Montanita Ecuador Webcam and Commentary

This is part 1 of 3 of our webcam and commentary about the Ecuadorian coastal town of Montanita. We have a lot to share about Montanita so stay tuned for more coming up in the next few days. 

                   

We're in Montanita Ecuador, Surfers Paradise?

 MONTANITA



Commentary from Frank and Angie



Frank Haggling with a Souvenir Vendor



Cafes and Restaurants in Montanita



The Beaches and Crafts in Montanita



Webcam and Commentary



Webcam and Talking about Montanita



This little touristy town is waiting for you to plunk down your money in one of its many over-priced eateries and hostels. Montanita is still not that built up, unless you call bamboo huts with thatched roofs built up...yet the prices reflect differently.



The beach is nice but the waves...um..er...um, well, the waves are not that big for being a surfers paradise.  We've seen far bigger waves in two other coastal towns so far in our travels up the Ecuador coast, which we will mention in our new Ecuador Coastal Guide we're now writing! What's all the hub-bub about Montanita? More later.

               

More from Frank and Angie at the Beach in Puerto Lopez

This is part 2 of our commentary about a few of the smaller beach towns along the Ecuador coast. We have tons of video of different areas coming up (Puerto Cayo, Montanita, Ayampe, San Mateo, Puerto Lopez, and more) about the villages along the coastline of Ecuador. Ecuador has some beautiful areas along the coast as you'll see in upcoming videos.



                 

Frank and Angie Enjoy Relaxing on the Beach in Puerto Lopez Ecuador

We're in Puerto Lopez Ecuador. The skies have been overcast but it doesn't keep us from getting a suntan. The weather is great, the ocean is warm, and the beach is 2-miles long!!



PUERTO LOPEZ



Frank and Angie Talk More About PTO Lopez



Short Video Clips of Town and Beach of Pto Lopez



Taking a Motor Trike to the New Mercado in Pto Lopez



Pto, Lopez, A Little Bit of the Wild, Wild, WEST



The New Pier and the Bay Area of Pto Lopez 



We're Taking a Motor Trike in the Town of Pto Lopez



Enjoying North Beach and Offering Tips on Negotiation



Walking Along the Malecon in Pto Lopez



Local Fishermen Safeguarding their Catch from the Sea Birds!



 Small Town Coastal Shopping with Frugal Frank! 



The Puerto Lopez that Nobody Talks About 



Directors Cut, Video Clips Taken in Puerto Lopez

 

10 Coastal Villages / Beach towns Going North up the Ecuador Coastline

This is a glimpse of 10 coastal villages and beaches that we passed while traveling on the bus. We will be sharing more great information and commentaries on those that we have visited and stayed at, such as Montanita, Puerto Cayo, Ayampe, and Puerto Lopez.

             

Taking Taxi from Salinas to La Libertad Bus Terminal

Beginning our journey up the Ecuadorian coast. We'll be taking a coastal bus line from La Libertad to Montanita and other villages along the coast. There's a lot more to come with frugal Frank and Angie at the beach! Next up, video of nine coastal cities going North along the coastline. Plus we spent some time in several cities like Montanita and Puerto Lopez so stay tuned!!



                

Desayuno (Breakfast) in Salinas Ecuador

Before heading out of Salinas up the coast of Ecuador we had a little breakfast so we would not be hungry on the 2-1/2 hour long bus ride. 



We're traveling up the coast and there is a lot of coastline to cover in Ecuador. In one of our upcoming videos we'll be giving you a glimpse of many of the villages and towns along coast. Plus we spend time in several of the towns such as Puerto Lopez, Montanita, and Puerto Cayo...so you know what that means, it means we have lots of video and commentary about the Ecuador coast coming up!!  So stay tuned!



                        

Salinas Ecuador Walkathon and Exercise Day!

Early Sunday morning in Salinas Ecuador there were people walking and jogging and doing Calisthenics
on the beach for a fitness day. --- We're traveling the coastline so stay tuned for more from the beaches of Ecuador!

                         

Traveling the Coastline of Ecuador ~ First Stop Over ~ Salinas!

Salinas Ecuador travel itinerary. From Cuenca we take a bus going to Guayaquil. Then from Guayaquil we transfer onto a coastal tour bus that take us to Salinas. It takes a little over 3-1/2 -hours to get to Guayaquil and another two hours to get to Salinas. We're happy to be off the bus by the time we get into Salinas.  Our travels take us further north up the coastline to more beach towns...stay tuned for more videos of Ecuador beaches and towns!

                     

What's Happening in Cuenca September 2013

Here's our September video of different things going on around Cuenca. Cuenca is seeing major improvements to its roads, sidewalks, plumbing, and more! When we first moved here we wrote an article about how the sidewalks were all torn up and not really walk friendly, but slowly that is changing. We're also seeing more bike lanes all over Cuenca...bicyclists you're going to like the new bike paths.

                  

SPECIAL RENTAL: 6 Bed, 4 Bath Home with Yards and Views for $350--Posted on $300 Dollar Cuenca Rentals!

Remember to find out about our rental specials and be one of the first to view the homes, be sure to subscribe to $300 Dollar Cuenca Rentals for our SPECIAL RENTALS DEALS! 



Or, you can also check for our rental specials on this blog over to the right column under "Rental Specials".

This one is a pretty good deal and we did not want anyone to miss out on seeing this fantastic home. Check out the photo tour here!

Frank and Angie’s Frugal Café Hideaway in Cuenca Ecuador!

We're standing on the balcony of our
own private café hideaway where we know we can always find tranquility, views, great food, and good
prices. When we stumbled upon this place we thought about putting this
restaurant in the free Cuenca restaurant guide but we’ve enjoyed this wonderful
restaurant with excellent Italian/American food so much that we’ve decided to
keep it our little secret. We can't give everything away...

Some things
just have to remain within yourself if you want to have a little bit of quiet and privacy once in awhile, and keep prices low. This quaint restaurant (without loud music or
TV blaring above your head) is owned and operated by a husband and wife team.
The food is fantastic; it is not the typical Ecuadorian fare. 

The prices
are unbelievable and it is the only place in town, so far, that does not charge
$0.70 for a cup of hot water. Frank brings his own powdered cocoa and that is
what the hot cup of water is for. Yes, you know us, frugal Frank and Angie. 

 

We eat lunch
before the Ecuadorian almuerzo and so we basically have the third floor to ourselves
where we have a fantastic view off the balcony at the amazing mountains that
surround Cuenca and the people milling about below.

If you have
lived here for any amount of time you’ll also want to have your very own café hideaway,
away from the traffic, pollution, noise, and high prices. Eventually, if you
keep looking you will find such a place and when you do, keep it your special
secret. 

We know that
this quaint café will not stay hidden away forever, eventually more and more
people will stumble upon it just like we did; they will try the food and see it
is a very good, and the prices are fair too, and well, you know the rest of the
story.       

But for now, it seems it's all ours! 

However, we do share many of our favorite restaurants with our readers in our free restaurant guide right here on the blog! We're sure there is a little bit of something for everyone in the new updated edition of this restaurant guide. Enjoy!

Dear Readers of the DIY Cuenca Landing Guide...

Dear readers of the DIY Cuenca Landing Guide. There is an address error for the hostel called La Casa Cuencana which has recently been brought to our attention by several expats as well as the owners of the La Casa Cuencana.


Apparently the address error has pointed some new Cuenca arrivals to go across the street and stay at the hostel called Cuencana Hogar Hostel, which is more expensive than La Casa Cuencana.



We are sorry about this error and are in the process of changing the address mistake in the guide and it will be updated soon with the new address. 



However, for those people who have already purchased the guide, and are visiting Cuenca soon, and are thinking of staying at La Casa Cuencana, please make a note of the correct address below. Thanks!
 

The address NOW reads: Hermano Miguel 4-36 y Calle Larga (this is the wrong address)

It should read: Hermano Miguel 4-45 y Calle Larga (this is the correct address).

The owners of La Casa Cuencana, Martha and Jonathan are very helpful and friendly hosts and still offer lodging discounts to the readers of the DIY Cuenca Landing Guide.  Please print out “the page” in the guide where we list La Casa Cuencana and show it to Martha or Jonathan when you arrive to receive the discount.

Cuenca Ecuador Has Been Discovered! UPDATE 2016

UPDATE 2016 - Wowy, is Cuenca Ecuador getting discovered or what? Last week the president visited the USA and Europe to promote more tourism in Ecuador. We normally wouldn't update an article if its only 2.5 years old like this one but lots of changes we should tell you about that's happening in Cuenca.

Firstly, we think the charms of Cuenca are literally vanishing before our eyes.  Last week was Cuenca's Birthday and guess what, we didn't hear one firecracker or see one firework to display this momentous occasion. That's darn right weird. 

NOTE: This article is NOT just referring to just gringos from North America and Europe but Cuencano gringos who have lived in the states for 15-20-30 years who are now returning to Cuenca...

Cuenca
Ecuador has been discovered! How do we know? Living here lets you observe and
experience the steady progression of things changing. And it doesn’t take long
for it (few short years) to turn into well, just another city on the list of
cities. When a city becomes discovered, changes take place and it begins to
lose some of its charms and likeability.

You Know a Place Has Been Discovered when rents keep going higher and
higher…and it gets harder and harder to find local priced rentals.  Let’s take a look. 

Cuenca has
been discovered when Ecuadorians won’t budge on the rent for their older,
(needing TLC) home from $450 a month to $300, which is what it is really worth.

Cuenca has
been discovered when landlords put in their ads, “by the river”, or “off of
Ordonez Lasso”, (Gringolandia Street) or “walk to downtown”, and then they
raise their rent from $300 to $600 and say “prefer to rent to foreigners.

They
certainly can’t get Ecuadorians to rent a $300 dollar home for $600 just
because it’s walking distance to downtown.

Cuenca has
been discovered when you see older, (TLC Homes, some really dumpy) all over the
net for over $1,000 or more!!

You know
that Cuenca has been discovered when you open the Spanish newspaper and out of
30 ads 10 of them say they will “rent to foreigners only”. How sad and
discriminating! While at least half of the ads are clearly out of the
Ecuadorian local price range, so the
foreigners are the ones who rent those too. That leaves only 5 rentals that
cater to the whole population of Cuenca.

Umm…something is not right here. I
think Cuenca has been discovered!

You Know
Cuenca has been discovered when most of the Ecuadorian real estate agents working
in Cuenca are from New York, New Jersey, or Chicago, and they are only back in
Cuenca to get in on the action and the influx of gringos moving here.

You truly
know that Cuenca has been discovered when you try and work with the Ecuadorian
real estate agencies, telling them you can bring them more gringos (constant
flow of expats) to rent to if they lower their rental prices, and yet, they
won’t budge from their high priced rentals, some of which are ridiculously
priced!!

You know
that Cuenca has been discovered when you constantly get gringo gouged by the
Ecuadorians thinking you are a rich and
an Norte Americano.

You really
know that Cuenca has been discovered when the monthly maintenance fee of the apartment
building they live in keeps going up every month.

Update 2016 - Cuenca Ecuador has a few unscrupulous folks working in the real estate market, some of them gringos. Fortunately we know most of them and so we simply don't work with them, however newcomers will not know them and will at the very least over-pay and sign contracts that are pro-landlord not tenant. We often hear stories.

Sure, rents have doubled in the last five years...wondering whats going to happen in the next five years. 

~~~

You know
Cuenca has been discovered when many of the charms are diminishing from the
city. Let’s take a look.

NOTE:  All the blogs and forums have gringos complaining incessantly about the noise of the fireworks!! Don't think for a minute that the city does not read the most popular forums. Fireworks have been going off for hundred of years in Cuenca and now after it has been named the "best retirement city" in the world it decides to regulate fireworks...interesting...

Cuenca has
been discovered when fireworks are being regulated; what kind of fireworks can
be used and what holidays they can be displayed. Haven’t you noticed how quiet
Cuenca is lately?  When we moved here fireworks were going off every single day and all night. Someone high up is reading the complaints.

Update 2016: Sadly they didn't even create a professional manned firework show for Cuenca's birthday this year (2016). We're just shaking our heads.  


NOTE: The produce vendors have been selling on Cuenca sidewalks for hundreds of years...and now all of a sudden, after Cuenca has been named the "best retirement city in the world...they are removing vendors from the sidewalks?  Someone is complaining...just saying...

Cuenca has
been discovered when your favorite banana lady vendor is gone from her usual
sidewalk selling site. You ask her why she is not selling bananas in the
location she has been in for years and she tells you there’s a new county
ordinance that vendors can’t sell on certain main thoroughfares anymore. What?

How sad!! 

She is losing money day by day because she is off the main road now and down a
side street where no one can see her. Bottom line, her livelihood has been
basically taken from her. This is silly, moving the local vendors off the
sidewalks. They are not hurting anyone.

Update 2016 - ...and the saddest part is, she went out of business. We're not only shaking our heads but wondering what she does for a living now. 

What happened to all of the cart vendors in Cuenca? Little by little they are dwindling down to just wheelbarrows now. We recently learned that the city is not permitting anymore cart vendors. Our son went down to the office with a Ecuadorian friend of his where you register your cart and they told them now more permits and if anyone is selling food out of a cart they are doing it illegally. Sad...

Getting rid of the charms of the city is ruining the beauty of Cuenca.

Cuenca has
been discovered when they start regulating wheelbarrow vendors and telling them
they can only sell in certain areas of the city. They are no longer free to
walk around the city and sell where they want. Is the old world charm
disappearing and being replaced by a little North America? 

YES!

You Know a Place Has Been Discovered
When the government starts regulating everything. 

NOTE: Cuenca has been named, for the fourth year in a row the "best retirement city in the world"...you better bet that all the NEW changes and regulations have something to do with that. 

Cuenca has been discovered when you
can get fined $90 for making a u turn where traffic cops didn’t exist before.

Cuenca has been discovered when an
orphanage administrator tells you the government is now regulating the
children’s home to be run and modeled after the way the u.s does things.  What they don’t realize is this will affect
the children who only want to be loved. To a child, a hug and a story will
always take precedent over money and stuff.

NOTE: We want more police protection in the city...that is NOT what we're talking about here...Cuenca has been discovered when 120
new TRAFFIC police (differentiated from police protection) are now installed
throughout the city of Cuenca checking papers and writing tickets. Will they be
able to protect you while busy pulling you over and fining you for traffic
violations?

Cuenca has been discovered when they
want to install meters in the taxis.

Update 2016 - This has actually been a good thing for Cuenca all the way around.

You know Cuenca Ecuador has been discovered when the
president says he is going to get rid of gas subsidy and go totally electric by
2016. Watch your utility bill shoot up from $9 a month to $190 a month in a
flash. And many will have to buy all new 220 volt appliances.

Cuenca has been discovered when so
many gringos are coming here so fast that the immigration has to keep changing
the laws so as too slow down the influx of paperwork.  Funny! 

Update 2016 - and now they actually moved the immigration office out of the city of Cuenca about 40-minutes out in a city called Azogues. That'll slow things down nicely...or will it?
~~~ 
You know Cuenca has been discovered when…dental and medical are not really
inexpensive anymore. Well, at least for some people who are getting gringoed!

Cuenca's been discovered when a
friend tells you they paid $120 to get their tooth pulled…when it should have
only been $15. And he thought it was still Cheeeeep!  Our Ecuadorian friends told us in 2013 that
$15 was the price for a minor tooth pull. The molars cost $20 to $25 depending
on how impacted they are.  I paid $30 to
have two teeth pulled in 2012.  

You know Cuenca has been discovered when your
expat friends tell you they spent one night in a Cuenca hospital with a stomach
ache and it cost over $1,000!! What? Crazy as crazy gets.

Cuenca has been discovered when more
and more expats are complaining of paying extravagant prices for services to an
Ecuadorian facilitator and because they are “recommended”, they are too busy, and yet they just keep taking the clients/money but while not being able to deliver the service they
promised!!! We talk with expats on a “regular basis”…we heard this from the
horses-mouth.

You know Cuenca has been discovered when
some of the almuerzo
restaurants keep raising their prices. And when some of the mom and pop stores
follow the lead.

Cuenca has certainly been discovered when a
small burrito at almuerzo price slowly inches up to tourist pricing, I think it
is time to walk away from that restaurant, and we have.  

You know Cuenca has been discovered when a
certain almuerzo restaurant keeps getting more and more pricy on their menu $4.00
dollars for the same menu item that cost $3.00 just a year ago, from a non
tourist point of view its time to quit patronizing that restaurant.

Cuenca Ecuador has been discovered when you
go back to the same health food store and they start charging you almost double
for the exact same item you can buy in another health food store, it’s time to
stop going there. Anyone spell, G.R.I.N.G.O  G.O.U.G.I.N.G.

Cuenca has been discovered when the
Parmesan cheese lady raises the price
of Parmesan cheese because she knows you’ll be back to buy it from her, you
know Cuenca has been discovered and that you are being targeted.

You really know Cuenca has been discovered when
different expats keep complaining to us that wherever they go and whatever they
do, they keep getting gingoed, you know something is happening to this once
beautiful paradise.

And
everything we’ve just mentioned has happened/changed in the last one and two
years of living here…imagine what it is going to be like in two and three more
years!   Someone said it very nicely in the commnets "little NORTH america". 

All the changes we have mentioned and more you see in and around Cuenca are the direct cause of Cuenca being named the "best retirement city" in the world for the 4th year in a row... 

Update 2016 - And lastly, you know that Cuenca and other cities in Ecuador have been discovered when gringo enclaves are being home invaded on a consistent basis. 

So, what do you think happens to a city that has been glorified for four years in a row, as a retirement paradise.  The city makes new regulations, gets more organized, and begins to change the city by implementing things of a first world. 

These changes are happening in Cuenca faster because more baby boomers are on the Internet now than ever before and just like Panama, Costa Rica, AND Mexico when a city is named "best retirement city in the world" for several years in a row it is going to see major changes and fast.  

In fact, rumor has it that they are trying to transform Cuenca to be just like the USA. The one thing that would be good that they could do is "turn down the radio or TV in restaurants and public buses. That would be a good start to calming the senses.

Well, one
thing the 'travel media' love to say about Cuenca and it is still the same; it will never change. The weather
is still almost spring like 365 days out of the year...aaaaaah, paradise!

Until we write again, you might want to take a look at these articles about Cuenca Ecuador being discovered!

We're an expat family of five living frugal, happy and healthy in Cuenca Ecuador. Come along with us and enjoy some of our adventures!

Want to Know When We Post Special Rentals on the '$300 Dollar Cuenca Rentals' Blog?

Hello Folks, this is just another friendly reminder that we will no longer be posting special rentals on this (Discover Cuenca Ecuador) blog.  



To be alerted of new "special rentals" when they are posted, sign up to the $300 Dollar Cuenca Ecuador blog feed with your email. It's that simple...



...or from this blog, look over to the right column for the link titled "SPECIAL RENTALS". Click on the description of the home and it will take you to the video tour.

Btw, we just now posted a 'special rental' ...so click on the link that describes the home and watch the video tour of this beautiful, spacious, bright, open, 4-bedroom home (see home above) located walking distance to shopping!!  

Free Cuenca Restaurant Guide Updated!

We are pleased to be sharing with our subscribers/readers our updated free Cuenca restaurant guide. In it you will find 16 restaurant recommendations that are both inexpensive and good. Click here to open the PDF file and view the free restaurant guide.  We (Frank, Angie, Brandon, Angelo and Alessandro) thank you for your support and your readership of the Discover Cuenca Ecuador Website!

Great Thin Crust Pizza at this Pizzeria in Cuenca Ecuador!

We have eaten at this pizzeria a couple of times and both times we have been happy with the food and service. And the great thing about it is you can always find a seat and it is not as noisy as some of the other popular pizza and ice cream restaurants such as Tutto Freddo's.



Don't get us wrong, we like Tutto Freddo's but lately they are so busy we have had to wait in line to get a seat! Btw, Tutto's still has some of the best ice cream and desserts anywhere in Cuenca, in our opinion. Perhaps that is why it is so busy. There is another location for Tutto Freddo's that is not as busy, located at the San Blas Square (not to be confused with the San Sebas Square).



I believe we should start patronizing some of these other great places to eat in Cuenca that are not all talked up and give them some business too! Tutto Freddo's might have good ice cream but for goodness sakes, there are other places to eat good pizza in the city of Cuenca and this place is one of them. 

                    

Cuenca Rental Home on 5 Acres with Views and Caretaker - $400!

This is the Living Room of the home on 5 acres. To see the video tour of this home click here. 





This Home Has RENTED!
                      ~~~

We have decided to not make any more posts about our special rentals on the "Discover Cuenca Ecuador blog any longer.

This will be our last post with special rentals on this (Discover Cuenca Ecuador) blog.



We will now have our special rentals reserved for our rental website at $300 Dollar Cuenca Rentals blog only.



If you would like to be notified when we post a new rental please subscribe to our $300 Dollar Cuenca Rental website with your email or favorite feed reader. 

What's Happening in Cuenca Ecuador in August 2013

This is our end of the month video for August 2013. In this video you will find some interesting and entertaining things going on in the city of Cuenca. There is always some kind of entertainment going on here. 



Enjoy the video of Cuenca Ecuador!



We're hoping the video will be viewable soon. We are experiencing Internet difficulties at the moment. The video is in the process of uploading...or trying to upload. :-(



                 

We're Eating at Casa do Brasil - Ecuadorian Fare

This restaurant was ok; the food being typical of Ecuador fare, however the portions were small for the price of $2.50.  The windows seats are quaint and you can see people bustling about below, but the restaurant is small. They always have food specials during almuerzo hours, starting at 12:00 through 3:00pm. We had nachos here once and the portion was small. This place is a fine place to eat if you're not very hungry. :-) The restaurant is located on Borrero and Mariscal Sucre.



                      

New, Bright, 3/2 Apartment with Great Views of the City - $250!

THIS APARTMENT IS RENTED! This brand new 2nd floor apartment (no elevator) (never been lived in) is located in great area of  Cuenca with some spectacular views.



Walk to downtown in less than 10 minutes, or walk to bus line one block away on totally paved roads. This darling apartment has some of the best views of the city!



This apartment is bright and cheerful and has many windows which is a plus with Cuenca homes and apartments.



The owners live in the building downstairs. It is a peaceful and beautiful neighborhood! If interested contact us asap!



                               

Remodeled 3-Bedroom Home in a Gated Community for $280!

THIS HOME HAS RENTED! Where in the world are you going to find a nicely remodeled 3-bedroom 2-bath home for $280? At $300 Dollar Cuenca Rentals of course!

This home is situated in a safe, gated community right next door to the landlord. This situation works out great for those folks who want to leave their home for vacations and travel. Located off of Don Bosco and just feet away from two bus lines! Can't beat that!     

Contact us here!    

                                             

New 3/2 Home for $300: Why We Walked Away and Why You Should Too!

The house is brand new, never been lived in. The price is not spectacular, it is what a 3 bedroom home or apartment should actually go for in Cuenca. It is the local Ecuadorian price market for a new home.



So what's the problem you might be wondering? Well, the problem is the owner/agent sees four gringos showing up to look at this house (Frank and I and the couple we were showing it to) and she decided to impose an outrageous deposit of $500. She knew the house was only for the two people but she felt compelled to ask for this silly deposit. It happens often to us and we just walk away.



She could not go up on the rental price because the $300 price was already listed, so she thought she'd be coy and ask for a hefty deposit, which the renter will NEVER see again. Frank simply and nicely told the lady that we were not going to pay that and to call us if she changes her mind. Obviously she is waiting for some more gringos to come along, she certainly will not get that deposit from an Ecuadorian!!!



                      

Spacious New 4/3 House for Rent in Excellent Area of Cuenca!

RENTED! What is so neat about this house? You can walk down the road one block and hop on a bus and be at Coral Centro in 5 minutes! The home has front and back garden space.



This nice home is located in a great location on the way to Banos. The home is brand new and never been lived in! The downstairs has nice ceramic tiles, while the upstairs has beautiful hardwood floors throughout. The open floor plan gives a spacious feel and is a rare find in many of the homes in Cuenca.  Contact us here.



               

Nice 4/4 Cuenca Condo by the River for $350!

This condo has a lot going for it besides the great price. It's located in a gated complex with other homes in a super peaceful area on the east side of the city. It is quiet with clean fresh air! The condo is almost new. The walk to the bus is a nice walk along the river, about 6 blocks away. You have the river right across the street and its all yours!!  Contact us here about this condo. Great value for this home in a excellent area of the city.



           

Spanish Rap Singers on the Bus in Cuenca Ecuador!

Just another bus ride in the day and life in Cuenca Ecuador!

                 

Spacious 4/4 plus 2 dining rooms, plus study, plus separate maids area, plus more for $350!

RENTED! This older Cuenca home is quite spacious with many rooms. The kitchen has been updated and the house is waiting for a woman's decorating skills to bring it back to life!



The house boasts several different rooms for those special projects, crafts, study, etc. You decide what the extra bonus areas will be used for. Contact us here if you are interested

                         

NEW Furnished 2/3 Town Home with Terazza for $400!

This NICE and New Town Home includes utilities! It is situated in a secure gated complex with two other homes. Plus it is just 1-1/2 blocks from the Macharanga River! It is 4 short blocks to the bus line and a 5 to 8 minute bus ride to the Monay Mall and Coral Grocery store. The home has 2 furnished bedrooms, plus an unfurnished bonus room. It has 3 bathrooms. The home has a washer and dryer situated under a completely covered sky-lighted laundry room. The home is Internet ready which is $50 a month.  Contact us here if you are interested in this home. RENTED!



          

Public Bathrooms in Cuenca Ecuador Photo Tour!

When you gotta go, you gotta go! Most of the public bathrooms in Cuenca are just fine; they may or may not have toilet paper however, unless it is a place like the mall. This is why we ALWAYS have some TP in our backpack. There are several public restrooms in different parts of downtown Cuenca that will give you tp and soap for .10 cents.



Anyway, there are only a few bathrooms you will not want to use in Cuenca. Perhaps you have already found them. You'll see a couple of them in the video but for the most-part we're good to go!



                    

No Water for 72-hours in Cuenca Ecuador; Land of Paradise?

Just another day (72-hours actually) in the
life in Cuenca Ecuador.  

We’ve previously written about the infrastructure in Cuenca and the Ecuadorian coast.  And after two years of living in the cheapest and best retirement city in the world, we figured we had a good understanding of the infrastructure pulse.  We didn’t think we’d be writing about it again just because Friday morning (July 26th 2013) at around 11:00AM our water quit.
 

No big deal, we’ve been through this several times before and we were mentally and practically prepared for the water to be out up to but not necessarily a full 24 hours.  That had been our experience so far, so we went on with our daily errands and never thought much of it, expecting the water to be back on by morning at the latest.  Oh boy we were in for a big surprise!
 

When the water didn’t come back at dawn as it did the last time it was out for 24hours, and then at 8am and then at 10am our enthusiasm sunk.  We were prepared for 24hours without water but not a lot longer!!!  After all, things are constantly improving in this best retirement city in the world, or so we’re told.
 

The first thing we did was go online to the ETAPA website to find out what was going on with the water since they are in charge of the water supply in the city of Cuenca. Unfortunately, on their website there was no mention of any repairs being done on the water lines nor was there any mention of water being out, or when it would be turned back on. Ummm?
 

The second thing we did is immediately send our sons to the Coral Centro to stock up on water.  Guess what? The grocery store is out of large jugs of water! It’s now obvious other people had raided the water shelves.  They still had smaller sparkling water, so the boys bought up the rest of the sparkling water and came home with it so we would have some water to drink.
 

To lift our enthusiasm again, we decide to go around town and see if we can enjoy normal life in a different neighborhood, where there's water! Sure enough on our way downtown, we spot the working crews on Las Americas with three foot diameter water pipes taken apart in the middle of the median.  Ok, there’s the problem, and we’re downhill from it.  North of it was Supermaxi, and the water was still running in their restrooms.  It was also still running in the other parts of town that we visited, north of the break. Momentary relief!
 

Frank and I stop off at another grocery store on the way home.  We both grab three five liter jugs of water. I’m thinking cooking, doing dishes, and drinking water.  Who knows when we will have water again, we’re both thinking, by this time. 
 

We put one jug in our backpack and we carry one in each hand.  Try walking up the bus steps with three heavy jugs of water.  That was the easy part. I almost make it to the standing area of the bus (all the seats are taken) where Frank is already standing and the bus driver revs up on the gas pedal and takes off like a madman, and, well, I lose my balance and one of the jugs of water falls out of my hands and rolls down the aisle of the bus. 
 

They say a gallon of water weighs 9lbs, so these five liter jugs must weigh over 11 lbs each, and we’re both carrying three of them! An Ecuadorian guy stops my rolling jug of water and hands it back to me after I regain my balance. Whewy!
 

We still have another problem. Flushing the toilets!! Always with a mind for blending in and doing what the locals are doing, I spot a young local Ecuadorian man walking toward the river with…huh?  Empty jugs!  Bingo!  I call my son and tell him to take a bucket down to the river and fill it with water to flush the toilets, because, well, you know, the locals are doing it, great idea!  Now there’s a benefit to living next to the river that we hadn’t thought of!
 

By the way, our sons told us there were bunches of piles of you-know-what with sheets of toilet paper all over the place down by the river. Looks like at least some of the locals found their solution to having a full toilet. What else could they do?  Someone sitting at a desk at Etapa water decided it would be ok, to leave the citizens downhill from the water break, without water over the weekend.  I’m betting their water wasn’t shut off, how much you wanna bet?
 

Sunday morning arrives (two days) and we still have NO Water!! Now this is in the land that is getting hyped up all over the news and in the international press as the new retirement paradise! What to do, what to do. Are we spoiled because we like running water, hot showers and a toilet that flushes after you use it?
 

The boys go back to the Coral Centro, which is south of the water break, and now the restrooms are closed due to no water.  This is big time.  Even the chicken restaurant across the street was closed for no water, short changing us on a delightful barbecue chicken lunch we had planned.  No, we don’t want to go home and cook and have a bunch of dishes to do without running water, would you?  
 

This is getting out of hand, it’s spoiling our retirement!  At least we can go home and write, hehehe!
 

Sunday early afternoon the water comes back on as a trickle, again. However, having only a trickle of water means there is not enough water pressure to kick on our propane water heater to take a shower.
 

However, one of our sons discovered a nifty trick.  I guess when you want a shower bad enough your mind goes into creative thinking mode.  He discovered that if you turn on the tap for the hot water in the bathroom sink, along with the shower, then the pressure was just enough to kick on the calefon (barely) for a hot shower. ..yet, it was still only a trickle of water coming out of the shower nozzle but at least we were able to rinse off and get clean, right?
 

In our area of the city we had no water for three days, and when the water finally trickled back on we had no real water pressure for another 24 hours.  After that, finally, the water pressure came back to normal, which is four days later and that is when we were able to take showers. Four days without a shower!
 

I keep kicking myself for not being at my self sufficient best, because, if I was in the northern country, I’d be way ahead of this thing, with separate barrels of water with water pumps and shower nozzles and heating under the barrels, and I’d be showering hot and singing Dixie, and being smug.   



But here in the best retirement city in the world I have to run all over town just to get a drill bit.  Well let’s look at the bright side, at least the water went out in our part of town, and because of that, we’re able to write another article…