Volcano continues to affect air routes / U.S. signals it wants better relations with EC

ECUADOR DIGEST
Volcano continues to affect air routes / U.S. signals it wants better relations with Ecuador, trade discussions underway

Posted By Admin | Published: July 24, 2013 23:20

Ecuador’s civil aviation authority continues to re-route flights between Quito, Cuenca and Guayaquil to avoid the Tungurahua volcano smoke plume. The plume of ash, smoke and steam, rises almost five kilometers above the 16,000 foot volanco.

Flight routes have been shifted to the west, adding five to 15 minutes to flight times between cities.

Although some in-country flights have been cancelled as a result of the volcano, most have continued on schedule.
http://www.cuencahighlife.com/post/2013/07/24/ECUADOR-DIGEST3cbr3eVolcano-continues-to-affect-airline-routes3b-US-signals-it-wants-better-relations-with-Ecuador-trade-discussions-underay.aspx

Living the life Ecuador Coast: Health Advice

Wednesday, 24 July 2013

Health Advice

Health Advice

From Nurse Evelyn USAF RN

Now that you have moved here, and by here I mean to South America, the information is general and applies to all of the Latin American countries.

This subject is not often spoken about, and is not a question that you would know to ask. 

Even when you look at the many web sites out there encouraging you to move here from North America, they contain vague warnings about drinking the water, the use of mosquito repellent, about bed bugs and a few other things. These are just as much in need of a warning from where you came.

No, this subject is about worms, and not the kind that you would use for fishing or would hope are turning over the soil in your garden.

These worms find a very nice place to live inside our bodies; to be clear, in our gut or intestines......Living the life Ecuador Coast: Health Advice: Health Advice From Nurse Evelyn USAF RN Now that you have moved here, and by here I mean to South America, the information is general...

ECUADOR NEWS MAGAZINE: Quito,the tourist capital of the world

ECUADOR NEWS MAGAZINE: Quito,the tourist capital of the world: Ecuador news magazine - Quito, July 22 (Andes).- One hundred and seventy one (171) countries and its citizens voted for Quito to win the “To...

Quito,the tourist capital of the world

Ecuador news magazine - Quito, July 22 (Andes).- One hundred and seventy one (171) countries and its citizens voted for Quito to win the “Tourism Oscar”, that this past Monday was presented to its new hosts. Through the prize awarded by World Travel Awards to the Ecuadorian capital as leading South American destination, Quito surpassed Rio de Janeiro which had earned this award for the past nine years.

“This prize is the product of a process to promote Quito’s tourism. Besides, it honors Quito and what it may become as a world icon”, said Quito’s mayor, Augusto Barrera.

The first Cultural Heritage of Humanity welcomed on average 533,000 foreign visitors in 2012.

“Quito is not just its monuments, roads and infrastructure; it’s also the warmth of its people that turns us into first rate hosts”, upheld Eduardo Dousdebes, Secretary of Productive Development and Productivity of the Municipality.

Las Casas de Rumy Tola - Homes and Real Estate in Cotacachi Ecuador: Owning Real Estate in Ecuador Can Qualify You For ...

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Owning Real Estate in Ecuador Can Qualify You For Residency

There are several ways to qualify for permanent residency in Ecuador.  The two most common means are the retirement visa and the investor visa.  The retirement visa requires a verifiable minimum monthly income from some sort of a retirement program such as social security or a pension.  The investor visa requires that you invest a prescribed amount of cash into an approved financial investment within Ecuador.
Las Casas de Rumy Tola - Homes and Real Estate in Cotacachi Ecuador: Owning Real Estate in Ecuador Can Qualify You For ...: There are several ways to qualify for permanent residency in Ecuador.  The two most common means are the retirement visa and the investor vi...

Geocaching Journal: Geocaching With Kids

Geocaching With Kids

There are plenty of good resources out there for beginning geocachers; especially now that our little hobby has become so popular. But one of my favorite go-to sites, not just for geocaching, but to learn about anything outdoors-related, is REI. Their "Expert Advice" section is excellent. And this post on "Geocaching with Kids" is no exception. Here's an excerpt:

This brief but helpful write-up contains all the essential information for parents wanting to start enjoying time outdoors with their kids.Geocaching Journal: Geocaching With Kids: There are plenty of good resources out there for beginning geocachers; especially now that our little hobby has become so popular. But one o...

GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right? HeadHardHat's Geocaching Insights: First Geocaches in Georgia and Florida

GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right? HeadHardHat's Geocaching Insights

HeadHardHat's Award Winning Geocaching Blog is a geocache treasure trove of geocaching information. Years of searchable geocaching insights await you here. HeadHardHat's GeoSnippits Geocaching Videos series can be seen on You Tube. You can also find him on his new GeoSnippits Reboot Podcast series and the Geocaching Podcast. Geocaching the outdoor treasure-hunting game which the participants use a GPS receiver to hide and seek containers called "geocaches" or "caches" anywhere in the world~

GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right? HeadHardHat's Geocaching Insights: First Geocaches in Georgia and Florida: Found my first geocaches in Georgia and now Florida with Dave. On to GeoWoodstock 11.

ECUADOR NEWS MAGAZINE: Guayaquil guide - THE WHITE CITY

Guayaquil guide - Guayaquil

Guayaquil is Ecuador's largest city, its busiest port and its leading economic engine. Although it was, for many years, an afterthought to visitors, travelers have now come to recognize Guayaquil as one of Ecuador's most fascinating, vibrant places. Its unique culture, cosmopolitanism, rapidly developing tourist infrastructure and intriguing attractions have begun to lure in visitors.

ECUADOR NEWS MAGAZINE: Guayaquil guide - THE WHITE CITY: "This is the door to a new life," you can read above entrance number three of Guayaquil's general cemetery, one of the most be...

Guayaquil guide - MALECON 2000

The waterfront malecón, or boardwalk, was once the center of social life in Guayaquil. 

It had fallen into disuse in the late 20th century, but an ambitious program of restoration and new construction has turned it into the must-see attraction in Guayaquil.

Fun facts about Ecuador by Married w/ Luggage

Fun facts about Ecuador

Posted on December 20, 2010 // 16 Comments

We’ve observed a few things about Ecuador you may not find in your local travel guide. As we make our way into Colombia, we want to leave you with this little list of fun facts we learned during our travels.
(All of these statements are said with great affection, since we have really grown to love this country.)

Transportation

• Stop = yield. This is no joke. A friendly tap on the horn as you approach an intersection is about all the warning you’ll get from an approaching car. And following behind the car in front of you? That’s for suckers. Ecuadorians continually tailgate and pass the cars in front of them. We’ve even seen buses pass each other at night on 2-lane curvy mountain roads. No one wants to wait once they get in the car (before they get in the car, that’s another story!)....Fun facts about Ecuador Posted on December 20, 2010 // 16 Comments We’ve observed a few things about Ecuador you may not find in your local travel guide. As we make our way into Colombia, we want to leave you with this little list of fun facts we learned during our travels. (All of these statements are said with great affection, since we have really grown to love this country.) Transportation Stop = yield. This is no joke. A friendly tap on the horn as you approach an intersection is about all the warning you’ll get from an approaching car. And following behind the car in front of you? That’s for suckers. Ecuadorians continually tailgate and pass the cars in front of them. We’ve even seen buses pass each other at night on 2-lane curvy mountain roads. No one wants to wait once they get in the car (before they get in the car, that’s another story!).

Living and Retiring in Ecuador: How Sweet it Is -- Hershey's Cocoa!

Living and Retiring in Ecuador: How Sweet it Is -- Hershey's Cocoa!: Cost of Living Update: Hershey's Cocoa $7.39 After living in Pennsylvania for 23 years and having Hershey, PA 20 minutes down the ...

Life in the middle of the world - Ecuador: Quito Traffic "Que Bestia!"

Life in the middle of the world - Ecuador: Quito Traffic "Que Bestia!": I promised in the beginning I would keep it real, upfront, and honest throughout all of my blog posts.  So as promised I am here to tell you...So as promised I am here to tell you one of Quito's ugliest and most brutal realities.

THE TRAFFIC HERE SUCKS.

This is where you will spend a ton of your time if you live in Quito

I mean it is really bad.  Absolutely horrible.  This is being typed from the hands of a Los Angeles native driver, so that in it self should say a lot.  But seriously, my 10 mile commute is actually an hour and a half at a minimum. 

The miniature version of "streets" you find in certain sections of the city, plus the street lights that are green for a whole 1.8 seconds on major intersections, multiplied by the over abundance of mid sized and large SUV's here in Quito, only begins to describe this mess.  (massive run on sentence I know)

Everyday congestion in the city of Quito

If you must drive here, You will find these many little caveats or unwritten rules helpful:

• It is perfectly OK to be all the way in the right lane on a 3 lane road, then suddenly make a left turn without using your signal.  This works both ways. 
• It is also perfectly acceptable to park in the middle of the street to send a text message, make a phone call, or even get out to buy some street food.  
• If you own a motorcycle you are allowed to drive pretty much anywhere you can make your bike go, even down stairs.    
• Running a red light is perfectly OK after sunset or on Sunday, however the concept of what "Right on red" is has not caught on yet, even though it is actually legal here. 
• Buses are above the law and actually gain 50 points for every car they run into.  Blue buses have diplomatic immunity.
• People will beep at the people in front of them to go when the light is still red, even if it is a police officer in front of them.
• The space between the two lanes on the road is actually another lane, if your car can fit.   

By following these unwritten laws, you will survive driving here in Quito.  Good luck. 

Discover Cuenca Ecuador: Are Ecuadorians Really as Friendly as EVERYONE Say...

Discover Cuenca Ecuador: Are Ecuadorians Really as Friendly as EVERYONE Say...: 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 ...

Friday, July 5, 2013

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?