Live Healthy, Happy and Free
Do we really know what we’re getting when we shop at the local Mercados in Cuenca Ecuador? Have you ever wondered how the vendors keep all their produce from going bad? Do they give it away to the less fortunate? Do they reduce it? Do they throw it out? Or, do they just dip/spray them in preserving chemicals?
Recently we have learned from a reliable local source that some of the vendors spray and or dip their produce in a chemical solution so it will not go bad. That way, it can sit on the table for days and continue to look pretty as if it were freshly picked from the garden. The problem is which vendors are spraying/dipping and which ones are not?
Don't get us wrong, there is plenty of fresh clean food sold at the Mercados and there is some that has been chemically tampered with to keep it looking as fresh as if it was just picked. That's the food that will make you sick. We have gotten the same bloating feeling from some of the bananas, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, etc, etc...the same food at the regular grocery store does not make us feel bloated and crampy.
Bloating & Cramping
We knew something wasn’t right about some of the food we were buying at the Feria Libre Mercado of Cuenca Ecuador, because it would give us a heavy bloating feeling in our intestines and bleached out stool; and it wasn’t just one or two of us in the family, it happened with anyone who happened to ingest that particular fruit or vegetable. One of the fruits we knew right away that was giving us stomach problems was the banana. We all had the same bloating, heavy, crampy feeling after eating bananas from various Mercado vendors. This is not healthy!! The solution for us was to stop buying bananas at the mercado.
We never know if we’re getting fresh food or not because vendors are not exactly up-front when they want to sell their produce. So, what we had to do was a simple technique a person does when they have a food allergy. We had to write down all the food we ate in a day and slowly eliminate food items from our meals that we knew for sure were giving us the bloating and such. Sometimes we had to eat the same food twice and get the bloaty feeling again just to make sure it was that food.
Another problem is, we didn't always go to the same vendors and trying to remember the vendor who gave you the food with chemicals was difficult to remember at best as Feria Libre is huge!! We were in a pickle of sorts and have almost just quit going to the Mercado...it has gotten that bad.
In the latter stages, tired of getting bloated and nauseated, we would look the vendor straight in the eye and ask, “Have these been dipped in chemicals?”. Sometimes the ladies will say, “Not these ones” or “Not today they haven’t”, while lowering their heads and becoming shifty eyed. Sometimes we would buy the produce and low and behold we get bloating and cramping once again.
In the last year or so, going to the Mercado has been more trouble than it is worth and that is why we have almost stopped going. We haven’t been in two months and we really don’t miss it. Our grocery bill is just about the same because we buy at the regular grocery stores what’s in season. If it is not in season we either reduce purchase or don’t buy it at all.
BTW, we already figured out they were putting something on the chicken (it looks rubbery and fake) and other meats because otherwise they would rot…and obviously some of it has rotted according to the smells in that particular area of the Mercados.
Is It Raw Honey or Is It Something Else?
When I eat refined sugar, even just a tablespoon it goes directly to my feet and that’s how I knew that after a few months of eating honey bought at the Mercado, it was not raw honey; I immediately quit using it and found a new source for getting raw honey.
It was a few months later that I was having a conversation with my next door neighbor about the “so called” raw honey I was buying at the Mercado and she told me that they mix the honey with corn syrup. This only confirmed my suspicions!
Corn syrup is extremely unhealthy in the long run and chemicals sprayed on foods after they have been picked to preserve their life is making people sick!
Bottom line: Sadly, knowing what we know now, it keeps us from buying other products from the Mercado, and to even recommend the Mercado like we used to. If you have a favorite vendor(s) that you always go to and you know for sure they aren't tampering with the food with a post-chemical that's great!
Organic Produce or Not?
A kind reader wrote in sounding as if she was gently correcting us to say that the produce at the mercado is not organic. This made us think that our previous articles perhaps made it sound as if we were saying that the produce at the mercados is organic.
In fact we have always said that it is a toss up, some of it is and some of it is not. It's just that lately we seem to have run into a lot more of the non organic produce than ever before. And we think you should know, that non organic and potentially chemically laden produce seems to be on the rise at Feria Libre and we have the symptoms to prove it, at least to ourselves.
It’s really sad, however on the upside we have learned to accept the reality that not all is as it appears in Cuenca Ecuador. Wink!
If you liked this article, you might like these ones about the food in Cuenca 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!
Cell phones are one of the most stolen items in Latin America. The Large scale cell phone thievery operations, where criminals work in groups along the borders of Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia, rake in on average $550,000 dollars in one day, according to this Interpol report.
Whether it is a big time cell-phone thievery operation or a petty thief who takes your mobile phone, no one likes to be robbed by thugs. If you are an expat living somewhere in South America we can almost bet that you have had a cell phone stolen or you know someone who has. In Ecuador 40% of personal robberies between January and August 2013 was cell phone theft.
The most stolen brands of cell phones are shown in this graph. (Click the photo to enlarge).Closer to Home in Cuenca Ecuador
We have met numerous expats that have had things stolen in Cuenca Ecuador, from purses, money clips, wallets, necklaces and earrings, to cell phones. One very nice couple, who still live here in fact, had two cell phones stolen from them in the first week they were here!
What Does it Feel Like to be the Victim of Cell Phone Theft?
When you talk with someone who has experienced a minor trespass such as a cell phone stolen from their person, two words describe the feeling: frustration and trepidation. No one enjoys having something taken from them, even if it is just a minor incident of petty theft. We tend to blame ourselves and feel foolish about it for days and even weeks afterwards.
We might feel a sense of insecurity from it and not want to stay in the new city we embarked upon. Imagine if you were knocked to the ground and hurt because a thief is trying to steal something from you? This has happened in Cuenca; needless to say the victims that experience such crime events usually go back home. We just have to be really aware and careful in a new and different surrounding that we’re not used to.
Violent crime to expats is rare in Cuenca Ecuador but it still happens from time to time; usually when someone behaves in a reckless manner and appears vulnerable. We hope that we have helped people avoid becoming a target of crime in our DIY Cuenca Landing Guide and on this Discover Cuenca Blog.
How Far Will a Thief Go?
How far will a thief go to get at your expensive phone or wallet from your person? It depends greatly on the situation. Snatch and grabs are the most common with foreigners in tourist areas because the theft takes place where there are lots of people and the thieves know where to run and easily elude police.
However, in more secluded areas the theft might not be a minor snatch and grab; if a thief knows you have an expensive cell phone and there’s no one around, the thief may become more daring in which personal harm is done to the person. We just want to make our readers aware of this. We should never put theft on the back burner, thinking it will not happen to us, because seriously, it does and can happen to us.
Foreigners should Stay in Well Lit, Visited Areas!
This is why we have been saying all along that foreigners should hang out in well lit, visited areas when walking around in cities abroad. Walking off the beaten path with expensive phones, jewelry and wallets is silly to do anywhere in the world! The reality is victims have been badly hurt or murdered for their cell phone.
4 Safety Guidelines for Expats Visiting and Living Abroad
1. Don’t flaunt expensive cell phones in the open. Keep a cheapie cell phone for everyday use when traveling abroad. If it gets taken, $40 dollar cell phone is a lot easier to part with than $800 Smart Phone or Blackberry.
2. Don’t take your cell phone to the mercados. Bad idea all the way around.
3. Don’t keep you cell phone in your purse. Thieves watch you put your cell phone in your purse and expats have been knocked to the ground when the thief grabs the purse. Best place for cell phone is in your front pants pocket.
Thieves know they can’t get at the phone very easily in your front pants pocket, unless you walk off the beaten path and they decide to mug you for your phone. That’s why the next guideline is important.
4. Do not walk off the well worn paths. If you must walk in secluded areas, don’t have anything valuable on your person! We suggest to not walk anywhere at night but rather take taxis to and from your destination.
Source: Insight Crime – Investigation and Analysis of Organized Crime
Until we write again…
We think you might like these personal safety articles 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!
When you first move to Cuenca there are gadgets and other items, you’ll be glad you brought with you. Some of these items you can buy here but if it’s a small item, why not save money and just throw it in your suitcase or carry on?
1. Pocket Digital English to Spanish Translator – One of the handiest items we brought with us to Cuenca; works on batteries so bring spares. There might be APPS out there you can install on your tablet, smart phone or notebook but you might not want to be walking around with an expensive computer or gadget. Smart Phones are a highly stolen item in Latin America.
2. Laptop / Tablet / Notebook – You’ll definitely want your computer; so don’t even think about not bringing it. Electronics are not cheap here.
3. Comfortable walking shoes – In Cuenca you will be walking more and believe me when we say, comfy sneakers or other favorite shoes will make your day much better. There are lots of shoe stores in Cuenca but they may not have your size and style.
4. DIY Cuenca Landing Guide – Our Cuenca Landing Guide is written with the traveler in mind. That’s why it will make your stay easier, less expensive and more fulfilling. We guarantee it!
5. Cheap cell phone – If you’re bringing your own cell / smart phone, you’ll have to get s SIM CARD from your service provider, so your phone will work here. But let us warn you: in South and Central America it is best to use “cheap looking” cell phones as they are less apt to get eyed out by a thief and get stolen. Cells are one of the most sought after electronic gadgets in Latin America. We’ve been using the cheapest cell phone in Cuenca at just $44 and it still works just fine 4.5 years later. You will buy this item in Cuenca.
6. Sunhat / Sunscreen / Sunglasses - When the sun comes out in Cuenca it’s intense and that means sunburn. The sun can make a 72 degree day feel like 82 degrees. FYI: sunglasses and hats are not that expensive here and easy to get, but sunscreen is expensive so you might want to bring with you.
7. Sweater or Light Jacket – You don’t want anything too heavy because then you’ll be too hot. But for those cooler, cloudy days, having a sweater or light jacket to wear will make you day just a bit more comfortable. We suggest bringing this item with you.
8. Folding Umbrella – You will need an umbrella and the best ones are those that fit right in your pack. In the Andes the weather is sort of unpredictable and you’ll never know when you might need an umbrella. The locals use parasols to shield them from the sun as well. We don’t like to go that far because when the sun shines in Cuenca we want to enjoy every bit of it. Umbrellas are sold everywhere in Cuenca and they are not expensive.
9. Back-Pack – we love our packs and use them every day. We use them to tote groceries after shopping and also for needed items because when you are out all day, without a car there are certain items you will need with you. See below for those items. Back-packs are sold here but they are more expensive. Nice name brand back-packs are sold in the states for much less and at the thrift stores for a couple of bucks! We suggest buying a good heavy duty pack before you leave.
10. $5 and $1 – It is difficult to break $20’s here and for that reason you’ll want to have smaller bills on you, especially for when you first get here to pay the taxi driver, to buy produce from the street vendors, to tip the wait staff, to buy miscellaneous items…etc, etc.
These Items You WILL want inside your back-pack at all times once you get here; because at some point you will need them!
- Umbrella
- Light jacket
- Bottle of drinking water
- Toilet paper, and or napkins
- Hand sanitizer
- DIY Cuenca Landing Guide. This book has useful information, maps, and addresses to popular places within the city.
- Map(s) of Cuenca
- Copy of your passport (never carry originals)
- Cap or hat
- Sunscreen
- Light snacks (fruit and nut mixes, fruit, crackers, etc.)
That just about does it. We think you’re going to be ready to tackle Cuenca Ecuador with these items. Until we write again…We think you may like these articles 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!
