is the same. We’re still here because we have accepted what is.
You may have to get out a piece of paper and write down the advantages and disadvantages of living abroad to put everything into perspective. Understand “nowhere on earth is paradise”. I realize that may sound really cliché but there is so much truth in this statement that it must be said again.
Personal Safety: Here’s another funny one that happened to us in our second chapter of living in Cuenca. After almost two years of living in Cuenca was the only time we were ever pick-pocketed in our entire lives. Who gets pick-pocketed in the USA? Yes, it can and does happen in certain areas of the U.S, such as heavily populated airports or train stations, concerts and touristy destinations, but the likelihood of it actually happening in comparison to Ecuador is almost zilch. In fact, plan on getting pick-pocketed in Ecuador unless you take the necessary precautions not to.
We wrote numerous articles explaining to our readers “how not to get pick pocketed” but we still got pick pocketed because of our carelessness; we broke our own safety guidelines that we wrote about! Can you believe it? You can read about it here.
Most people who get pick-pocketed or purse snatched, are still in chapter one phase of their moving abroad experience; meaning they just do not exhibit the awareness they need to have in developing countries. It is not just about crime either. It’s not uncommon to be taken advantage of in other areas of our life and that is why you not only just need “eye awareness” but “trust awareness” and “understanding awareness” and finally “knowledge awareness” about how things work in a foreign land because they all sum up to discernment and diligence. Without them you are a naïve duck in a pond full of piranhas.
The second chapter of our lives in Cuenca was the time when we learned to speak Spanish pretty well, we knew what to expect in most interactions and situations with the local folks, we knew how to get to anywhere we needed to go, we knew where we liked to eat, what bus to take anywhere we needed to go, and simply understanding the basics of how life works in Ecuador. It all must still be great because after two years we stayed. One thing though, we have learned to avoid the real smoggy streets as much as possible, for now.
Chapter 3 – Four Years Plus
We’re living in this chapter right now and we have settled in and feel that Cuenca is our home. Cuenca has one drawback that we have not been able to adapt, however, and that’s the smog; everything else is small potatoes compared to this one downside about living in Cuenca. In fact, most things about living in Cuenca are wonderful aspects of life you wouldn’t have or get in the U.S. We have so much to reminisce about that is great in Cuenca, but we'll save it for another day.
When Frank and I went to Panama recently, after about 3-days we realized all over again what we love about Cuenca are the things that originally led us to Cuenca, Ecuador in the first place! Actually in our hearts we knew it all along, but sometimes for it to “sink in” you have to leave it for a bit, or in our case, travel somewhere else to see the things we might “take for granted”. Panama does not have the abundance of fresh, healthy foods at reasonable prices. Grocery store shopping in Panama is just like shopping at Safeway in the U.S – no, make that the highest priced stores in the u.s. and we left that four years ago. No thanks!
To have a great landing and find out more about the culture in Ecuador with a digital friend that acts like your best friend, get the DIY Cuenca Landing Guide.
If you liked this article, we really think you will like these too!
- Cuenca Ecuador after the Honeymoon: A Day in the Life
- What's it Like Notarizing a Document in Ecuador
- A Day in the Life at the Local Cuenca Hardware Store
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!
Sunday, September 14, 2014
DIY Cuenca Ecuador Landing Guide PAPERBACK Available for Purchase
We are very pleased to offer the paperback edition of the DIY Cuenca Ecuador Landing Guide; by popular demand we have created a paperback version for those folks who prefer to read and own the physical book. The book has the exact same materials as the eBook.
Now that the manuscript has been condensed into a 9 X 6 book, however, it is a whopping 270 pages! Wow! We didn’t even know the Landing Guide had that much material in it until we began to format and paginate the text for the actual book.
Folks will still be able to purchase the eBook version of the Landing Guide if they prefer a digital copy. However, if you want the physical book, here it is ready for your perusal and reading enjoyment.
We're an Expat Family of Five Living Frugal, Healthy and Happy in Cuenca Ecuador! Enjoy the blog!
Friday, March 15, 2013
Meet Ecuadorian Gringo and Restaurant Owner of the "El Campanario Restaurant" in Chordeleg Ecuador
Some folks might think calling a person a "gringo" is being derogatory, but here in Ecuador it is coined to be exactly the opposite; in fact we have met Ecuadorians that used to live in the states who call themselves "gringos", and they are! The restauranteur of the El Campanario Restaurant is a prime example of an Ecuadorian Gringo. Ecuadorian gringos have two things in common. They have lived in the states for years and they speak fairly good English. Cuenca is home to numerous Ecuadorian (Cuencano) Gringos.
Monday, February 25, 2013
Cuenca Expat's Retirement Dream Comes True! (4 of 6 Cost of Living)
In this interview Alice shares more details about her cost of living. We already know that Alice rents her beautiful home for $350 a month and she goes to FREE symphonies for part of her entertainment of going out in the evenings. Now, find out how much her transportation and utilities are. We think you'll be amazed! Plus, Alice begins to show us her home...stay tuned for next video for the whole house tour!
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Cost of Living: Who Says You Have to go Frugal in Cuenca!
Well it looks like the good folks at International Living want
you to know that you don't have to go frugal to live well abroad.
Ok, so you don't "have" to go frugal to have a better
life abroad, including in Cuenca Ecuador.
“When you think frugal you think old tires in the yard, bad
neighborhood, and an old home needing repair, but this…this is nice, and for
$250"! Said an Ecuadorian real estate broker friend of ours when she came over to our home for dinner. “You guys are doing a good job, more people
should do what you're doing”. She says this even though she herself makes a living
providing rentals to expats that go for two to four times the Ecuadorian rate.
Let's put the shoe on the other foot for a moment: Let's say you
live in a fairly decent apartment in Los Angeles, California for the normal for
locals, average rental rate of $3000 a month.
Unknown to you is that a change is coming soon.
The mainstream Retirement Press is highlighting L.A. as a great
place to retire for less. The articles
are aimed at expats in Hong Kong paying $16,000 (true price) a month in
“desirable Hong Kong gringo neighborhoods”.
The promoters hook them up with agents in the city eager to make
fat rental commissions off the expats. They're nice people and all, but they
have no scruples about showing the expats $6000 to $8000 a month
apartments because, well, they're such a bargain compared to Hong Kong,
and, you know, the commissions are higher. And besides, there's lots of demand
from expats from Hong Kong eager to save lots of money compared to what
they're now paying in Hong Kong.
Soon enough your Los Angeles neighborhood is overtaken with
"expats" from Hong Kong bragging about what a deal they've got on
their $6-$8K a month “luxury apartment”. Unknown to them, the $3k apartments
are just as nice.
Next month, your landlord evicts you because he wants to rent to
the "nice foreigners" who pay more. You are looking for a rental now
and can't find anything unless it's twice what you were paying before.
In the meantime, the mainstream retirement press is having a
field day writing articles in the mainstream news on the web about what a great
place L.A. is to retire for less than in Hong Kong. They highlight rental prices in the $6 to $8
thousand a month price in their articles showcasing them as “normal rentals”. An obvious bargain, compared to Hong Kong,
according to the slant in the articles.
The writers do not live in L.A. and neither are they retired
there. They do visit occasionally, just
long enough to talk to the rental agents described above.
The rental and real estate agents love them, and the Hong Kong
readers eat it up.
While this wonderful scenario is unfolding in your city, you
hear a lone voice crying in the wilderness:
here ye, here ye, look ye, retire in L.A. Just like we have, be frugal
and rent a nice apartment for $3,000 a month.
The mainstream press in response snickers at the word “frugal”
in their promotional advertisements, telling their followers to turn up their
noses at those lower beings, because hey, you don't have to be like them, you
don't HAVE TO go frugal.
Frugal is only for those lower beings, we are much better than
that.
In the meantime, the news gets out to the local L.A.
Residents: the Hong Kong foreigners are
filthy rich, and not only that, they're dupes, why else, the locals reason
within themselves, would the foreigners
pay two to three times as much for rent as they could? They must be so rich they don't care. Well then, since they're that rich and don't
care, let's raise our prices too when ever they come around. And that's exactly what happens.
One day, you and your friend go into a sewing shop asking for a
skirt that should cost $20 dollars, and, because you just happen to outwardly
have the same features and looks as those other foreigners you are quoted
$180. (statement based on a true story here in Cuenca).
You go home, shaking your head in amazement. You sit down to relax with a cup of coffee
and read the L.A. Real estate ads for fun.
To your amazement, you see ads for ¼ acre lots on the river for a million
dollars. These are aimed at the
foreigners, because no local in his right mind even if he has the money, would
ever pay such a ridiculous price. Why,
they could retire on that!
The river is not anything spectacular as these things go. It's just a river, locals wash their laundry
in it, and some defecate and urinate in it. Even the city dumps waste in it.
If those Hong Kongers would just step outside of their “superior
gringo gulches” they would find that they can buy a whole house right on
a huge deep water lake with sailing and water sports for the same price as that
¼ acre lot on the river in L.A. or sometimes less – right there, in their own
country. You know, there's a recession
going on back home in Hong Kong. But is anyone paying attention?
Of Course not, how could they?
The mainstream retirement press would never highlight such things even
if they knew them. How would they ever
be able to sell “the dream” to all those rich foreign dreamers. You know, the grass is always greener on the
other side of the fence. Or is it? Watch out because, if you hold your nose up
too high, you might step in a pile of dog poop, or trip on a rock or a piece of
metal while crossing that greener grass!
Especially here in Ecuador.
you to know that you don't have to go frugal to live well abroad.
Ok, so you don't "have" to go frugal to have a better
life abroad, including in Cuenca Ecuador.
“When you think frugal you think old tires in the yard, bad
neighborhood, and an old home needing repair, but this…this is nice, and for
$250"! Said an Ecuadorian real estate broker friend of ours when she came over to our home for dinner. “You guys are doing a good job, more people
should do what you're doing”. She says this even though she herself makes a living
providing rentals to expats that go for two to four times the Ecuadorian rate.
Let's put the shoe on the other foot for a moment: Let's say you
live in a fairly decent apartment in Los Angeles, California for the normal for
locals, average rental rate of $3000 a month.
Unknown to you is that a change is coming soon.
The mainstream Retirement Press is highlighting L.A. as a great
place to retire for less. The articles
are aimed at expats in Hong Kong paying $16,000 (true price) a month in
“desirable Hong Kong gringo neighborhoods”.
The promoters hook them up with agents in the city eager to make
fat rental commissions off the expats. They're nice people and all, but they
have no scruples about showing the expats $6000 to $8000 a month
apartments because, well, they're such a bargain compared to Hong Kong,
and, you know, the commissions are higher. And besides, there's lots of demand
from expats from Hong Kong eager to save lots of money compared to what
they're now paying in Hong Kong.
Soon enough your Los Angeles neighborhood is overtaken with
"expats" from Hong Kong bragging about what a deal they've got on
their $6-$8K a month “luxury apartment”. Unknown to them, the $3k apartments
are just as nice.
Next month, your landlord evicts you because he wants to rent to
the "nice foreigners" who pay more. You are looking for a rental now
and can't find anything unless it's twice what you were paying before.
In the meantime, the mainstream retirement press is having a
field day writing articles in the mainstream news on the web about what a great
place L.A. is to retire for less than in Hong Kong. They highlight rental prices in the $6 to $8
thousand a month price in their articles showcasing them as “normal rentals”. An obvious bargain, compared to Hong Kong,
according to the slant in the articles.
The writers do not live in L.A. and neither are they retired
there. They do visit occasionally, just
long enough to talk to the rental agents described above.
The rental and real estate agents love them, and the Hong Kong
readers eat it up.
While this wonderful scenario is unfolding in your city, you
hear a lone voice crying in the wilderness:
here ye, here ye, look ye, retire in L.A. Just like we have, be frugal
and rent a nice apartment for $3,000 a month.
The mainstream press in response snickers at the word “frugal”
in their promotional advertisements, telling their followers to turn up their
noses at those lower beings, because hey, you don't have to be like them, you
don't HAVE TO go frugal.
Frugal is only for those lower beings, we are much better than
that.
In the meantime, the news gets out to the local L.A.
Residents: the Hong Kong foreigners are
filthy rich, and not only that, they're dupes, why else, the locals reason
within themselves, would the foreigners
pay two to three times as much for rent as they could? They must be so rich they don't care. Well then, since they're that rich and don't
care, let's raise our prices too when ever they come around. And that's exactly what happens.
One day, you and your friend go into a sewing shop asking for a
skirt that should cost $20 dollars, and, because you just happen to outwardly
have the same features and looks as those other foreigners you are quoted
$180. (statement based on a true story here in Cuenca).
You go home, shaking your head in amazement. You sit down to relax with a cup of coffee
and read the L.A. Real estate ads for fun.
To your amazement, you see ads for ¼ acre lots on the river for a million
dollars. These are aimed at the
foreigners, because no local in his right mind even if he has the money, would
ever pay such a ridiculous price. Why,
they could retire on that!
The river is not anything spectacular as these things go. It's just a river, locals wash their laundry
in it, and some defecate and urinate in it. Even the city dumps waste in it.
If those Hong Kongers would just step outside of their “superior
gringo gulches” they would find that they can buy a whole house right on
a huge deep water lake with sailing and water sports for the same price as that
¼ acre lot on the river in L.A. or sometimes less – right there, in their own
country. You know, there's a recession
going on back home in Hong Kong. But is anyone paying attention?
Of Course not, how could they?
The mainstream retirement press would never highlight such things even
if they knew them. How would they ever
be able to sell “the dream” to all those rich foreign dreamers. You know, the grass is always greener on the
other side of the fence. Or is it? Watch out because, if you hold your nose up
too high, you might step in a pile of dog poop, or trip on a rock or a piece of
metal while crossing that greener grass!
Especially here in Ecuador.
Friday, September 30, 2011
We Gave a Mini Tour of Cuenca to Visiting Canadians
Yesterday we met up with some really nice People from Canada. Val and her daughter Janelle just got in on the 29th of September and they are visiting for the whole month of October. They are checking out Cuenca to see if they might want to live here for good.
Val and Janelle have been following our blog for some time now and we emailed back and forth before she came down here. Val was nice enough to bring us a 20” flat panel monitor all the way from Canada with her—she carried it with her on the plane as a second carry on. These monitors go for about $190 here, but we paid $95 because it is from Canada where electronics are much better priced.
For her kindness in bringing us the monitor we took her and her daughter Janelle for a mini-tour of downtown Cuenca. We showed them where the parque calderon is; we took them to the tourist office where they got some maps of Cuenca; and we even took them grocery shopping with us at one of our favorite grocery stores downtown Cuenca. We showed them where the big Mercado is and told them a little bit about how to bargain and such. When you’re new in Cuenca it’s easy to get gringoed.
City center area of Cuenca can also be a difficult town to navigate when you are new here—all the streets look sort of the same. I still have problems remembering where certain stores and shops are that I’m looking for. Of course Frank has some great landmarks that make it a little bit easier to navigate when you’re downtown; in fact, because of these landmarks (Two massive Cathedrals) it’s virtually impossible to get lost unless you wander completely away from the center of town.
We’ll definitely meet up again with Val, Janelle, and now a new visitor I am told is here named Rachelle. Hi Rachelle! Rachelle also follows our blog. We hope to show them some more of Cuenca before they leave. It’s really neat to have visitors come to Cuenca and check it out—they’ll probably be amazed with Cuenca just like we were when we first got here, and we still are!
Val asked me yesterday as we were walking along the cobblestone streets in downtown, “So do you guys have any regrets about moving here?”
And my response, “Absolutely not, we’re glad we’re here!”
Hasta Luego!
Val and Janelle have been following our blog for some time now and we emailed back and forth before she came down here. Val was nice enough to bring us a 20” flat panel monitor all the way from Canada with her—she carried it with her on the plane as a second carry on. These monitors go for about $190 here, but we paid $95 because it is from Canada where electronics are much better priced.
For her kindness in bringing us the monitor we took her and her daughter Janelle for a mini-tour of downtown Cuenca. We showed them where the parque calderon is; we took them to the tourist office where they got some maps of Cuenca; and we even took them grocery shopping with us at one of our favorite grocery stores downtown Cuenca. We showed them where the big Mercado is and told them a little bit about how to bargain and such. When you’re new in Cuenca it’s easy to get gringoed.
City center area of Cuenca can also be a difficult town to navigate when you are new here—all the streets look sort of the same. I still have problems remembering where certain stores and shops are that I’m looking for. Of course Frank has some great landmarks that make it a little bit easier to navigate when you’re downtown; in fact, because of these landmarks (Two massive Cathedrals) it’s virtually impossible to get lost unless you wander completely away from the center of town.
We’ll definitely meet up again with Val, Janelle, and now a new visitor I am told is here named Rachelle. Hi Rachelle! Rachelle also follows our blog. We hope to show them some more of Cuenca before they leave. It’s really neat to have visitors come to Cuenca and check it out—they’ll probably be amazed with Cuenca just like we were when we first got here, and we still are!
Val asked me yesterday as we were walking along the cobblestone streets in downtown, “So do you guys have any regrets about moving here?”
And my response, “Absolutely not, we’re glad we’re here!”
Hasta Luego!
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