Retiring to Ecuador....Why not!: How did we move all our stuff?

Retiring to Ecuador....Why not!: How did we move all our stuff?: I know I've discussed this in various back posts but it was hit or miss.
I keep getting questions about how we moved all our stuff and thought
I'd put it all in one post.




At the Airport

Also, note that not everyone moves in suitcases like we did. Many folks
ship pallets or shipping containers full of their stuff. Each person
must make their own decisions about what is important to THEM. We had
made an exploratory trip so had a general idea about what to bring other
than clothes.

This is what flew with us on American Airlines, December 2013. We flew
business class which gave us THREE FREE bags each! We paid $150 for each
additional bag, thus our three extra bags cost us $450. Also, by flying
business class we had a weight allowance of 70# each bag!

• FIVE plastic Sterilite footlockers
  purchased at Wal-Marts in our local area.. We initially thought we
  could make it with only four but as we continued packing things, five it
  was! We purchased luggage straps and put one on each one as well as a TSA approved lock with a flexible hasp.
• ......Read more: http://www.retiredincuenca.com/2014/02/how-did-we-move-all-our-stuff.html

FREE PLANET BLOG: Brien Foerster - Paracas elongated skulls - DNA re...

FREE PLANET BLOG: Brien Foerster - Paracas elongated skulls - DNA re...: here's the short version of Brien Foerster's investigation into the Paracas elongated skulls, obviously auto-narrated from press rel......

Published on Feb 10, 2014

Brien Foerster Elongated Skulls DNA results

Some preliminary results have been obtained from the elongated skulls found in the Paracas area of Peru.

The DNA has many more mutations than would be acceptable to call it homo sapien. It may be another forgotten lineage of man or perhaps it is a starseed bought here many eons ago.

Many more tests need to be done but the first indications point to a deepening of the mystery of the elongated skulls.

Brien Foerster Elongated Skulls DNA results....read more: http://mikephilbin.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/brien-foerster-paracas-elongated-skulls.html

Last Shopping Trip for Prepping: What to Get if You Only Have One Chance Left

Last Shopping Trip Ever: What to Get if You Only Have One Chance Left-

 

Written by P. Henry
The news on Wednesday mentioned closed door meetings with the President and the heads of the several agencies and organizations dealing with finances. It included members of the Federal Reserve (which is not a government agency) the FDIC, the CFTC and the SEC as well as the Federal Housing Agency. This meeting has a lot of people spooked and you can read some reasons why on the SHTFPlan blog. Actually, by the time this post is published, we may know what they were talking about. Mostly, the very rational concern stems from the belief that something big is getting ready to happen and only the powers that be know what it is. They are obviously too scared to let us know. Could this have anything to do with the glitch on NASDAQ Thursday that halted trading?

News like this makes me start to mentally go over my prepping and I start analyzing what I still haven’t done, or need to check on again. This happens almost every time there is a news story like this and it is with the full knowledge and belief that I am squared away at a level that I believe will keep my family fed and secure for a good bit of time. Could we last if everything descended into chaos tomorrow and there was wide-spread panic, looting, violence and wars? That, I don’t know.

 However, we have made a lot of preparations for our family so I don’t feel helpless if we are visited by a future doomsday scenario like that any time soon. I certainly don’t welcome it, but I don’t feel like we’ll be caught completely off guard either. I mentioned in another post how from time to time, thinking about what I would do with some small amount of advanced warning causes me to reevaluate my preps. I do think that it is wise to constantly be aware of your surroundings (as well as what’s going on in the world) and to take advantage of circumstances if you can, to give your family a leg up.....read more: Source: The Prepper Journal
http://www.theprepperjournal.com/2013/08/24/last-shopping-trip-ever-what-to-get-if-you-only-have-one-chance-left/

New changes and procedures for Visiting at Quito womens Prison

New changes and procedures

11 Tuesday Feb 2014

I want to thank you for taking some time to read this. The prison has continued to implement more changes to the women’s prison in Quito. The first change that they are enforcing is that you cannot bring in anything to the prisoners on visit days. Visit days are still Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesday. I do know that when I have given items such as tissue paper, toothpaste, diapers and toys, the women are genuinely grateful. I cannot judge the women there for any drug use or pregnancies that happen in that particular prison.
Anyone that is in the Quito area can still give basic necessity items such as toiletry items, feminine hygiene products, or food. They are putting a limit on the amount of items you can give per lady to ten. If you want to give items, then you need to go to the prison on Mondays or Thursdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and drop it off with the guard there. You need to have a first and last name for the guard so he knows who to give it to. I give to three prisoners there, two are Americans and one is from the Philippines. They distribute donated things to other inmates there. Please email me at timjh25@yahoo.com for those or other names if you want to visit or give. Please read my first blog entry on how to visit prisoners in person. The link for that is http://quitowomensprison.wordpress.com/2014/01/
If you cannot make it to the prison and still want to help, I have started a gofundme site for them. Every penny donated will go to toiletries, food, toys, etc to the people that live inside that prison. Here is the link to donate: http://www.gofundme.com/Incaprisonwomen
I want to personally thank the two biggest English bookstores in the Plaza Foch area for their book donations to the women. The word that can best describe their reaction to the boxes of books is gratitude.
Comments by Journeyman Jack: I have met & personlly know the above writer Tim De. he is a fine fellow for taking the time to help out and visit at the Quito Womens Prison.

Intermediate Spanish Class at Casa Punta Bikini in San Clemente Ecuador

Intermediate Spanish Class

Posted on February 15, 2014 by gilpinfreak

Casa Punta Bikini in San Clemente Ecuador hosted an intermediate Spanish class this week.  There were 10 people in attendance.
It was most definitely a challenging class, but the instructor, David DeChambeau did a great job adjusting the pace of the class to help us out.

Everyone felt challenged and learned quite a bit, quickly!

Left to right, top row:  John & Mary, Libby, Bethany, Gerri, Linda.

Bottom row: Mary David & Jessica.

Not pictured:  Stephen and I.

We learned many new verbs and their uses, por vs para, ser vs estar, past tense, future tense and MUCH more!

We will hold more classes in the future at Casa Punta Bikini.  There will be a basic class starting after Carnavale, contact us for interest!!

Thanks to David DeChambeau for teaching the class.  Great job!!

Figuring it out… 1 gerund preterite imperfect tense at a time....read more: http://figuringitoutinecuador.wordpress.com/2014/02/15/intermediate-spanish-class/

Comments by Journeyman Jack: I personally know David H. & his Mom Libby, Great folks. I love staying at their Casa Punta Bikini in San Clemente! I have also met David De. an excellent instructor!

Ecuador Launches Information Campaign to Combat Human Trafficking and Smuggling

Posted on Fri, Feb-14-2014

IOM Ecuador together with partners launches an information campaign in Quito’s international airport aimed at combating and raising public awareness of human trafficking and smuggling. © IOM 2014

ZOOM

Ecuador - The IOM Mission in Ecuador, working with partners, has launched an information campaign in Quito’s international airport aimed at combating and raising public awareness of human trafficking and smuggling.
IOM’s Development Fund provided funding for the billboards, which will be displayed at the Mariscal Sucre International Airport for a year, with support from the Ministry of Interior and the National Police, as well as the Municipality of Quito.   The airport’s concessionaire company, QUIPORT, waived the fees for the use of the spaces.
“Human trafficking is a violation of a person’s human rights.  We want the public to know this, but also to know that it is an illegal and very lucrative activity run by international criminal networks,” said Rogelio Bernal, IOM Chief of Mission in Ecuador....read more: https://www.iom.int/cms/en/sites/iom/home/news-and-views/press-briefing-notes/pbn-2014/pbn-listing/ecuador-launches-information-cam.html

AirMed and Medivac service and insurance in Ecuador - 30 Jan 2014

AirMed and Medivac service and insurance in Ecuador

Posted by Considering Cuenca.com on 1:03 pm in Insurance, Insurance, Medical, Travel | 0 comments

Passing on information from a fellow expat as of 30 Jan 2014:

Air Med in Ecuador

“Medi Vacs are available, and I try to urge my friends, family & guests to purchase a Travel Insurance policy that includes Medivac.

My Sister was here in SEP and had a policy for $80. that included Medivac, you just never know?

We did right at 3,000KM circle of EC encompassing the Coast. I insisted she get Ins. Coverage for the 3 week trip. I want to be able to call in a medical helicopter transport, as well as medical emergency flight back to the US if need be, I keep a Satellite Phone in the truck just in case we are in a no cell phone signal remote areas: “
Coverage limits are per person. Plan cost is for all persons.

Company Allianz Global Assistance logo
Plan Name Deluxe
Plan Terms Full Details
Plan Type Package
Total Policy Cost $80.00
Available to Travelers from U.S.

90 plan reviews
Trip Cancellation $736
Trip Interruption $1,104
Financial Default Selected Suppliers, 7 day wait if purchased within 14 days of initial trip payment

Terrorism in Itinerary City Foreign & U.S. Domestic
Cancel For Any Reason Not Available
Travel Baggage $2,500 2
Travel Baggage Delay 24+ hours
$600 max. 2
Travel Delay 6+ hours
$300/day
$1,500 max.

Medical $50,000
Dental $750 Incl. in Medical

Emergency Medical Evacuation $1,000,000

24-Hour Emergency Assistance Yes

Pre-Existing Conditions Waiver If insurance purchased within 14 days of Initial Trip Payment
Pre-Existing Condition Period 120 Days
Insurance Company Jefferson

A.M. Best Rating A
Refund Policy 10 Day Review Period
Rental Car Collision/Loss (per policy) $50,000

Accidental Death – 24-Hour $50,000

Accidental Death – Common Carrier Included in Accidental Death – 24-hour

Accidental Death – Flight Included in Accidental Death – 24-hour

–For the price and this good of coverage, it makes no sense to not have it. Is better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.–
Contributed to Considering Cuenca by Me: "Journeyman Jack in Ecuador"  ....read more: http://information.cuenca-ecuador-retirement.com/