Sunday, December 29, 2013
Ecuador: Tales from the Middle of the Earth: A Tale of an Ecuadorian Night Watchman
Ecuador: Tales from the Middle of the Earth: A Tale of an Ecuadorian Night Watchman: In Ecuador, there is a tradition of the Night Watchman. It took me about a month to completely acclimate to my surroundings before I became ...
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Correa slams report on CIA role in Ecuador strike- Quito (AFP) - Dec 23, 2013 -
Correa slams report on CIA role in Ecuador strike- Quito (AFP) - Dec 23, 2013 - Ecuador's President Rafael Correa warned Monday that reports US intelligence played a role in a 2008 Colombian attack on FARC rebels in his country could threaten regional peace efforts.
Over the weekend, the Washington Post reported that a secret Central Intelligence Agency program had helped Colombia kill at least two dozen leftist guerrilla leaders.
And, according to the report, it was thanks to US intelligence that the FARC number two, Raul Reyes, was found and killed in a cross-border attack on Ecuador in 2008 that left 24 dead.
Ecuador temporarily broke diplomatic relations with its Andean neighbor following the incident.
On his Twitter account, Correa wondered if these "very serious" revelations and other recent disagreements between his government and Washington were simply coincidence.
He speculated that the report was an attempt to affect Ecuador's relations with the United States and Colombia and "above all, the peace process" under way between Colombia and the FARC.
"At this point, I don't believe in 'coincidences.' Colombia and the international extreme right are capable of anything!" he wrote.
According to the Post, a secret CIA program in Colombia was initially authorized by president George W. Bush around 2000 and has been continued under his successor Barack Obama.
The covert operation provided intelligence to help locate the FARC leaders and supplied a special GPS guidance kit that helped Colombia convert standard bombs into precise smart munitions.
The 2008 incident triggered a diplomatic crisis between Bogota and Quito, with Ecuador suspecting the attack was orchestrated with the help of the United States, despite denial from Colombian authorities.
The governments fully restored relations in 2011....read more: http://news.yahoo.com/correa-slams-report-cia-role-ecuador-strike-213223229.html
Over the weekend, the Washington Post reported that a secret Central Intelligence Agency program had helped Colombia kill at least two dozen leftist guerrilla leaders.
And, according to the report, it was thanks to US intelligence that the FARC number two, Raul Reyes, was found and killed in a cross-border attack on Ecuador in 2008 that left 24 dead.
Ecuador temporarily broke diplomatic relations with its Andean neighbor following the incident.
On his Twitter account, Correa wondered if these "very serious" revelations and other recent disagreements between his government and Washington were simply coincidence.
He speculated that the report was an attempt to affect Ecuador's relations with the United States and Colombia and "above all, the peace process" under way between Colombia and the FARC.
"At this point, I don't believe in 'coincidences.' Colombia and the international extreme right are capable of anything!" he wrote.
According to the Post, a secret CIA program in Colombia was initially authorized by president George W. Bush around 2000 and has been continued under his successor Barack Obama.
The covert operation provided intelligence to help locate the FARC leaders and supplied a special GPS guidance kit that helped Colombia convert standard bombs into precise smart munitions.
The 2008 incident triggered a diplomatic crisis between Bogota and Quito, with Ecuador suspecting the attack was orchestrated with the help of the United States, despite denial from Colombian authorities.
The governments fully restored relations in 2011....read more: http://news.yahoo.com/correa-slams-report-cia-role-ecuador-strike-213223229.html
The Holiday Issue of Ecuador George- December 24, 2013
The Holiday Issue of Ecuador George
Now here is a great picture I stole from Kimbler’s Exit to Ecuador. From a Christmas Parade a few years ago. Again, you can click on the picture and visit Karen Kimbler’s blog site.
....read more: http://www.ecuadorgeorge.com/ecuador-george/
Now here is a great picture I stole from Kimbler’s Exit to Ecuador. From a Christmas Parade a few years ago. Again, you can click on the picture and visit Karen Kimbler’s blog site.
....read more: http://www.ecuadorgeorge.com/ecuador-george/
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Dec23 by helpingkidsinecuador - Daniel is home!
Daniel is home!
As you can imagine Daniel and his mother were overwhelmed by the reception. Talking with his mother she indicated she feels this is like Daniel and her “First ” Christmas. This gift of life is definitely the most incredible Christmas gift possible!!!
Daniel and mom-
Her gratitude to all who helped in saving her child’s life is so very obvious when speaking with her…she is sincerely grateful to all who participated by contributions, thoughts and prayers. This Christmas miracle is acknowledged by all…family and doctors alike.
We, too, want to thank everyone for your incredible response to Helping Kids in Ecuador. This would never have happened without your support. We especially want to thank our medical adviser, Dr. Victor Astudillo of Clinica Latino whose contact with the Foundation Metropolitano set this entire project in motion.
Friday, December 20, 2013
Lyman's Journey: Budget Analysis To Date (Panama, Costa Rica, Ecuad...
Lyman's Journey: Budget Analysis To Date (Panama, Costa Rica, Ecuad...: Before you go peeking at our expense chart below, I need to make a few statements: * This is OUR full disclosure cost breakdown of every...
* Our goal for a total monthly budget is $1,800 for living expenses ONLY. Our income is higher but this amount is what we wanted to see if we could live with so that the extra could be set aside for savings toward further traveling......
Budget Analysis To Date (Panama, Costa Rica, Ecuador & Nicaragua)
Before you go peeking at our expense chart below, I need to make a few statements:
* This is OUR full disclosure cost breakdown of everything we spent money on based on the way WE live our lives.
* Our goal for a total monthly budget is $1,800 for living expenses ONLY. Our income is higher but this amount is what we wanted to see if we could live with so that the extra could be set aside for savings toward further traveling......
Thursday, December 19, 2013 Six months in Ecuador
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Six months in Ecuador
Here are some of highlights:
- Moved from Guayaquil to the Olon area after we obtained residency. We are renting a casita from a couple of expats while we look for our own property.
- Bought a car (some people choose to rely solely on the great public transportation system - we did not want to be without our own car) Scott detailed the process on his blog.
- Opened a savings account. This sounds like a simple task but it was not! It took us three months to accomplish this task. The items required included:
- Color copy of passport picture page
- Color copy of cedula
- Letter of recommendation no more than one month old from an Ecuadorian who has an account at that bank (our Guayaquil landlady wrote this for us)
- A cell phone number (or two - we gave two but I am not sure if they were both required)
- Two land line phone numbers (we gave the number of our landlady and a lady who did translations for us)
- Proof of employment, retirement income, or bank balance from overseas bank
- Proof that we either voted in the last election or were not eligible to vote
- Copy of the most recent month's electric bill showing where we live
- Made a trip a week after opening it to pick up the ATM card, which
took several hours since the system was down when we first arrived,
Visited a hotel in northern Manabi province that is raising a baby monkey! Something happened to his mother so they stepped in to raise him. The monkey walked around on my head. It was funny - just like kittens like to sit on shoulders, behind someone's head, he climbed right up to sit on my head. He liked my hair and played with it quite a bit....read more: http://emilbloo.blogspot.com/
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Time for phase three...:Sunday, October 13, 2013
Buying the car-
Time for phase three...: Buying the car: In my last post I mentioned that Emily and I had purchased a vehicle here in Ecuador, a Chevrolet/Suzuki Grand Vitara: It's been wo...
In my last post I mentioned that Emily and I had purchased a vehicle here in Ecuador, a Chevrolet/Suzuki Grand Vitara:
It's been working well for us and we're getting about 50 km/gal! It doesn't have excessive power and it's not four-wheel drive, so we won't be driving it on the beach (which some people do), but it does everything we need.
Buying a car in Ecuador is a much different process than buying one back home. In the States, the car dealership provides one-stop shopping that covers everything. In Ecuador, we get to run all over the place to get it done. There are multiple times where I had to suppress my inner Lewis Black and exercise patience: ....read more: http://sbphasethree.blogspot.com/2013/10/buying-car.html
Thursday, December 19, 2013
EcuadorGeorgeAfterDark- Eight Steps to Making the Transition from the United States to Ecuador:
EcuadorGeorgeAfterDark
December 19, 2013
Sometimes people send me things that they want me to use on my blog.
Although the author has remained anonomous on other sites, she has given me permission to give her credit on my After Dark page.
So cheers to Kathie Sedwick who has produce a magnificent piece of writing. Please enjoy.
Step 1: Before you leave spend a few months bashing the US on the EE forum at every opportunity. This will endear you to the expat community because ALL expats hate the US.
Step 2: Make sure everyone knows all about how terrible your life has been so you will receive all the sympathy you so richly deserve and people will admire you.....read more: http://www.ecuadorgeorge.com/ecuador-george-after-dark/
December 19, 2013
Sometimes people send me things that they want me to use on my blog.
Although the author has remained anonomous on other sites, she has given me permission to give her credit on my After Dark page.
So cheers to Kathie Sedwick who has produce a magnificent piece of writing. Please enjoy.
Eight Steps to Making the Transition from the United States to Ecuador:
Step 1: Before you leave spend a few months bashing the US on the EE forum at every opportunity. This will endear you to the expat community because ALL expats hate the US.
Step 2: Make sure everyone knows all about how terrible your life has been so you will receive all the sympathy you so richly deserve and people will admire you.....read more: http://www.ecuadorgeorge.com/ecuador-george-after-dark/
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