Brandon's Trying Out a New Passion Fruit Called Taxo in Cuenca Ecuador

It is a tropical passion fruit that tastes a lot like the Maracuya. 

                     

Arriving in Pedernales Ecuador (Beach) Looking for a Place to Stay

In this video Frank and I just got off the coastal bus and hailed a moto-taxi to look for a hostel. Pedernales has a lot of hotels and hostels for the visitor, however, many of them have no Internet connection in the room. We did finally find a nice value hostel with a fair Internet signal. More of the town of Pederneles coming up.



We're nearing the end of our 2 month coastal adventure with one more coastal town to share in the Ecuador coast guidebook, Atacames Ecuador.



                   



Leaving Pederanles on a Moto Taxi

Brandon Shares What the Piahoya (Dragon Fruit) Tastes Like

                           

Brandon, What Does This Fruit Taste Like? Sapote Fruit of Ecuador

You might see the Sapote fruit in all the grocery stores in Cuenca, in fact they grow (different variety) in Florida. 



The Sapote fruit is best when made into a pudding or ice cream, however, you can just eat it like an apple, at least that is what the store clerk told us.                   
 

Our 16th Coastal Town Listed in the Ecuador Coast Travel Guide - Canoa Ecuador

We have a lot to share about Canoa Ecuador; it is all written in the NEW Ecuador Coast Travel Guide!

STAY TUNED for More from the Ecuador Coast!            

SAVE 20% Purchasing the DIY Cuenca Landing Guide or the DIY Quito Landing Guide! Limited Time Offer!

We Are excited to offer our readers a 20% discount on our Ecuador Guides!



If you buy the DIY QUITO Landing Guide, or the DIY CUENCA Landing Guide from now until March 31, 2014 you will save $4 on your purchase of either guide book. That means you pay $16 instead of $20 through March 31, 2014.

After March 31, 2014 the books go back to regular price of $20 So if you have been putting off buying either one of our DIY Landing Guides for Ecuador now is a good time to save a few bucks! 





*NOTE*To receive the 20% off discount you need to use a coupon code when you go through the purchase process. Below, in all caps is the code to use. 

Coupon Code: WAFFLESSAY20

When you go to buy the book, LULU will ask you if you have a coupon code to use. Simply copy and then paste the above code and you will save almost $4!! 

15 Fabulous Aspects about Quito Ecuador

We Think Quito is fabulous. And each time we visit this beautiful city we love it more and more, and that’s probably because we are now familiar with “how to get around”, and we know “where most things we use are located”, and we know what to expect.” 



Familiarity is the key when moving anywhere in the world and becoming familiar with a city makes it that much more likeable, truly.
 

Here are some things that make Quito Fabulous.
 

1. Quito has the oldest and best preserved colonial section in all of South America. 


2. Quito has the biggest park (Municipal Park) in Latin America with almost 1,400 acres.


3. Quito is an international, cosmopolitan city.


4. Big name, popular musical groups perform often in Quito.


5. Quito has several big, beautiful parks.


6. Quito is VERY diversified with four distinct areas that makeup the culture and the daily life.


7. Quito has 4-huge shopping malls and numerous shopping plazas.


8. The people of Quito are warm, pleasant and helpful folks.


9. Quito has excellent city and urban transportation.


10. Quito is the major political hub of Ecuador; the presidential palace is in old town.


11. Quito has three beautiful suburbs, if you like living in the country and being close to the city.


12. Quito is NOT more expensive than Cuenca unless you let it be.


13. You can rent an unfurnished, nice 3 and 4 bedrooms in Quito for $300 to $400 dollars per month. 


14. Quito’s Andes Mountains are spectacular as they surround the city.


15. Quito is ramping up security and modernizing and restoring many facets of old town for tourism.
 

There are so many fabulous things about Quito that we will continue to add more to this post as we get a chance. 



And to help newcomers with "getting to know Quito" check out the new DIY Quito Landing Guide; it will surely make you more familiar with this fabulous city. 



Until then, let us know what you’re thinking about Quito in the comments below. You feedback and questions are welcome.

Stunning San Lorenzo (Ecuador) Coastline, Panoramic Views!

We share more about this pretty little village in the Ecuador Coastal Guide! 

                       

A Little Bit about Bahia de Caraquez, Ecuador

See More Videos of Bahia Below the Video

                                 



VIDEOS of Bahia 



Picturesque beach and bay of Bahia de Caraquez



A Sleepy Little Town that Needs Woke Up!



City and Beaches of Bahia



Review of Hotel Herradura of Bahia



Review of Coco Bongo Hostel of Bahia



Taking a Water Taxi from Bahia to San Vicente

How We Eat for Less than $5 A Day Traveling the Ecuador Coast!

Most of our readers know Frank and I traveled the entire Ecuador coast just recently doing research for our new Ecuador Coast Guide Book. This video shows how we eat frugally AND Healthy while traveling. 



We have done our share of not eating well when visiting different areas of Ecuador and it is not fun to not have energy or to not feel so well, especially when away from home. Eating out in restaurants on a constant basis is not only expensive but unhealthy. Our solution to the dilemma is in this video.  Of course in the Coastal Guide we detail more about this and share some of our recipes.

                      

DIY Quito Landing Guide at YOUR SERVICE!

Here it is! The DIY Quito Landing Guide is published and available for purchase.  The book boasts three sections and is a whopping 260 pages filled with our due diligent research, experiences, observations, and anecdotes of the beautiful city of Quito Ecuador. Don’t land in Quito without it!  



Click here to see all the Chapters. 



Click here to find out more on LULU!

Bahia de Caraquez Ecuador Picturesque Beach and Bay

If you like a peaceful bay with a picturesque coastline, you'll find it in Bahia de Caraquez. It is a very lovely town with beautiful views of the mountains. The town itself is clean and well kept compared to other seaside towns in Ecuador. We have a lot more to share with you of Bahia de Caraquez in our DIY Ecuador Coast Travel Guide! Until then enjoy the beach and bay of Bahia in this video. 

                            

Manta Ecuador Ecuador Man Dresses Up Like a Woman to Support His Family! PG Rated

So Frank and I are just sitting in this almuerzo restaurant in Manta Ecuador, enjoying a relaxing moment when this clown, dressed like a woman comes waltzing over to our table and starts lifting up his/her shirt exposing a gag costume. Even though it was NOT real we did alter some of the video for the consideration of any children in the room while mom or dad are watching this video. Frank talked with the Ecuadorian man and he said this is how he's (temporarily) supporting his family until something else better comes up. We hope something else better comes up for him soon.

                       

Stores In Mall Del Rio of Cuenca Ecuador

This is a photo slideshow of some of the stores in Mall Del Rio. This, of course is not an exhaustive list.  Cuenca has three other malls located in different parts of the city. Click here to see the other shopping malls of Cuenca Ecuador.

                       

Can You Really Retire Abroad on $1000 a Month?

Can you retire abroad on $1000 dollars a month? The online travel magazines would certainly like for you to think you can retire on $1000 a month in Panama, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Argentina, and Costa Rica, wouldn’t they? However, Panama has been crowned once again as the $1000 dollar a month retirement king in the travel news lately.



The truth is only a very few types of people can actually retire in a foreign country on $1000 dollars a month. It takes a certain type of person with an adventurous spirit and happy-go-lucky attitude to make the $1000 a month lifestyle doable. In short, it takes the frugal attitude.



Third world countries are only cheap at first. But as we’ve previously covered, after just a few/couple short years, thanks to the information age/internet, and the very quick influx of gringos it develops, they become just as expensive as many developed regions in the world. So then, the question becomes: do you have The Frugal Attitude? 



Are you cut out to acquire the Frugal Attitude if you don’t already have it? We have met retirees that have absolutely no interest in The Frugal Attitude. As one retiree put it:  “I’ve worked all my life, I’m entitled to some enjoyment”. He was justifying paying 100% more for rent for housing, because he had no clue on how to get it for the local price. And apparently he didn’t want to make the effort either.



Will this kind of attitude get you the $1000 a month life style in Panama, Ecuador or any other foreign retirement Eden, as the popular retire abroad press calls them? You be the judge.



 6 Ways You-Maybe- Could Retire on $1000 a month in Panama



1. Live outside the city center; it’s cheaper in the country

2. Leave your US standards of living in the US.

3. Integrate into the local culture as much as possible

4. Speak Spanish and blend in

5. Take the public buses wherever you go

6. Eat at home more often than out



Here’s food for thought. Do you think the writers of these alluring online travel magazines live like that? We don’t think so. Remember, they are hyping up a new standard of living that they themselves do not do and would never dream of doing!



Please do not misunderstand. There is nothing wrong with going local, blending in, and adopting a simple, comfortable lifestyle, because everyone knows that is exactly how we live here in Cuenca, but most people can’t do it…so there goes your $1000 dollar retirement dream!



So then why are these articles or interviews broadcast on national news media? A parallel term in the retail industry would be – loss leader. The loss leader, gets you in the door, see?



The Starting All Over Dream – Is It Really that Neat?



Have you fallen head over heels for the living abroad retirement scheme, um, er, I mean dream? Well guess what, many people fall right back out of love with the dream once they begin living it. In fact for some people the dream becomes a nightmare for this and that reason.



Just the idea of being able to start all over in a foreign country sounds so good and seems like a dream come true, but when the romance ends many realize how much they miss from their old way of life and the way things were before they left. You know, all the things we take for granted.



Some older retirees are leaving because it is too difficult to learn Spanish, others leave because they miss the life they had, and still others leave because it is NOT WHAT THEY EXPECTED! Reality has a way of popping our dream bubble and at first you may feel angry and confused because you fell for the rosy vision of grandeur in a third world country.



Oh well.



Don’t hit yourself over the head too hard; just know next time that retirement in a developing country is not all what the travel writers make it out to be. Help others see the reality of retirement in a third world country so they won’t make the same mistake.



It’s human nature to want what you don’t have. It is pretty normal to read about all these exotic, far-away cities abroad that are being hyped as cheaper and better than where you are now…but caveat emptor: Make sure you take the rose-colored glasses off while reading or you will not be able to see the fine print.



The writers know just the right (key) words to use to lure you into their little world of make-believe. We believe what they say; that everything is going to be better, that we’ll “live like a king”, we’ll feel happier, lada, lada, lada.



Not that the above can’t come true, but if it seems impossible for it to come true where you are now, why do you think it will come true when you move to a totally, strange, and different culture? Is the grass really greener on the other side?.



Reality says you can improve your finances, health, and well-being just by the choices you make, and it doesn’t matter where in the world you live!! Isn’t that good news? Why move to a developing country to accept positive changes in your life? Ancient words say: “The Kingdom of God is within you”. You take it with you, and to do that, you have to already have it! See?



Some of these travel writers make it sound like it is only possible to be happy in one of these listed countries they have on their website. But it does not take uprooting yourself/family and moving to a totally different culture to have the dream of starting over.



Now understand, we’re not saying, don’t move to a third world country for your retirement years, but we are saying don’t fall for all the glamour and hype the travel magazines write about, that’s all…because if you do, you probably will be disappointed when you retire or move abroad.



STUDY: Know the good, the bad, and the ugly, so you can ask yourself if the bad and ugly will fit in okay with who you are because seriously folks, it is not better or more enjoyable living in a third world country. It is different, and you will have to make adjustments; there is no way getting around that.



You must know yourself infinitely and intimately well. A nice retired couple we befriended is leaving because she can’t get the usual apple pie filling she’s used to getting at Costco/Sams Club, and she doesn’t like all the clouds here.



Is living on $1000 dollars possible? Yes but not with US standards and not with the “entitlement” attitudes that many retirement gringos are bringing with them. If you are ready to live and let live, integrate, blend in, acquire The Frugal Attitude, and be a happy person no matter what is going on around you then you might be okay retiring in a developing country. And for that, check out the DIY Quito Landing Guide, you’ll be glad you did; it's coming soon!



We have now listed all 26 chapters for your perusal in our new 250 page, informational packed, money-saving DIY Quito Landing Guide!

What Is Manta Ecuador Like? Going Local with Frank and Angie!

The chapter on Manta in the DIY Coastal Guide Book is 28 pages! That's because we have a lot to share. Lots of details on where to stay, with maps, photos, rates, and more. We share our amusing and sometimes serious anecdotes of our personal experiences and observations while staying in Manta and doing research for the coastal guide book.

                      

San Lorenzo Beach Ecuador, Sand Crabs and Turtle Eggs

                         

Where Are the Taxi Meters? Taxi Fares from Mall Del Rio to Popular Cuenca Areas

Where are
the Taxi Meters? A couple of months ago reports were the city of Cuenca was
going to be putting meters in the taxis, however, we’re still waiting for this
to transpire. You never truly know when something is actually going to happen
until you see it with your own eyes. 

In the mean
time here are the fares from Mall Do Rio to very popular areas in Cuenca and to
popular outlying cities and towns. Use this as a gauge when paying for your
fares in and around Cuenca. And of course if you can get a better fare than
what is listed, greaaaat! 

Click on the image to enlarge. 

The photo shows taxi fares FROM "Mall Del Rio" to Cuenca areas or from these Cuenca areas to Mall Del Rio.

BTW,
always best to have exact change when paying for taxis. Expats have
reported to us cab drivers like to say they do not have change for a $5
bill.

16 Ecuador Coast Towns We Visited and Researched for Our NEW Coastal Guide Book!

The Ecuador coastal guide book is jam-packed with great information to make your coastal adventure easier, less expensive, and more enjoyable. There are over 20 popular destinations on the Ecuador coastline we list in the guide book. We detail about the crime rates, real estate market, and the local community of each town; where to stay, eat, and shop!! It's all in the NEW Ecuador Coast Guide coming soon!

                       

What Does this Fruit Taste Like? Brandon Will Be Our Taste Tester!

 

Since our oldest son loves fruit so much it only makes sense that he be chosen as the guy who tastes the fruit and let's us know what it tastes like. Is it good, gross, okay, weird, tart, bitter, etc. Today we have two new fruits to introduce to our readers.

                  

Why People THINK Quito Is More Expensive than Cuenca Ecuador

It took us writing numerous articles
and making videos on this subject, using ourselves as the guinea pigs,
not the roasted kind! to encourage newcomers to Cuenca that it was
perfectly safe and okay to live NOT in the same old trumpeted tourist foreigner enclaves. 



If you look for an apartment in Quito in
a tourist zone expect to pay the inflated tourist prices. It’s not
complicated. You must decide, “Am I a tourist, or a resident"? If you
live in Quito than why pay tourist prices!?      



This would dictate
that you find out what the local prices really are instead of just
comparing the tourist price to your price back home. Big mistake. You can find out more in the DIY Quito Landing Guide.   Read More of this article...

We're Taking the City Bus in Manta Ecuador

The city buses in Manta are smaller and more compact than the city buses in Cuenca.  The Manta city buses are a bit more cramped, and be ready for a bumpy ride. Another thing that is different about the coastal city buses is there's usually a guy hanging out the door, yelling and whistling for passengers to board the bus. I guess people on the coast do not know where their buses go? The country-wide or national buses are comfortable, however.

                

Taking Taxi to the "Eloy Alfaro" Airport in Manta Ecuador

Doing research for the new coastal guidebook, we wanted to know exactly where the Manta airport is, how long to get there and how much for the taxi fare. So we took a taxi from the main tourist area to the airport. Also in the coast guide will list in detail several nice, comfortable places to stay with photos and prices located in the tourist section of Manta, walking distance to the beach and shopping! We gotcha covered!

                    

When is the Best Time of Year (Season) to Visit Quito Ecuador?

The Andes Mountains has fairly steady temperatures no matter what time of year it is.  And just like Cuenca, Quito can and does have its cold fronts where it is breezier, rainier, and chillier, for a few days; this kind of weather can come even in the summer. The Ecuadorians usually say it is an Argentinean or Chilean cold front blowing in. They don’t last very long. 


What Is Quito Weather Like?
 
Is the weather spring-like? For the most part it is spring-like weather, however, it can get pretty hot too. 
 
Daytime temperatures in Quito range from the mid 60’s to the upper 70’s, however when the sun comes out of the clouds it can feel really hot. The sun in Ecuador is powerful and light skinned folks can get a sun burn in just 10 or 15-minutes of being out in the sun, so you’ll want to wear a big brimmed floppy hat, and dab sunscreen on the tip of your nose and forehead.
 
Nighttime temperatures range from the 40’s to 50’s, however in winter it can go as low as 35 degrees. Evenings can and do get chilly, however, it is nothing a small portable heater and a nice wool blanket can't take care of .
 
The average temperature is in the upper 60’s to low 70’s and mornings are generally sunny. By early afternoon clouds may blow in and it may or may not rain. If it does rain it does not usually rain all day, but rather a 15-minute rain splash. Then the sun peaks out of the clouds again. This is a good reason when you go out to bring your umbrella and rain jacket, just in case.
 
Rainy Season
 
Rainy season in the Northern Andes is also wintertime, which is during the months of October through May, yet, this is hardly set in stone. There can be days, even weeks when you will not see a drop of rain. But be prepared anyway and be sure to pack a light rain jacket and folding umbrella in your bag. You’ll be glad you came prepared if it starts pouring or the winds starts blowing.

 Dry Season
 
Dry season is in the summertime during the months of June through September. But again, this is not set in stone as it can rain cats and dogs during those months on any given day.  Just be prepared and dress in layers. Mornings are a bit chilly and you’ll need a light sweater, but by afternoon, you’ll want to be in short sleeves. And then again by 5:00 in the afternoon you might want to put your sweater back on.  This is the Andes Mountain weather.
 
To sum up Quito weather we would have to say that Quito experiences pretty nice, sunny weather about half the time and it is usually warm during the day with night time temperatures needing only a sweater or light jacket.  The other half of the time it may be cloudy and some days might get a tad bit chilly, especially if it is a windy day.  Overall, the weather in Quito is pretty constant and mild.  So in that respect any time of the year is a good time to visit Quito!
 
Quito, Like Cuenca Does Not Experience Noticeable Seasonal Changes
 
If you like to experience seasonal changes, hot in the summer and lots of sun, and cold in the winter with snow and ice, and tree’s losing their leaves in the fall, then you will not like the Andes weather too much. Some folks actually miss the diversity of the seasons. 

The particular aspect of the weather in Quito to keep in mind is there are no noticeable changes between the summer and winter, so this makes the seasons all kind of blend into together which actually makes time seem to move faster.

Many folks from North America complain of the snow, ice, and cold. Well, here’s what we have to say about that; it never snows in Quito, it rarely, if ever drops below freezing, and it is only occasionally too cold. So perhaps you’ll like the unvarying weather that Quito Ecuador has to offer. You won’t have to plow the snow off your driveway in Quito.

San Lorenzo Beach Ecuador, BIG WAVES!

San Lorenzo Ecuador has big surfing waves. We share much more about this pretty coastal village in the up and coming Ecuador coast guide, coming soon! See Below the Video for more articles and video of San Lorenzo.

                   



San Lorenzo Beach Sand Crabs and Turtle Eggs

San Lorenzo Beach - BIG Waves! 

Panoramic View of San Lorenzo Coastline

DIY Wood Projects Built in Cuenca Ecuador: Bath Shelf, Corner Shelf, Computer Desk, and Coat Rack!

In this video Angelo has built us some much needed shelving, a desk, and a coat rack. All the projects are built using eucalyptus wood which is sold everywhere in Cuenca Ecuador. Eucalyptus wood is strong and will last a lifetime if treated properly. We continue to save money every year just by building all of our own furniture.
                    

Manta Murcielago Beach in Ecuador

Manta has a nice beach area and it is very clean!  The water is fairly calm and warm. We were pleasantly surprised with Manta. The beach in the city and in this video is called Murcielago Beach. It is not a particularly long beach but it is nice and wide for playing sand sports like soccer and volley ball. On the south end there are several condominium projects and the north end right past the rocky pier is where the cruise ships dock up. 



When you first come up to the beach entrance it has a huge cement court for playing ball and vendors sell their food stuffs and other wares here. It is really clean and nice. There are lots of fish restaurants with ocean views all along this beach area. We have much more to share with you about Manta in our new DIY Coastal Guide coming out soon!!

                     

More Crimes In Ecuador, Or Just More Gringos NOT Taking Crime Seriously?

There seems to be more reports of
crimes throughout the country of Ecuador. Of course authorities would
love to keep its touristy image and keep the crimes all under wraps but
that’s hard to do when violent crimes are happening throughout Ecuador
on a consistent basis. 


Crimes
on the coasts of Ecuador seem to be more prevalent. Why is that? Well,
let’s find out. But first let us say this. If we do not make an effort
to stay safe while living in a third world country, we will eventually
become victims of crime as statistics say so...READ MORE!

More Crimes In Ecuador, Or Just More Gringos NOT Taking Crime Seriously?

There seems to be more reports of crimes throughout the country of Ecuador. Of course authorities would love to keep its touristy image and keep the crimes all under wraps but that’s hard to do when violent crimes are happening throughout Ecuador on a consistent basis. 


Crimes on the coasts of Ecuador seem to be more prevalent. Why is that? Well, let’s find out. But first let us say this. If we do not make an effort to stay safe while living in a third world country, we will eventually become victims of crime as statistics say so.
 

More Naïve Gringos Means More Crime


Not all gringos are naïve, only those who are careless about personal safety in a third world country. Ecuador’s gringo population is growing and perhaps many of them are first time South America travelers.  We’ve warned before that South America is not a good first time travel destination, and yet, we see more and more gringos every day on the streets of Cuenca behaving in ways that are targetable for a theft, robbery, or home invasion.


If WE notice these details, how much more will a thief whose job it is to rob foreign tourists and expats? The thief is not going to go for the people who are not sporting anything of value, or who seem to look like they can run after them, or who don’t act lost or fearful.  It’s not that gringos haven’t heard these warnings. 


One north American retired lady confessed to us that “what fun is owning jewelry, if I can’t wear it”.  Welcome to South America!
 

Salinas Ecuador Armed Robbery/Home Invasion


Let’s take the latest home invasion in Salinas for instance. Go ahead and read the article first then come back to this blog post. You can read the full article here.


Frank and I know the Milina and Italian neighborhoods very well because we walked around all over the area, we even looked at some houses for sale, we talked with owners, and we saw up-close the neighborhoods. We go into much more detail about what we think of this area in terms of living in our new Ecuador Coastal Travel Guide. You will not want to miss out on reading this book if you are thinking of visiting or moving to the coast of Ecuador.


In a nutshell the Milina neighborhood, just like the Italian neighborhood next door to it, are not anything to write home to mom about.  It is a work in progress. When we were in those neighborhoods twice in one week, we saw many young men walking around in groups with nothing to do. That for us was a dead give-away. What do these young men do all day? How come are they not helping their mother or father in the family shop, working at a job, or on their computer, or whatever?



Okay, but that’s still really not why the British couple got robbed. Here’s why.



So…you are a gringo from the UK and you move into your new home, being probably the only foreigner in the neighborhood. So everyone in Salinas knows the new British couple lives over there in that house. You know why? You are the talk of the neighborhood, that’s why? Not to scare anyone but until the tittle-tattle that "the gringos live in that house over there" dies down, you'll be the talk of the neighborhood. 


What happens next is why they got robbed.


The gringo couple become lax and leaves their gate unlocked, because how else could the gun-wielding robbers push a steel gate in as the article states? So the gate was not locked…there is no way two men can push in a steel gate, unless it was unlocked. Ummmmm.


And…they got robbed. Now it was probably not the first time they left their gate unlocked and the young men walking around, neighbors walking by, whoever saw this relaxed attitude about security took advantage.  This is all it takes to become a victim in Ecuador…an unlocked gate.


Curiously, the article states how the couple has NOW decided to ramp up security in the home after this armed robbery. We’ve read this before, people ramping up security only AFTER an assault.  This shows a lack of awareness.   But what if his wife would have been shot and killed. What if they would have raped her…remember they had guns.


UPDATE - 2-Weeks after the first armed robbery: The same British couple were robbed again by three assailaints with guns. According to the article they jumped over the fence and the husband was knocked on the head by a gun, and they were robbed.


What does this second armed robbery in the span of two weeks say? It says this UK couple has unfortunately been marked by the bad apples as an "easy" target...



You can read the developing story here.


American Couple Assaulted in Broad Daylight in a Popular Park


It is curious how some people wait until something bad happens to them to change or improve themselves and their surroundings. Rather than change for the new environment and culture, and blend in and practice the security measures posted on popular blogs and written in popular books they remain stubborn and lax with their personal security. 



Unfortunately most websites minimize crime, or just give a hodge podge of information that leaves out some important detail because, well, they don’t live on a local level.


Take the expat couple who very recently were enjoying a leisurely walk by Parque Calderon in Cuenca Ecuador.  Read the full story here and then come back to this blog post. 



Some bloggers do give good warnings, yet it is easy for something to slip through the cracks when just reading around all over the internet.  A solution is to have a comprehensive list of do’s and don’ts  in one place, which is what we do in the DIY Cuenca Landing Guide and which is what we are now doing in the DIY Quito Landing Guide!



in Ecuador you can be assaulted in broad daylight for seemingly normal every day things! It does not matter that the park has police; it helps but it does not totally deter crime because, the perpetrators know that they will not spend any real amount of time in Jail due to lax criminal laws, besides they see older expats walking slowly, perhaps limping, acting lost or fearful...



...they see expensive clothing, purses, cell phones, jewelry and it becomes inevitable that at some point as long as the couple remains lax to their surroundings they will be targeted. It’s not too hard to understand.


Do We Feel Less Safe because there Seems to be More Crime in Ecuador?


Absolutely not! Do you know why? Because we actually follow all of our security guidelines listed in our DIY Cuenca Landing Guide and blog. We have never felt unsafe in Cuenca, Quito or the coast. Frank and I recently traveled the entire coast of Ecuador and then Quito, integrating into the culture and blending in as much as possible and never once felt threatened.


Taxi Assaults, Robberies, and Killings




Sadly, a man from Japan got himself shot and killed because he was too determined to get him and his wife a taxi rather than go in the one the hotel offered to call for him. We do not know why the Japanese tourist chose to hail down a taxi right off the street that one evening, but they did and it resulted in his death.


You wonder, did they not read all over the Internet that hailing taxis off the street is dangerous and could result in robbery, assaults, rapes, and killings in the larger cities? Apparently not. Perhaps they could not read English and didn’t know that getting into any taxi in Guayaquil is dangerous.
 

Why People Don’t Practice What They Read
 

We have this lax attitude that “it won’t happen to me”, however, it will happen to me, if I allow myself to be a target of crime through my own vulnerability and naivety. We’ve heard of people who have been repeated victims of crime. Maybe they think it won’t happen to them a second or third time.
 

For some of us, we do not heed the warnings because we are too stubborn and haughty. Therefore we do not practice what is advocated to us by others, even if that means our personal safety and well-being.
 

We want to be in control of our lives through how we see fit, not how others say we should live. We do not want to change to our new environment, blend in, learn Spanish, or anything that takes us out of our dream world and that is the problem.
 

***The problem with crime in Ecuador is not that there is more of it; the problem is there are more naive gringos moving here making themselves be the victims of crime. ***


Don’t let all the recent reports of assaults, shooting, kidnappings, and robberies stop you from coming to Ecuador, just make sure that you follow all the safety guidelines we have written in the DIY Cuenca Landing Guide, on our blog, and in our up and coming DIY Quito Landing Guide! 


Here is proof that no matter who you are and how savvy you think you are, crime is just around the corner if we let our guard off.  So then, don’t you want to make sure you know all the ins and outs on crime in Ecuador or any third world country for that matter.


Nothing has changed in Ecuador, there is still crime.

What is Cuenca Ecuador Like in the Summer, January 2014?

It's time to put together our end of the month video clips. It's been a wonderful starting to the new year. It's mid summer in Cuenca right now, which means nice sunny mornings (usually) and afternoon thundershowers (usually). This is the Andes so you never know what is going to happen with the weather.



              

We're Traveling the Ecuador Coast - Welcome to Manta!

We didn't think we'd like Manta but actually Manta turned out to be a pleasant surprise. We talk more about Manta (and 19 other towns on the Ecuador coast) in our new coastal guide book coming out soon. In the guide we help you get oriented with Manta and help you find a decent and frugal place to stay. There's no reason to spend thousands of dollars getting acquainted with the coast of Ecuador. Let us show you what we did and how we saved money doing-it-ourselves.

                

Directors Cut, Video Clips Taken in Puerto Lopez Ecuador!

After one month of living in Puerto Lopez, doing research for the new coastal guide (coming soon) we decided it was time to move on. Every day we traveled by bus to other parts of the coast, namely Mantanita and Puerto Cayo to study these beach areas for the guide, and we made Puerto Lopez our home base. These are some short video clips taken during our stay in Pto Lopez that I just put together to bring you more of the real deal of Puerto Lopez.

                  

Look at All the Food We Got for $20 Shopping at Feria Libre in Cuenca Ecuador!

Have food prices risen in Cuenca? We are asked this question from time to time and so we decided to do another video on food prices, and this video is 2-1/2 years later. At the end of the video there is a comparison video you can watch of when we first moved here. You can still get a lot of fruits and veggies for $20 bucks in Cuenca Ecuador!

                    

The Real Puerto Lopez That Nobody Talks About

The central and the north sections of the beach in Puerto Lopez are fabulous!! Probably the best beach on the whole coast, but the south-end beach, the boardwalk, and the city itself...well...it needs some work!

                       

El Ejido Parque Located in La Mariscal in Quito Ecuador!

We like Ejido Park. It is located right in the heart of La Mariscal and is surrounded by three main avenues which has grocery stores, cafe's, bakeries, restaurants, mom and pop shops, banks, fast food, etc. Ejido Park is usually busy with people milling about doing their daily activities. There were a lot more police in the park on our latest visit, which is a good thing for the touristy sector of Quito.
               

Nectar Vegetarian Restaurant - If You're Really Hungry You Might Want to Go Somewhere Else!

We've eaten at Nectar three times now and the one time we felt they served enough food was when we had the $3 Almuerzo and even then it seemed to be a skimpy almuerzo. We just want to let our readers know. It wasn't just one time we ate here; its been three times now. So... if you're really hungry than eating from the menu will not satisfy your appetite.  If you are hungry we recommend eating somewhere else. However, if you eat like a bird, Nectar might be okay.



The food in Nectar is fresh and prepared simply. The food tastes good for the most part.  If they would serve more food we would most-likely give them a better review.  But seriously now if you eat a lot like we do, these skimpy dishes off the menu just will not do. 

                 

We Just Arrived to Bahia de Caraquez, a Picturesque Coastal Town in Ecuador!

We're back in picturesque Bahia de Caraquez.  Bahia is probably the cleanest coastal town on the Ecuador coast. The people are friendly and you can still find a $2.50 to $3.00 almuerzo here. The walking is good here, if you like to walk.  You can walk along the boardwalk which you see in the video as we are coming in and you can walk along the bay to the ocean side on the sand; both walks are wonderful and full of coastal beauty as you'll see in our upcoming video!

               

Natural Medicine for Disease and Pain -- Palo Santo (Holy Wood) Grown in Ecuador

When we were in Puerto Lopez a local took us for a hike along a winding path and up a hill where hidden away in its own little oasis is a little shop where they extract and make a healing oil called Palo Santo.

                   

Please Throw Toilet Paper in the Toilet! Modern Bathrooms in Quito!

I just had to take a snapshot of this photo and post it on the Cuenca blog. I normally do not post our Quito videos on our Cuenca blog but I made an exception this one time! 



In most Quito restrooms they want you to throw the TP in the toilet!! Quito is very modernized with great infrastructure. The Internet is fast and efficient here and the power has never gone out, at least while we were here. 

                

We really do not feel we are in a developing city when we are in North Quito. It almost reminds us of being in Portland, Oregon. Quito is a big city with all the modern amenities we have always enjoyed in the states. Some of these new bathroom gadgets are things we've never seen in the US before. In fact, hand dryers in the US never seemed to really work; these ones in Quito sure do. 

La Quinua Vegetarian Restaurant - This Is a GREAT Find - Almuerzo $2.50!

A friend told us about this restaurant and we couldn't be happier! The $2.50 almuerzo was nutritious and very tasty. The juice was not sugar-laden, which was a real plus, and..they serve brown rice!! Of course they also serve tasty dishes made with the traditional Ecuadorian grain, Quinoa, which is very nutritious and has more protein than some meats.



We are so happy to find out about this new vegetarian restaurant. They serve up quite a bit of food for their almuerzo and you can order off the menu if you like. Nothing is over $6. They serve pasta, pizza, salads, and other great foods all prepared fresh. We're happy to share LA QUINUA and will be adding this new restaurant find to our free restaurant guide!