Mindo Flood 23 MARCH...

Mindo Flood

23 Mar This is a rapid post to be updated later.
On March 21 we journeyed to Mindo, Ecuador in the “Cloud Forest” on the western slopes of the Andes about two hours west of Quito.  We had a great time partaking of Mindo’s many attractions, including bird watching, forest canopy cable car ride, zip-lining and the local faire (more on that in a following post).
http://ecuadorlifeandculture.wordpress.com/2013/03/23/mindo-flood/#respond

AHHH CUENCA!!: A Trip with Granny's Cousins - Part 1

AHHH CUENCA!!: A Trip with Granny's Cousins - Part 1: My friend ‘Granny’ from Nashville …oops, sorry….Nashvull, Tennessee had family coming to Ecuador for the first time.  Mahmaw, her 2 nd ...

Ecuador orders small bank to suspend operations

QUITO, March 18 | Mon Mar 18, 2013 8:01pm EDT

(Reuters) - Ecuador's banking regulator on Monday ordered one of the smallest banks in the Andean country to suspend operations due to solvency and liquidity problems.
The Territorial Bank currently has assets worth $170 million. Ecuador's banking system had total assets worth nearly $28 billion by the end of 2012. 

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/19/ecuador-bank-idUSL1N0CAFQQ20130319

Life in the middle of the world - Ecuador: Two words to describe Quito?

Life in the middle of the world - Ecuador: Two words to describe Quito?: I have been thinking about this post for a while.  If I could use two words to describe Quito what would those two words be?  I drive around...

On A Roll: Ecuador's gamble with the U.S. Dollar  

From Today in Ecuador - Miami Herald

QUITO – Ecuador’s Law of Economic Transformation, which made the U.S. dollar the nation’s legal tender, has lived up to its name by any measure. Since the adoption of the dollar in 1999, the country’s economy began rising from the dead and today the population of 15 million has never had it so good.: http://www.todayinecuador.com/noticias-ecuador/on-a-roll-ecuador-s-gamble-with-the-u-s-dollar-576256.html 

Ecuador’s Paraplegic (Former) Vice President Lenin Moreno

Ecuador’s Paraplegic (Former) Vice President 

Lenin Moreno a Major Force for Disability Rights

It can be easy to overlook the tiny South American nation of Ecuador. Yet Ecuador stands out as one of the region’s most advanced countries for disabled people. A major force behind this effort is Lenin Moreno, Ecuador’s vice president. A paraplegic, Moreno is one of the world’s highest-ranking leaders using a wheelchair.
Lenin Moreno was once a wealthy businessman and politician. But in 1998, he was shot in the back as gunmen stole his car from a parking lot in Quito. He was paralyzed from the waist down. Moreno overcame intense pain and bouts of depression to become a motivational speaker. He’s written books about the healing power of laughter. He also performs inspirational songs.:
http://www.theworld.org/2013/02/ecuador-lenin-moreno/

New UIO Airport Update March 13, 2013 Gringo Tree

New UIO Airport Update

March 13, 2013
Tomorrow marks three weeks since the new Mariscal Sucre Airport opened east of Quito. We’ve had a fair amount of feedback from people who’ve passed through there on their way to and from Ecuador. This is a summary of what we’ve learned, both from you and on our own. ..
http://www.gringotree.com/cuenca/articles/mod/articles/article.php?article=51