Charming Cuenca Ecuador ~ July 2013

This is our end of the month video selections. Cuenca has many unique charms inherit within its community and culture, such as entertainment on public transportation and the indigenous produce vendors that line Cuenca streets. These charming facets of Cuenca make this city unique, interesting, and appealing for many people. I always try and capture the real Cuenca in our videos so people can truly get a birds-eye view of what it is like to live here.   It's Charming!

                    

Furnished 2-Bedroom Apartment in Excellent Location!

RENTED! - Here's a furnished 2-bedroom and 2-bathroom apartment in an extremely well located area. It is just a five to eight minute walk to El Centro and a ten to fifteen minute walk to Supermaxi on Las Americas. Or if you'd rather,  you can walk one block to Grand Columbia, catch a bus and ride to Supermaxi in five minutes!



This 2nd floor apartment has everything you will need to just move in and start enjoying your life in Cuenca!  It INCLUDES all utilities, cable TV, and Internet!! The senorita in the same building said she will do your laundry for you!!     The rental price is $430 but a year lease is $400! 



              

Fantastic 4-Bed 4-Bath Home, Asking $380 and it's Negotiable!!

This home is in superb condition with beautiful hardwood floors. It  even has a working fireplace for those chilly Cuenca mornings. Best thing is it is only a block from three bus lines, yet tucked far enough back from the noise and traffic!! Great neighborhood with small grocery stores, restaurants, bakeries, ice cream shops and more! We don't think this one will be on the market long.

 Asking $380 but is negotiable - make offer!  You know how to reach us!

                                   

How Do Ecuadorians Protect Themselves Against Crime?

Wherever you may live in the world the best way to protect yourself from being a victim is to do what the local people do and have been doing for years and years, handed down from generations.



Point in fact, our Ecuadorian friends have shown us how they stay safe. Their behavior has helped us to be more watchful and to take certain precautions to make sure that negative circumstances do not happen to us.



It is through our own observations, personal experience, and our Ecuadorian friendships that we caution visitors and expats about certain conducts and actions while visiting in and or living in Ecuador.



The first thing to consider is this: When something bad happens to people on the streets in the Northern Country the police force takes action.  People up north are conditioned to and expect to be able to call 911 and depend on the police. Usually the police show up within a few minutes.



The state takes it upon themselves to keep bad people off the streets. This is what you pay some of your taxes for.  Although this may be changing starting with the larger metro areas.



Well, in Ecuador you’re not in Idaho anymore!



You Need to Take Responsibility for Your Own Safety



When living in Ecuador you are completely responsible for your personal safety. This means that you cannot rely on the streets being safe anywhere in Ecuador and that includes Cuenca. In fact, much of the thievery happens where all the tourists are.  Tourists are the ones with money, gadgets, and expensive jewelry.



In Ecuador many times the bad guys will NOT get caught. The police are not that proactive to chase after, investigate, and do the due diligence it deserves to catch a thief. Besides that, Ecuador law says that any robbery under $600 is not worth investigating…and the thief never gets caught, which means he continues his job of stealing from others.



When living in Ecuador you are in a developing country, which means the police force is not organized enough, or effective enough yet to put in the effort to actually investigate crimes and place the bad people in prison. Therefore the same bad guy(s) who robbed Dick and Jane yesterday at 10am in the morning are still out looking for vulnerable victims to steal from, or worse, rape, abuse, maul, whatever. 



Less Accountability in Ecuador



In Ecuador you can get stabbed ten times (which happened to a women alone in a good area of Cuenca at 10am in the morning), or you can have your wife’s (fake) pierced earrings ripped off her ears, (happened to our friend on the Calle Larga stairs) or you can be thrown down to the sidewalk for your camera, (happened to an expat last year on Calle Larga during the day) or…etc…etc…but what happens to the attacker? He gets away.



In Ecuador, taxi cabs hit pedestrians and bicyclists and flee the scene and never pay for the crimes they commit (just happened).



YOU ARE IN ECUADOR, although some want you to believe you’re in Disney Land.



In Ecuador, people are robbed of their personal things on a daily basis and  nine times out of ten the thieves are never made accountable for what they do…and so thievery continues to get worse.

However, there are now more tourist police in downtown Cuenca and the rash of brazen petty theft has lessened. And Cuenca has hundreds of new police patrolling the streets, which intimidates the thieves from the areas they are in, and that has curbed some of the crime in Cuenca. Although organized professional thievery is still a big problem.



In Ecuador thieves are everywhere eying out the naive, vulnerable, people (usually foreigners) on the streets, and they congregate where the tourists are!!



It’s their job to watch for women alone;



It’s the thief’s job to watch for anyone alone;



It is the thief’s job to watch for vulnerable people who are wearing shiny jewelry and expensive watches;



It is the thief’s job to watch for the guy who pulls out his money clip with a wad of cash while paying for a $5 souvenir at the flea market; (An expat told us this happened to her husband just recently in April of 2013.



It is the thief’s job to watch you sitting at the park, talking on your $500 Blackberry; (these phones are about $800 here.)  More than a month’s salary in many cases.



It is the thief’s job to see you put your purse on the restaurant chair arm so he can walk by and steal it;



In Ecuador, the thieves are sitting right next to you, watching you…eying out your vulnerable mannerisms…thinking should they steal from you or the next vulnerable person to walk by?   All in a day’s work for them.



People like to stick up for Ecuador and say on the forums that it is “safer here than the states”, but it is not safer from thievery and pickpockets! What a loaded statement anyway. And really, to compare two totally different cultures and the crimes that happen within is illogical at best. Think of all the variables such as what city you are referring to in the states, what kind of crimes, and what the victim was doing at the time of the crime, etc, etc.



Did you know there are still cities in the u.s.a where homeowners do not lock their doors at night? Here, if you didn’t lock your door (tall gated door) you will be burglarized!!  In the states women, without a thought, (I used to do it too) leave their purses in the grocery cart while they shop. In Ecuador that would be a no-no.  In fact walking around wearing a nice handbag is a no-no anywhere in Ecuador.



The point is, this is NOT the US, nor is it Europe…therefore why on earth compare the two crime cultures? Yes, Crime is everywhere in the world, and Ecuador is not excluded. Ecuador is not safer than the u.s.a it is just different. That means you have to behave different.



We certainly cannot tell people what to do, or how to behave in Ecuador but we can explain how different it is here than what you are used to. In Ecuador you are responsible for making sure you do not become a target, not only that, but you are also responsible for taking care of yourself and what happens to you.



How do Ecuadorians Protect Themselves from Crime?



We have Ecuadorians friends who worry about their 21-year old son when he doesn’t show up for dinner.  He is a good kid, doesn’t drink or party. So, what does that tell you? This same family does not allow their 24 year old daughter to walk around alone, even during the day!



1.    Ecuadorian women do not go out alone after dark unless accompanied.

2.    Local women are usually seen walking with sister, mothers, brothers, or girlfriends, co-workers, even during the day.

3.    Ecuadorians don’t act afraid or vulnerable.

4.    Many local women use pepper spray or another form of tear gas.

5.    One young Ecuadorian banking woman told us she does not wear her diamond engagement ring because it is too flashy.

6.    They always carry exact change with them.

7.    Ecuadorians do not pull out huge bills to pay for things.

8.    Many local women do not wear a purse, however this is changing. We're seeing more women with handbags in Cuenca.

9.    Ecuadorian women are almost always out in pairs or groups.

10.    We rarely see Ecuadorian women jogging or walking on the river trails alone. What we do see is if there is a local woman jogging there is a man tagging behind riding a bike or she has a guard dog with her.

11.     Ecuadorians stay away from the rivers after dark.

12.     Ecuadorians stay out of the parks at night, except for the bad guys.

13.    Ecuadorians are very cautious and alert of their surroundings. They have told us to watch our backpacks in Parque Calderon because a trio of hoodlums were eying out our stuff. We were new here and didn’t take notice of anything out of the ordinary. Believe me, now we notice.

14. Ecuadorians do not show off expensive things in their yards that would invite and tempt theives to climb the tall gate.

15. Many Ecuadorians have guard dogs.



If the Ecuadorians take precautions like this, then how much more should foreigners also take the same precautions and more? The rule of thumb would be to do what they do.

Photos of Interest Taken in Cuenca Ecuador!

Choosy mom's choose Jif! Really?



Wow, that is the most expensive jar of peanut butter I have ever seen. Found in Supermaxi grocery store in Cuenca Ecuador. It is $10.11 cents.



Will choosy mother's still choose Jif at that price?



You can eat almuerzo five times in Cuenca for that price.

It's the invisible man! What is he trying to do, break in or break out?



Actually this is just an "attention getter" in the hopes someone will rent out an office in this building in downtown Cuenca.

 Skull headlight!



Mean bike! Wish I would have taken a side view photo of this motorcycle.

Got gas? Gas powered engine connected to a roller blade. Very interesting...then we started thinking about it some more and thought VERY DANGEROUS!



They actually sell these roller blades at a store here in Cuenca called "Juan Ejuri".  Pass.

 Beautiful vista!



This is only a quarter of the way up to Turi. It is the view from a furnished rental (already rented). It has convenient steps that lead down to Avenida Solano to buses and shopping.

McDonalds is coming to Cuenca and this is where construction is to begin in the El Vergel area by Madre Parque and El Vergel Shopping Plaza.  Truly, very unhealthy eating. We have not been to a fast food joint in over 20-years!

Chicks in a bag! What a couple of cuties. Someone bought these at Feria Libre and then got on the bus...they were chirping up a storm.



Lots of pets such as guinea pigs,  ducks, piglets, kittens and puppies are brought onto the bus all the time.

Is this a typo-misspell or is this really the name of the business? At first we thought it was a misspell but on further inspection we think because they serve lunch and have Internet they chose the name 'CYBER LOUNCH'!  Unique.

This is a public bathroom in Cuenca. Ucky!! Glad I (Angie) didn't have to go. Frank just had to call me over to take this photo because I'm collecting Cuenca bathroom photos.



Yes, for over a year now I have been taking photos of public restrooms in Cuenca. after I have a fair amount  of bathroom photos we'll make a video of them.



This bano is the worse yet! Stay tuned for more bathroom photos coming soon! LOL

$200 Furnished Cuenca Apartment in Excellent Area - Includes WIFI and Utilities!!

Frank with landlady of this apartment for rent



This is a cute, clean apartment in a excellent neighborhood, walking distance to Mall Del Rio...and the river is right across the street! The landlady lives right there in case you need anything and will watch your place if you want to travel. Can't beat the price on this one...includes internet!









Contact us if you are interested in this rental. Photos of this apartment and neighborhood are here!



               

Should You Rent an Apartment or a House in Cuenca? Is One Safer than the Other?

Should you rent an apartment or a house when you move to Cuenca? It really just depends on your personal preference and needs, Below we outline some issues that may make sense to some people.
 

Some retirees find it challenging to climb stairs, which most houses in Cuenca are constructed with two stories and sometimes three stories. A lot of the apartment buildings in Ecuadorian neighborhoods are also built without elevators in contrast to the condo buildings marketed to foreigners, which will have elevators.
 

However, it has been our experience that apartment units with elevators and 24-hour security have more expensive rents, plus on top of that there are maintenance fees that need to be paid each month which also tend to be higher in the gringo occupied buildings, or wherever gringos are present.
 

Is 24-Hour Security Guard Necessary in Cuenca?
 

Many new-comers to Cuenca think it is a good idea to rent a condo with a 24 hour security guard and this may be necessary for some people. After all, some people may not be accustomed to taking responsibility for their safety.  What does that mean?  It means that some people think nothing of doing things that are unsafe in and of themselves, especially in a third world country, such as:
 

Opening the door to strangers. There are many instances of people becoming victims of crime just because they opened the door to someone they had never had a previous contact with before.
 

Answering the ringer every time a stranger calls or rings your doorbell.  Sometimes we think it’s OK to answer the ringer and see what the stranger wants, not realizing that we are communicating subtle bits of information that could harm us later.  Such as: the fact that we may not speak Spanish communicates that we are a foreigner.  And, letting people know we’re home, and then it becomes obvious when we’re not home, etc,etc.



Appearing well off.  Some people just don’t want to be bothered with the idea of keeping a visual low profile.  Expensive cars in the yard, high profile looking jewelry and/or clothing, hairstyles, etc.
 

Non conservative habits.  Some people don’t want to make the effort to change their schedules, such as not going out at night, or just after dark, not going out during problematic holidays, being visibly intoxicated, etc. 



If this sounds like you, you’re probably better off in a 24hr security complex.  But is it really necessary?
 

Well, for the short term traveler (1-6 months) you can’t beat the convenience of a turnkey condo building. However, if you’re a more long term sojourner in Ecuador, consider that being in a 24 hrs security condo building is not a panacea to your safety. It may actually give one a false sense of security.  How?  By making one feel that they don’t need to take any personal responsibility for their personal safety.   Thinking such as:  “I’m in a security building, therefore I’m secure”. Consider the expat lady that was stabbed in broad daylight while walking by the river.
 

All homes in Cuenca have tall gated walls, and some of the homes have the electrical wire on top of that and almost all recently built homes have an alarm system.
 

Cuenca has some petty crime but armed robberies and home invasions (while you are in your home) happen but are not as common here.  In cases where they do happen, reportedly the above listed scenarios were prevalent.  There is some violent crime in Cuenca Ecuador, but the chances of it affecting you are low if you don’t engage in behaviors outlined above.

          




Update 2015: Cuenca is seeing an up rise in home invasions and robberies and we now totally recommend electric fencing for the foreigner.



Living in a typical Ecuadorian house like your next door neighbor, with tall barred gate, alarm system, electric fencing, etc can be just as safe as if you had a guard around the clock. A recurring theme on this subject is:  IT’S UP TO YOU.  When you leave your home to go shopping and do other errands it is wise to make sure you turn your alarm on.   Therefore it follows that taking more responsibility for your overall awareness and safety goes a long way.
 

What Cuenca Neighborhood Should I Live In?
 

WE often get asked about where the good neighborhoods of Cuenca are. And our response is always the same.  All areas of Cuenca can be fairly safe areas. It really does not matter what area of Cuenca you rent a home in, generally speaking, except for areas outlined in our DIY Cuenca Landing Guide, and other crime and safety articles on this website, as long as you take certain precautions you will be just as safe and secure as your Ecuadorian neighbors.
 

It is to your advantage to introduce yourself to your new neighbors. What this means for you is added security because your Ecuadorian neighbors will watch out for your home when you leave it. But only if they like you, and aren’t generally envious of your North American superiority.  Clearly, a little Spanish goes a long way.
 

Some expats that we have helped, such as Alice from Ohio, live right next door to the Landlord. This is the way it is with many of the rentals in Cuenca. It makes it VERY convenient come time to pay the rent, and it is reassuring to know that someone is watching out for your home while you travel or visit family back in the states.
 

More Objective Reasons to Rent an Apartment/Condo
 

1.    Cannot manage stairs or do not want to manage stairs
2.    Need to have an elevator for health reasons
3.    You do not want to take care of a house and a yard
4.    It makes you feel safer to be in a condo with a guard on duty, ahem…
5.    You will be traveling often
 

Elderly expats may have more reasons on their checklist for wanting to rent a unit in a condo building, however you will have maintenance fees and the condos marketed to expats in Cuenca are about 20% to 50% higher than renting a house.
 

Why You Would Want to Rent a House
 

1.    You have a dog or cat that needs a yard
2.    You want to grow a garden
3.    You have small children that need a yard
4.    You like having an outside area for playing lawn games and barbecuing
5.    You get claustrophobic in a condo
6.    You do not like heights
 

Clearly there are advantages and disadvantages to renting either an apartment or house depending on a person’s specific needs and wants.  The main advantage to renting an apartment is usually, but not always, the living space is all on one floor.
 

This situation would be advantageous to those folks who have trouble walking up steps.  The main advantage to renting a house is they usually, but not always, have a green space for animals; even if that green space is postage stamp small it still comes in handy for the pet owner who does not feel like walking their doggie.
 

The main disadvantage to renting a condo with elevator and around the clock security guard is they are pricier, but if this is what you require to make your life easier and happier then by all means, rent a condo unit.
 

As we remarked earlier in this post, the real disadvantage to renting a house vs. a condo for some is there will most-likely be a flight of stairs, or sometimes two flights of stairs to climb, depending on the size of the home.
 

Clearly, home renting is a good idea for those expats with pets, and or bigger families and for those who like to garden. However, some condos do have balconies and or patios for potted plants.
 

The bottom line is, if you choose a home, be sure to be wise and mimic your neighbors.  Do they have dogs?  Then get a guard dog.  Do they have electric wire fencing?  Then you get one too…you get the point…
 

I myself could never live in a condo, as they feel like a high end jail cell and in almost all cases are surely overpriced to the local rental market.  But hey, as I get more gray hairs, I might change my mind…but even if I did, which is not likely, I’d be bargaining like a bulldog…

3 Bedroom, Plus Study for $220 Cuenca Ecuador

Value is certainly here with this one. This is not a super large home, but it is a well-kept cute place just waiting for the couple or small family to make it their home. Pets are allowed with this home. This home does not need to be painted or have light fixtures installed like most homes in this price range...its perfecto and ready to go, waiting for your furniture and decorating touches. It is situated just a few meters from the bus in a quiet and nice area. To see more photos of this home and to contact us, go to $300 Dollar Cuenca Rentals.  

THIS HOME HAS RENTED

               

4 Bedrooms, 5 Baths in Great Cuenca Neighborhood $400

This home has been rented!



This home is located in a wonderful Ecuadorian neighborhood and only one block from the bus line! It has four bedrooms, five bathrooms, plus a small maids bedroom. The living room dining room combo is pretty good sized as well. For those of you who like to grill this home comes with a sky lighted barbeque area...this room would make a great sunroom/atrium. We won't tell you anything more about this home, instead, watch the video and see what other wonderful amenities this home has to offer. To see photos of this Cuenca rental check out $300 Cuenca Rentals.



               

Are Ecuadorians Really as Friendly as EVERYONE Says?

Are Ecuadorians Really as Friendly as EVERYONE Says?



The quick answer is…YES…But let me start by saying that when we first started this blog two years ago we were the first bloggers to go outside the box and pop the bubble that Cuenca is really not everything the glossy magazine writers say it is.  You have probably seen our 12 annoyances about Cuenca video we published on YT in 2011.


Anyway, a lot can evolve over time, and now everyone is writing about the negatives of Cuenca Ecuador. 
 

In fact, we know of one glossy travel online magazine that will no longer say “it is perfect spring like weather year round”, now it reads:   “Does this sound like spring-like weather to you”?   It changes the picture quite a bit, doesn’t it?
 

We know that no one likes their dream bubble popped but how about not making something into a bubble in the first place! Will that work? We think so. After all, we can make our own paradise no matter where we live in the world, right?
 

Anyway…
 

Here we are again; we’re going to be the first to talk about another subject that has been over-done and hyped up.  This is a controversial, touchy subject that no one has talked about so far, but for the sake of our readers, it has to be said. We only want to be helpful and the best and only way to do that is to be up front about certain subjects that are NEVER talked about anywhere else.
 

Are Ecuadorians Really as Friendly as EVERYONE Says? 
 

One thing that 99.9% of folks agree on about Ecuador is the friendliness of the Ecuadorian people. Yes, the folks in Ecuador are friendly but not any more so than in many other countries, and that does include some parts of North America!
 

We often find it a bit over-dramatic when an expat goes on and on and on about how friendly the Ecuadorians are. Ok, next. 
 

We like to remind our readers that we report our experiences not our opinions.  And I think a variety of experiences give us perspective.  We have lived in many parts of North America, and so we can empathize with those that are coming from most large metro areas.  Once when I was in Houston, I noticed strangers didn’t make eye contact and there was a general fear in the people of strangers.
In Portland Oregon, people generally were rude and in traffic would frequently flip you off.  Maybe it was my driving but it didn’t happen when I was in the South! 
 

This is, again something that comes down to experience.  And a lot of folks that are expatriating haven’t had the pleasant experience of having lived in the Southern parts of North America. 
 

If you have not been to the southern states of the u.s. then you may not know that in small town South just about everybody is friendly and everyone will stop and say hello and offer their help if they can. The u.s. Southerners will even wave at you while driving down the street.  We have not seen this in Ecuador. 
 

If you are from the south in the Northern country then you’ll know what we’re talking about.  Strangers will go out of their way to offer assistance and you will most-likely be directed to the right place and get a correct answer.
 

Southerners from the northern country take time to chit chat and be friendly.  They take it nice and slow, it’s a healthier pace of life.  From our experiences and having lived in the south for 25-years, you really can’t beat the friendliness of southern folks of the United States, not even in this paradise called Cuenca.
 

So what does that have to do with how friendly or unfriendly Ecuadorians are?  Well we think that if you’re coming from a back ground such as described above, it’s entirely possible that perception on this subject is, well, unbalanced and overly skewed and here’s why.
 

Ecuadorians are just people and being ‘just people’ they make social mistakes and even mistakes of judgement when it comes to being friendly.  Well here, let’s just name a few ways that many Ecuadorians are not that friendly on a fairly regular basis. You then can decide for yourselves.
 

Who Has the Right of Way at a Pedestrian Crosswalk?
 

True scenario: You’ve had a long day exploring Cuenca and you are really tired. You stop off at Supermaxi before returning to your apartment for a much needed rest. On the short walk home you are lugging two bags of groceries and trying to cross the busy street and not one Ecuadorian driver stops and lets you cross the street. Instead they honk their horn at you while you risk your life (truly) by dashing for the best clearing of cars, hoping you will not stumble or fall as you try to get to the other side. They don’t even slow down.  In fact, at times they seem to speed up!
 

Of course even here in Ecuador pedestrians technically have the right of way, but 9 out of 10 Ecuadorian drivers will dismiss the pedestrian and just keep on driving. Do they not stop because you are a gringo? Goodness gracious no, we have seen them not stop for the elderly Ecuadorian man or woman in a walker either.
 

Question:  Is it really friendly to not stop for pedestrians?  They won’t stop even when you’re in the clearly marked pedestrian crosswalk.   What does this really tell you about someone?
 

Ecuadorians and Riding the Bus
 

True Scenario: You’re waiting at the bus stop and you are standing closest to the curb. You see the bus number you need and you hail the bus. Even though you are standing closest to where the bus stops, all the local folks scramble in front of you to be first in line, literally pushing you aside… every single one of them just cutting in front of you, and as usual, you are last to get on the bus, because you won’t stoop to such behavior.
 

Question:  Is it really friendly to cut in front of others? BTW, the locals do it to the locals so don’t think it is a racist issue. Cutting up in front of others happens no matter where you are at or what line you’re standing in.  Young and old alike, will cut in front of you.  Just last week two teens tried to blatantly cut in front of me at the supermarket.  I motioned to them to get behind me.  What does this kind of behavior tell you about a person?
 

Ecuadorians and Gringo Gouging
 

It’s ironic how expats go on and on about how friendly the Ecuadorians are as they continually gringo-gouge the foreigner, that would be you. Sure the local is smiling up and down and being as friendly as friendly can be as they make their wallet thicker and thicker off of you.
 

Is it racism? No, it is not racism because they also do it to their own people when they find out they have lived in North America…Understand, gringo and foreigner gouging is something most Ecuadorians will not think twice about doing if they know they can get away with it. 
 

So why is this happening? It is just the way it is here and in most Latin American and other foreign cultures.  It is part of the culture to try and take you for whatever they can get. So, yeah, they are going to be friendly.
 

Anyone can “act” friendly but not anyone can “be” a friend to you.
 

We’re not saying that all Ecuadorians will try and rip you off but some of them will. We’re sure that you have made some wonderful friendships with the locals and they are most-likely a real friend to you.
 

There are honest Ecuadorians that WILL NOT gringo-gouge the foreigner because they KNOW it to be a dishonest thing to do. But our experience has been that this is rare here.  When one does not have principle within their being and they resent the fact that the gringo has more money than they do…they will try and get as much from the gringo as they can. Just saying…
 

Question:  is ripping off foreigners and gringos a friendly thing to do?
 

Ecuadorians and Honesty
 

Anyone can pretend to like you, and it is easy to say nice things to puff you up, but not until you really know a person will you actually know if they are putting up a front and just “acting friendly” or if they have a genuine “like” for you and are glad that you have moved to their country.  Eventually fruits of a person will become transparent and you’ll know the answer to this yourself.
 

Pretense of Friendliness
 

Sadly, and this has been our experience where we have met some Ecuadorians in a business setting and many of them are unethical when it comes down to money matters. Any scruples that they had previously shown were thrown out the window when it came down to being honest and up-front about certain things. 
 

This is a real and on-going theme we are seeing. However, many expats may not have a negative dealing with an Ecuadorian if they do not interact and or integrate with them in their every-day dealings and business settings like Frank and I do on an every-day level.
 

Words of advice: Be careful to whom you trust. Some will lie through their front teeth if it means a monetary gain for them. There is a pretense of friendliness but be careful because they may not be a friend to you.
 

In our book a BIG PART of what makes a person friendly is that person 'behaving honorably' toward you and being honest…and well, we just have not seen a lot of that here when it comes to business and money matters. 
 

Seriously folks this article is not meant to disparage the Ecuadorians but to bring insightful, informative experiences and observations to our devoted readers.  This is how we give back by sharing not just the good going on in Cuenca but the not so good going on in Cuenca.
 

On the other hand, I can’t help but notice that when I take my time and say hello and chit chat, and take it real slow, and smile a lot, the Ecuadorians love it…especially when I take the time to ask about their family and their day, etc. etc. I just need to remember not to let that blind me and forget not to hand over any money, and to keep a watchful eye to being overcharged.  (Gringoed)
 

In the end it is up to you to decide a person’s character because you will be the one interacting and dealing with them. We just think there is a lot of hype about how friendly the locals are when they are just people in a specific culture, with specific cultural norms that may be different from what we’re used to.

Cuenca Rental: Great 5-Bedroom House with VIEWS for $350

 This home has been rented!



We specialize in finding great unfurnished rentals at a great price in Cuenca and here is one such find. This is a large home just waiting for a family or couple to bring it to life with their own decorating style.



This home boasts not just 5-bedrooms but it has a sitting area upstairs off of the master bedroom and it has an office downstairs. Lots of space at a great monthly rental price.



This wonderful home is getting remodeled by the owner as you'll see in the video. This  home has some great views from the bedrooms and is located in a nice and quiet Ecuadorian neighborhood.



For more information about this rental and to view more photos of this home go to $300 Dollar Cuenca Rentals. Video tour below. Enjoy!



                     

What's Going on in the City of Cuenca Ecuador June 2013?

This video is our end of the month video created from several different scenes of happenings going on in and around Cuenca. Cuenca is a busy city with people walking about all over the place going to work, shopping, doing errands and enjoying what the day may bring. Enjoy the video!



                 

Why We Should Stop Comparing North America with South America

The biggest mistake foreigners make when moving to a new country is making comparisons.  We should not bring our first world ideals and standards to a third world country. However, many of us do just that by our approach to things and our mannerisms. 



Real life examples in a moment.
 

We have all said and done things that have made the locals feel a bit resentful. We don’t realize we’re doing it, but when we say how cheap things are, or when we smirk and giggle at some of the prices for things, we are essentially saying, “I can afford this and live better than you (the locals) because my money will go further in your country."
 

Cheap is Subjective
 

Why would it spur resentment? Well, for one thing the same things we think are cheap ARE NOT cheap to the locals. We still have to remind ourselves of this. But many tourists and newcomers to Cuenca play the comparison game in front of the locals and it causes offense and the consequences are higher prices to the gringos on every thing!
 

There are a hundred reasons why we should work at blending in wherever we live and not make the local people envious and jealous of our lifestyle. The minute we decide to make Ecuador our home is the minute we need to begin to accept and or tolerate everything about the city we live in as a part of our new lifestyle. 
 

Third World vs. First World
 

I know, I know this can be difficult, especially if you are new here and see things that are offensive, different, or not how you would do them back home. But we have to get over the differences.  I still see local adult men peeing in public, men pooping in the river, electronics are still over-priced, Internet is still not that great, and the weather is still perfectly cold and damp to me, spring-like all year long, but we’ve gotten over all that and have adapted to the differences…and we hope that if you plan on living here full time that you will also adapt.
 

Be Careful with Your Emotions about Prices
 

Comparing prices is not all what it’s cracked up to be. When we first moved here one of our sons smirked and gasped at the price of a sweet pastry in one of the bakeries, and for good reason, this homemade pastry was big, it was chocolaty, with something creamy in the middle and it was very eye appealing and when we asked the price she said it was only $0.13 cents!  
 

Well, wouldn’t you know it, a few days later we went back to that same bakery and they inflated the price to $0.25 cents…all because of a smirk and a giggle amongst ourselves. The girls working behind the counter probably decided at that moment to double the price on the gringos and continue to charge the locals $0.13 cents. 
 

Now when we are confronted with a price that seems to us outrageously low we just accept it, after all we live here as the locals do and that is when you would hope to see the end to gringo price gouging.  However, everything is going up because of the huge amount of foreigners visiting and moving to Cuenca.
 

What a Cuenca Rental is REALLY Worth
 

Now in the above experience we were just talking small change, but it is the same way when people rent the homes that are knocked out of the local ball-park range when they should be rented at the local price range! 
 

Case in point: we have been working with a local landlord to keep the price of her furnished rental at $400 a month tops as she had been talking about higher and higher rental amounts, and we had initially started out at $350 when we first met her. 
  

She called me one day and told me she wanted $450 for the rental from then on.  We decided we would no longer call her.  (this is part of the negotiation and keeping rentals priced right) After about six months that she did not hear from us, she called to check in.  I told her I didn’t have anyone interested at $450.  She agreed to lower the rent back to $400, telling me however that one of her tenants was in fact paying the $450.
 

When I brought her the rent, she made a point of explaining that the Canadian living in her other rental that was paying $450 had gone around to look at other rentals, and had told her that he liked her rental best for appearance and price wise. 



You see, that just reinforced in her mind that she can raise the rent to $450 and by sharing this real life example with me, she was saying that I should put it out at $450.  And this just because one expat decided $450 was ok to him and bragged about it to the landlord.  



This is how we unknowingly cause higher prices by our attitudes.  We are no longer shopping at WalMart or Publix or Albertsons.  We need to remember how our actions come back to us and everyone else for that matter.
 

Now, we understand that most new-comers to Cuenca don’t know exactly what the price of a rental should be but they shouldn’t rent a place just because it is less than what they were paying for rent in the states. Instead, they should learn to negotiate, and investigate further.  The DIY Cuenca Landing Guide goes into more detail on this.
 

We’ve been working the local rental markets since we’ve lived here and we know what a house, apartment, or condo should REALLY rent for, and we pass that information onto you so that we can all make an effort to keep prices fair for everyone.  But we can’t do it alone!



Remember, there’s always someone richer than you that will think a rent price much higher than what you’re paying, is ‘cheap’. Bottom line is we should remember to never compare North America with South America in any fashion about any matter because there is NO COMPARISON. In fact we do everyone, including ourselves a BIG disservice when we compare.

French Cafe "Sucre Sale" Across from Park Calderon in Cuenca

This video is about a little French cafe, Sucre Sale located in the heart of Cuenca. The almuerzo was a bit high at $3.50 and that could be because it is located right across from the famous Park Calderon in downtown Cuenca. The food was ok, service good, and the atmosphere was cozy and interesting. The cafe is small with only about nine or ten small tables. The ladies restroom was clean and there was tp and soap but no paper towels to dry your hands...I think they normally have paper towels because there is a dispenser but they were out when we were there...this happens a lot in Cuenca.

 

             

For Rent Furnished Apartment for $400 in Great Neighborhood of Cuenca!

As most of our long time readers know we focus on getting the best rental deals and this is one of them. This beautiful apartment is in a good location not far from El Centro, in fact, it is just a five minute bus ride or a 15-minute walk (walking slow) to the center of town! The apartment has everything you'll need to be comfortable and Internet WIFI is included in the price.  As you'll see in the video tour, the apartment is nicely furnished/decorated and there is a washer machine on the premises for you to do your laundry,  and the apartment has cable television. Contact us if you are ready to rent because this one will not last long.  

This apartment has been rented!! 

             

How to Get Discounts on Flights to Ecuador and within Ecuador

Flying abroad has gotten outrageously expensive. Some expats with children have even told us they do not want to have to make the trip twice because the airfare is just not in their budget to do so.



So are there any hidden secrets to getting  good airline deals on flights from the US to Ecuador? Let’s take a look at a few ways to get better airfares to Ecuador from the United States. 





UPDATE: 2015 - Some of you may have noticed. Flights to and from Ecuador are now taxed 25% higher; that's a big price jump! 


 Flights from the US to Ecuador



1. Make flight reservations 14 to 30 days in advance!



2. Sign up with airfare discount alerts. Keep yourself up-to-date on the major airlines that fly to Ecuador and get airfare alerts in your inbox by using such services as AirfareWatchdog. This will save you a great deal of time. Simply type in your preferred itinerary and wait for them to send the airfare deals!



3. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays are supposed to be the cheapest days to fly, so plan your flight on one of those days to get the lowest price.



4. Use price intermediary sites such as Travelocity and Orbits, which compares all the major airlines for the lowest airfare prices and discounts. However, we have noticed when you keep using these places every day, a couple of times a day, oddly they start coming back with higher prices every time. Only use them when you are ready to book your flight!



Understand that these online travel agents are not always the best places to get discounts. They do receive commissions and that is coming from somewhere.



5. Try comparison websites such as Kayak.com and Tripadvisor.com.  They also compare prices from all the airlines and will direct you to the best airfare deals.



6. Fly from major city airport hubs such as Atlanta, Miami, Chicago, Seattle, etc.  This is potentially a big money saver. This is what we did to save about $150 per ticket because we flew out of Atlanta, Georgia instead of  Franklin, North Carolina. Here is a US map with all of the major hub airport cities. The yellow circles on the map show where the major airport hubs are located.



7. Never try and get flight discounts to Ecuador just before major US holidays because airfares will be much more expensive. These times are the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, the four days before Christmas, and the first working days after New Year's.



8. Flights booked after 11:00pm (red eye flights) are less expensive because less people want to fly at this hour and the airline wants to fill up all the seats.



9. Some of the major airlines such as Continental and American offer the lowest priced airfares on their own website, so always check for discounts on their website BEFORE actually booking your flight, you never know.



10. Always ask for student and senior discounts, if applicable. Many airlines offer this. They also offer discounts for toddlers, and babies under two fly for free on most major airlines if you hold the baby on your lap.



11. Standby airfares are always cheaper. If you’re just one person and you don't mind sitting around in airports waiting for a seat to open up then this is a possible discount. Here’s how it works. You buy the standby ticket with the airline (not all airlines do this) but you do not set a flight time, and you wait in the airport until a seat opens up from a cancellation. When a seat becomes available, which might take hours or all day, they will let you know and you can then board that flight to Ecuador.  Couples can do this too but it might take longer for two seats to open up...and they might not have two seats together.



12. Name your own price at Priceline.com and you can save up to 25% to 50% sometimes.



13. Make sure you always look on an airlines official website to see the bargain page where many times they post last minute flight deals around the world. Also you can always call the airlines and ask when they will be having a promotion. 



14. The two cheapest months to fly are in February (the least expensive) and then March comes in second.  Tickets can be up to half price in February.



Regional - Flights within Ecuador



Need to fly from Cuenca to Quito or Manta? You can get discounts on regional flights in the country of Ecuador and here’s how.



1. Check to see if any regional airlines such as LAN Ecuador, Tame, or AeroGal have any special discounts before booking your flight.  Remember you need to go to their official website and check. They all have a promotions or special offers page for domestic flights.



2. When making a flight itinerary online with AeroGal, choosing flexible dates will return a better price every time; it did when I tried it.



3. Consider taking TAME from Cuenca to Quito.  They sometimes have a discounted flight of just $22 but restrictions do apply. Plan on a stop-over; there are no refunds and if you have to cancel your ticket for any reason they charge $15 plus tax.



4. Do not waste your time and use comparison or intermediary websites like Kayak or Orbitz to try and get cheaper flights within Ecuador because their flight tickets are higher than the official airlines websites offer.



5. Don’t forget to ask about senior discounts if you are a resident of Ecuador.



We hope this information on how to get discounts on flights to and within Ecuador will be of good service to you when visiting or moving to Ecuador. Taking the tour buses within Ecuador is still more cost effective than flying if you are on a budget, but may take more time and planning in your schedule. In this article we talk about taking the bus to Salinas.

San Sebas Restaurant in the San Sebastian Plaza

This restaurant is located in the San Sebastian Plaza in downtown Cuenca. The food is good and we've eaten here a couple of times. Breakfasts are good, the burgers are good and so are the Mexican dishes, especially if you like spicy food.



                 

'Parque Lineal' in Paute (Azuay) Ecuador

This is part two of our day trip to Paute Ecuador. This was a neat little park we visited that runs along the river... yes, a river runs through the edge of the town of Paute! We didn't get the name of the river, but perhaps someone knows and can let us all know in the comment section below.



                 

Paute Azuay Ecuador - Little Cuenca

The town of Paute Ecuador is a darling little town that reminded us of a little Cuenca. The little park in the center of town looks just like Park Calderon but about half the size. The scenery is beautiful because the mountains that surround Paute are very close by. 

Stay tuned for part two of Paute Ecuador coming soon!





                  

Hostal Macondo in Cuenca Ecuador: Nice Place to Stay!

We added Hostal Macondo to the DIY Cuenca Landing Guide third Edition because we thought it was a very comfortable, clean, and pretty place to stay in Cuenca. Hostal Maconodo has a beautiful outside area for eating, relaxing and socializing with guests, something that most hostels do not have. There are many beautiful plants around this guest house, which the humming birds absolutely love.



We think the many different sitting areas and the outdoorsy environment is definitely a plus.  Hostal Macondo also has in-house laundry service for a small fee. For price, location and contact information see the chapter we devote to Cuenca Ecuador hostels in the DIY Cuenca Landing Guide. 



                    

Good Maps of (Cuenca) Ecuador

When you tell people you live in Ecuador some of them are really not sure where that is. Some people think it is Central America, while others think it might be somewhere by Africa.



I clearly remember when I first told my mom we were moving to Ecuador
the first thing she said, “Is that in Central America?” She got out the
atlas and studied it, especially South America, for the first time since
she was in grade school.  I thought Ecuador was next door to Costa Rica.



Let's first take a look at a map of all the South American countries. This will give you a good idea of just where Ecuador is located and how large the country is in relation to other SA countries.



Map of South America



Ecuador is a small country, about the size of the state of Arizona. It is positioned between Columbia and Peru. Here is a good quality map of all the South American countries. Notice the size of Ecuador in relation to other SA countries. http://www.infoplease.com/atlas/southamerica.html



Wall Map of Cuenca Ecuador



If you are already in Ecuador then you can buy a detailed street map about 4’ by 3’ wall map of Cuenca city and surrounding area for a few bucks at the Papelaria Monsalve (office supply store) located off of Solano and Remigio Crespo. Because of its size, this map is best left pinned up to the wall in your home or apartment. Btw, this papelaria is the largest we have seen in Cuenca so far.



Free Maps of Cuenca



The Cuenca tourist office, across the street from Parque Calderon has two different types of free maps for visitors. And of course, online you can find a lot of good maps. Below are a few places to find good online maps of Ecuador.



Online Interactive Maps

https://maps.google.com/maps?ct=reset&tab=ll



Google maps beats all other online maps in our opinion just for the simple fact it is interactive and you can actually explore other places of interest in the area you are looking at. Google maps allow you to put in street names and get directions within any city of whatever country you are looking at.



Introduce yourself to Cuenca with Google’s Interactive map. Go to Google Maps and type in the search bar “Cuenca Azuay Ecuador”. Make the area as big or small as you like by moving the plus or minus sign that is located to the left of the map. Over to the right of the map you can click on “photos” and the map will display some really nice sights in Cuenca and the surrounding area.



With Google online maps you can also look at the satellite image, the terrain of Cuenca, what the weather is doing and even videos of Cuenca or of anywhere in Ecuador without even leaving Google maps!



Static Online Map - http://www.takemaps.com/en/map_of_ecuador_en.php

This map is a large online map with buttons and magnifying glass to easily scope out the provinces and cities within Ecuador. You can also print out this map as big as you want.



Here is an online street map of Cuenca Ecuador. Don’t forget to use the plus and minus buttons to make the area more detailed. This map is also viewable in satellite.

http://24timezones.com/onlinemap/ecuador_cuenca.php



GPS Travel Maps for Ecuador -http://www.gpstravelmaps.com/ecuador.php

 

Ecuador City Maps  - This website provides good quality maps of many different cities located within Ecuador. http://www.mapsofworld.com/ecuador/destinations/



We hope these maps of Ecuador will be helpful and aid you in your research about Ecuador. And now you know just where Ecuador is located and how to get around some of the major cities in Ecuador for when you visit or move here..



We know how useful maps are for when you first arrive in Cuenca and that is why the DIY Cuenca Landing Guide provides detailed street maps of points of interest that we think you will find very useful as you orient yourself here.