Thriving in Ecuador - Now Published!

On Friday, we posted the opportunity to purchase our e-book:  Thriving in Ecuador:  Visiting and Living in Cuenca (©2012).   We had hoped to have it out on Kindle with Amazon, BUT ran into problems with formatting. 

So…in order to make it available, we have published it now as PDF format.  This means one can purchase it through PayPal and it will be downloaded by email as a PDF version onto a laptop or PC.

We are still working on this “Kindle thing” and hope to have our glitch resolved soon.  If you would like to purchase the e-book now, as a PDF copy through PayPal, BUT would rather have the Kindle version later, we would be happy to refund the cost of purchasing it in the Kindle version when that time comes.  We can refund it through PayPal.

The advantage of the PDF version is that it offers the colors we have used when writing our book.  And by the way, if anyone out there would like to help us with the formatting for Kindle, we would genuinely welcome and appreciate your help.

We believe a $3.00 investment in Thriving in Ecuador will reward you many times over.  We would truly appreciate your feedback.  Revisions can be made prior to publishing on Kindle.

We received our first comment on the book from an expat now living in Ecuador:

“Your e-book is wonderful and I think very useful to incoming expats.  I especially liked your sections on visas, immigration, legal systems, etc.  I think if it was more information it would have tended towards the boring so you were able to capture a difficult subject and give people adequate 'warning' without beating a dead horse. 

I think it will be a popular read for those considering Cuenca or Ecuador in general, as a retirement solution.  Congratulations on a great piece.”

Gary & Sue

US Consulate

U S Passport Renewal

Last week we made our obligatory pilgrimage to Mecca. If you enjoy expatriate living, it is coming to a life near you.  Sing along now: Down the Andes and through the clouds, to the Big Brother's house we went. Unlike "Over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house" in the children's song, we were greeted by the hired guns of the entirely friendly Ecuadoran guards.

My heart felt a twang of grief as I gazed up at the Stars and Stripes, no longer conveying patriotic  sentiment, but concern for the America of my youth. Secure behind a small moat and floral-topped concrete wall, stood the house of Authority.

Before entering, we emptied our packs, placing everything on a table for inspection. Not as stiff as TSA security and with surprising respect, the rented guards gently glanced at us and allowed entry. Five feet inside, we repeated the procedure. The order, if not the time, of our internet appointment was respected. Our internet-provided forms expedited the process.  So $110 dollars later, we left with perforated old passports and the promise of new ones in a couple of weeks.

Oh, by the way, the staff has been negotiating with the courier service since August with no end in sight. Since they do not trust Ecuadoran mail, we must return to Guayaquil with our old passports to obtain a fresh decade of travel permission. Or send a friend!

Thriving in Ecuador - Our Unique Perspective

Thriving in Ecuador, coming out next week has a "Table of Thoughts" to locate what information you need or desire to read.  It includes 1) the financial and business perspectives of a former CPA, and the insights as a former Bed & Breakfast Innkeeper; 2) our personal experiences over a year; 3) and, includes specific advice on real estate, cargo, medical care, insurance, legal issues and taxes.

Our e-book was inspired by our 2008 and 2009 trips to Uruguay and meetings with the author of Living in Uruguay.  David shared with us that many of his readers encouraged him to turn his blogs into a book.  We referred to the book he gave us, when organizing our thoughts.  Traveling to Uruguay?  Google his book.

Books from different perspectives and experiences add insights and motivation to travelers.  And yes, we feel there will soon be additional books which may be useful also!

Gary & Sue Gaither

"Thriving in Ecuador" ebook

                                                       Thriving in Ecuador
                                                Visiting and Living in Ecuador

It's coming next week!  Here 'tis...

We present a crisp, clear, informative, time-saving narrative guide to Cuenca and Ecuador.

What we urgently wished for during our initial visit and first few months in the "Land of Eternal Spring" is now yours for $2.99.  Yep, three bucks on Amazon.

Over 40 short, fast moving, easy-to-read chapters, reducing a year's research to an organized and efficient planning tool.

We cover how, when, why, and where to come. Topics include culture, climate, entertainment, money saving and budget ideas. Shortcuts to travel, medical tourism, real estate, banking, health insurance, legal issues, safety and "gringo street-smart" are covered. We even embraced the "Disadvantages" and "Who Should Not Come."

May our ebook save you ciento horas - a hundred hours~
          Until next week,
                      Joyfully,
                            Gary & Sue Gaither
                            

Cajas Beauty

Parque Nacional Cajas

Up we drove via rented car and driver to the beautiful lakes of Cucheros and Toreadora.  A reduced entrance fee of two dollars and twelve dollars an hour for the chauffer gained us entry into this jewel of the southern Andes.  Our sky alternated between ominous clouds and a nearly Carolina blue sky.

Both are beautiful high altitude lakes in the huge Cajas National Park. It is like Cuenca has Rocky Mountain National Park half an hour to the west. It has 240 lakes and lagoons, and many miles of trails, some of which require a guide. Be prepared, the altitude is 4000 meters or 12,000 feet. In minutes the weather can change from sunny and temperate to cold and windy with potential storms.

Cucheros is the first Cajas turn off only 30 minutes west of Cuenca. A gentle hour’s walk took us around the pristine lake, past the remaining buildings of a defunct German Brewery and over a covered bridge shading a rushing brook. Seven llamas and an equal number of alpacas placidly monitored our movements.

Another half hour west we found Toreadora Lake; it’s a bit higher and wilder. From the visitor center several trails offer a variety of views and terrain. We chose the 90 minute walk around the lake. Tiny alpine flowers were beginning to break out in yellows, reds, and violets. The results of spring rains remained everywhere, forcing detours into moist mossy meadows where the spongy turf met our feet like a relaxing sponge.

Ahh… we shall return.

Trip to Azogules and Biblian

One of the couples in the Bible Study group took us to Azogules and Biblian one day recently.  We visited two old Catherdrals, both of which were high up in elevation.  Our dog, Stover was invited and then even allowed him inside the last Cathedral we visisted in Biblian.  There's a picture below of him at the altar repenting for his barking heard everywhere due to the acoustics!

We finished off our trip with a delicious lunch at Uzshupud.  Now there's a place you want to not only have lunch, but consider a night or two stay in their resort.  It's just lovely!  And we had a wonderful time!

A most enjoyable day trip !

Gringos

Gringos

We are Gringos!  No, that is not an insult. It may be in Mexico, but in Ecuador gringos are simply foreigners who are not Latin. Gringos include Americans, Canadians, Australians, and Europeans.

We are bigger, light skinned, and richer. It is fun being a “big Kid” at 5’-9”. Even Sue is mas alto than many, especially the native, Quichua, who are under five feet. Children enjoy looking at us and interacting. It’s fun to carry some candy for surprises. (I make eye contact with parents first for approval).

 Under the subtle class structure, we are immediately near the top. Curiously, we are unaware at first, because we tend to treat everyone equally. Men are most respected in the male dominated culture (see “Culture”).

You will soon discover “gringo pricing” especially with taxis, and small merchants. After a while I learned to give taxi drivers exact fare rather than ask. Short trips, under 6-7 minutes, are $1.50. Fares increase with traffic jams, sometimes in rain, and Sundays. Always start with buenas dias and depart with muchas gracias. Many drivers do not know how to read a map.

Please do not come to Ecuador expecting the create a American enclave. That created problems with locals in Panama and Costa Rica. If you move here, plan on learning some Spanish and adapting to the culture. Slow down, respect their relational priorities, remain flexible. Ecuadorans respond much better if you demonstrate a sincere desire to share their culture and language. Treat them as the equals they are.

Gringos initially tend to overpay for services. This disturbs the local pricing mechanism and creates unrealistic expectations. Many gringos moved here on a shoe string budget and do not want artificial inflation!  Besides, who wants to be viewed a rich and stupid?

My most memorable example is the routine purchase of a queen size bed frame. I sold our simple frame in NC, since wood work is inexpensive here. My quest morphed into a gringo custom job, at six times my expected price. Cuancano beds are a scant few inches off the ground, so our need was exceptional. Maybe there is a secret union here, since our first 5 bids were for $350.  What?... for an unfinished 2X4 bed frame! Finally, we asked our decorator, who had worked in NY for many years, “just a simple frame for $100 or less”. We settled for $140, over a week’s local pay.

Upon arrival in Cuenca, visit the Gringo meeting places for English conversation and orientation.  In Centro, visit beautiful Calderon Park with the Nuevo Cathedral  (1870) and  Viejo Cathedral (1600's). Usually gringos are present here or in the adjacent RambiPamba restaurante.  Centro historic district restaurants, California Kitchen and Aussie Kookaburra Café, are initial gringo favorites.  And try the symphony, usually on Thursday or Friday nights. Government sponsored, translation – free, which are faithfully communicated on “Gringo Tree” email.

Finally, “expat” does not mean I lost my patriotism, but “expatriate”- someone living outside their native land.
                                   Come join us in Cuenca,
                                                                                 Gary