"So, is Quito really as dangerous in comparison to Cuenca as the internet sometimes* wants* me to believe?"--

  "So, is Quito really as dangerous in comparison to Cuenca as the internet sometimes* wants* me to believe?"--

By Jack Abercrombie Hi Neighbors, 
 
--No--not really--(IMHO) --

I have lived / rented in & based out of Quito since SEP 2008 to be near the UIO to get my clients in and out easily. I go to Cuenca several times a year on business and have many good friends there, that absolutely Love it!

"Is Quito more dangerous than Chicago?"--
--(IMHO) No, not if you know the ropes and various sectors & hoods-- My Uncle that lives off and on in Cotacachi, lived in Glynn Ellen & worked out of Addison (CHI) for 25 yrs, I visited him often in the Greater Chicago Metro Area, we would also shop at the huge farmers mkt in downtown CHI.

"Is Quito & Cuenca particularly more dangerous for expats?" --Trick Question-- 

 (IMHO) --It is dangerous for Expats & Ecuadorians both, if they do not use a healthy amount of situational awareness.

"Can anyone who lives there give me some potential points as to Quito might be better than Cuenca?"
 
--No, not really (IMHO)...

Everyone's experience is different, MPG vary from one to another / beholder, but they are 2 totally different animals / apples & oranges, but -yes they are both UNESCO World heritage site cites..

 

Cuenca is Big- 600k pop, - Quito is Huge- 2million pop, they both have 'Pro' strong points, they both have 'Cons' and various community's & neighborhoods you may would want to turn your situational awareness up a notch or 2:)

 

It is all ways recommended to come for an exploratory visit and see for yourself first hand / boots on the ground.
..but some folks cannot afford to do that, or simply don't care to, but that usually clears up a lot of the variance in the ole MPG perception thing.

If I knew more about your background and asked you about 4-5 questions back at you, I may could clear things up for you a little. I clock about 20,000 km's per year throughout most of lil ole EC, I don't just stay put in my little Mtn. Town or Fishing Village neighborhood.:)

All of my web & blog links, articles, photos, videos, references, info and contact tel. #'s - US & EC. are all below:

-All the Very Best on Your Endeavors in Ecuador-
My Services, web & blog links, articles, photos,
 videos, references, info and contact
 tel. #'s - US & EC. are all below:

Thank You,
Jack Abercrombie,
Cumbaya, Quito- ECUADOR S.A.
journeymanjack.com@gmail.com
Relocation Ecuador: http://JourneymanJack.com/
Ecuador Real Estate: http://ecuadorrealestate.org

toll free from U.S. & Canada:
Mnts: 770-828-7913, Coast: 770-776-6937,
Ec. Off: 02-380-4088,
Ec. Cel Claro: 098-828-8953, WhatsApp: 593-98-828-8953,
Talk free on "skype" user name: "Jack.Abercrombie"
https://join.skype.com/invite/B4plcVLSCGWk

call Iridium Satellite Phone from the US & Canada:
011-8816-2146-2897, (In Emergency)
 call Iridium Satellite Phone from within EC:
00-8816-2146-2897, (In Emergency)

FB Profile: https://www.facebook.com/journeymanjack

FB Travel Page: http://www.facebook.com/JourneymanJackinEcuador

Blog: http://journeymanjackinecuador.blogspot.com/

You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/user/journeymanjack/

Linked in: https://ec.linkedin.com/in/jackabercrombie

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackabercrombie1492/

twitter: https://twitter.com/JourneyJEcuador

PayPal Acct: paypal.me/journeymanjack

JourneymanJack 100% positive feedback (1205*) eBay member since 12 NOV 2003: http://www.ebay.com/usr/journeymanjack

My photos 2008 EC Arrival Google+ / Picasa web albums:
 https://get.google.com/albumarchive/108089047953129234429?source=pwa

My google maps - saved places - in EC:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ziDidjLDWW1CV1tz_phU_9IfTZ0&usp=sharing

RELOCATION SERVICES TO ECUADOR - TOURS TO ECUADOR - JOURNEYMAN JACK:
http://latinamericacurrentevents.com/ecuador-relocation-and-tour-services-journeyman-jack-2/34635/
{Comprehensive Introductory / Exploratory Tours Custom Fitted to your Relocation wants and needs with Pre-Trip Planning, Reservations, Expats & Locals Meet Ups, Rentals / Realty, Survival Spanish, Intro to EC Customs & Culture, Translator, Shopping, Vip Transport....

(the following would come later if you decide EC is for you)> Immigration, Residency Visas, Import / Export- Pets, Air Cargo,
 Vehicle & Home Inspections, Marriage Registration, Dual Citizenship, Dual Passports, Document Translations, Insurance,
 Healthcare, Law / Tax, Banking, Farm Land, Property & Site Management, Sea Container Shipping & Logistics, Security & Safety Measures, Finding Missing Persons In EC., Skype Video Or Toll Free Tel. Consultations}

How do you like living in ECUADOR Journeyman Jack...? FRI 13 JUN 2014

How do you like living in ECUADOR Journeyman Jack...?  

By Jack Abercrombie Hi Neighbors,

Back in mid SEP 2008 - mid MAR 2009 EC.: I did my exploratory whirlwind tour via the auto bus / backpacking / hosteling about 90 days on the coast & 90 days in the sierra, I did not want to leave.: https://plus.google.com/photos/108089047953129234429/albums

..by mid MAR to mid JUN '09 I flew (ran) home to GA to get my docs & last minute affairs in order, and I have not set foot out of EC since my last entry into this diversely rich country since JUN 2009...

 

This is exactly how my EC Migration Movement doc reads, I not long ago got one for the 5th or 6th time to complete my naturalization / citizenship back on 21 APR 2014 when I got sworn in as an Ecuadorian Citizen.

I can tell / write you how much I like / dislike EC until I am blue in the face, but the above dates of my actions & example may speak more clearly & loudly.

I liked & loved GA for the first 45 yrs. of my life, not each and every aspect, but for the most part.

..as a traveling tractor salesman (heavy equipment) backpacking / hosteling I spent OCT NOV DEC 2002 in Europe from Amsterdam NL to the bottom to Athens, Greece, liked & loved it for the most part.

..new years eve 2002 I flew from Athens to Cairo, spent JAN FEB to MAR 14th 2003 in Egypt, Israel, Jordan & Lower (South) Egypt liked it, had a blast for the most part. ..it was an adventure / learning - eye opening experience that made my mind up, that I indeed wanted to live abroad.
(nice place to visit or part time work, but not to live permanently)

..it took me about 5 yrs to wrap up GA on my mind and make up my mind just where to go look, so by 2008- the time my opportunity to check EC out came up, I absolutely fell in LOVE with it.

I whine (cheese) & complain at times about GOV Bureaucracy back in GA & as well here in EC, 

EC has changed drastically on it's own in the past 5 yrs & will change even more drastically in the next 5 to come, ..but EC has changed me as well, little by little.

--“Change is the only constant in life”
“No man ever steps into the same river twice”. An ever flowing river is there and even has a name, yet the water in it keeps changing so that from one second to the next it is really a different river. ~ Heraclitus~ (the pre-Socractic Greek philosopher)--

To me, just IMHO, your & others MPG may vary, the pros are still outweighing the cons in EC 5+ yrs later from my standpoint..

I travel about 20,000km's per / yr from one end of EC to the other coastal & sierra: https://www.facebook.com/JourneymanJackinEcuador/photos_albums

I don't just stay on my keyboard / PC monitor- reporting in from my little mountain or coastal village or town, telling folks this is the only paradise spot on planet earth:)

If I stayed put in my little village of Mitad del Mundo 20 km's N. of Quito, I would go Loco / bonkers, it's nice to visit w/ my friends on the coast - cuenca - cotacachi - ibarra - mindo - banos - tena - esmeraldas - loja - vilcabamba - macas - GYE etc etc...for a reality check & compare notes.

I've seen a lot of folks come and go from EC since 2008

I am supposedly to be way past the honeymoon phase, but I just haven't been able to shake it off just yet:)..as long as EC is magical, challenging, discovering & teaching me lessons culturally & spiritually - that I am able to learn & grow from & able to share & benefit others, I'm all in.

 

But if it ever gets dull & boring - Jack will pack his little tool box and go play somewhere's else, probably in SA on an EC passport. (but it won't be GA nor NA)

EC has a pulse & gives me a pulse, it helps me to feel ALIVE...heck, maybe I will make it another 5+ yrs... thus far I'm Loving Every Minute of it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPKAwJKGSDc

Is Ecuador Dangerous? The latest from ECUADOR GEORGE 17 JUN 2014

Thank you GringoTree for picking www.ecuadorgeorge.com as your Best Blog of the Day.

The latest from ECUADOR GEORGE
by George M Forgues:

I hear the same questions all the time… Is Ecuador Dangerous? Can I bring my guns with me? Is the food safe to eat? Can you drink the water? Do the locals hate us?


When I was still in California, someone told me to be extra careful
when visiting Ecuador beaches. He had heard that there were fleas that would get under your skin and start eating away at your flesh. Only amputation would save you…. I was expecting to see a bunch of one legged surfers when we were in Montanita….



Someone else told me to always carry my wallet in my front pocket, no matter where I was. Expats are targets for pickpockets so you need to be extra careful at all times. This is a little more relevant than the flesh eating sand fleas, but for me, I only move my wallet to the front pocket when I am in crowded areas like buses, parades or festivals. But I did the same thing back in the states. Normal caution.....read more: Is Ecuador Dangerous?

Move Mountains or go through them or around them!

I got 18 out of 20 correct on my Spanish test out of a rotating pool of 200 questions at the ANT Agency National Transit = DMV to Grand Father / Transfer my GA CDL (Comm Driver License) Class A Tractor Trailer Combination up to 80,000#'s , to an EC equivalent to a Professional Class E in Quito today.

I started this process back on 17 MAR, the day b4 my GA LIC expired on my B-day, took 3 months.

In spite of it being FRI the 13th-

-Typical FRI Quito Traffic-

-My Pico y Placa Day, which means I cannot enter or leave the city limits of Quito from 7am - 9:30am and cannot leave or enter from 4pm - 7:30pm to cut down on rush hour traffic, designated by my Tag / License plate ending in "0".

-In spite of CME (Coronal Mass Ejections) predicted for today:) I just did a Hale Mary and went on it for it anyway!

I hope everyone had a Great Day. Don't let anything hold you back, if you hang in there and try hard enough you will see light at the end of the tunnel & can Move Mountains or go through them or around them!

..and Many Many Thanks = Mil Gracias to Attila Gyuris for his lengthy detailed posts on the various EC Expat Groups on just how to go about this License Transfer process.

...back in 2010 this was not an option, $200.+ ANETA driving school 3 nights a week for 1 month to get my EC. "B" class Light Vehicle License & Motorcycle License.

I have more typical EC Bureaucratic Hurdles to jump through this month, coming months, I just keep plugging along:)

Well this the only FRI the 13th we get in 2014, with a Full Moon to Boot, so get out there and soak up some Moon Beams, Gomez, Morticia & Uncle Fester would be proud of a night like tonight:)

--Full Moon on Friday, June 13th, 2014, A Rare Day For Omens and Magic-- By Dikki-Jo Mullen:

"Each year there is at least one Friday The 13th. Usually there are two, but occasionally there will be three of these mystical and controversial days. At first glance triskadekophiles (those who love the number thirteen) must just heave a sigh and decide to make the best of what they have been given by the cosmos this year. 2014 brings us only one, Friday June 13."
"However, http://dikkijomullen.wordpress.com/2014/06/04/full-moon-on-friday-the-thirteenth-friday-june-13-2014/

Cost of Living in Cuenca Ecuador 2014

 Cost of Living in Cuenca Ecuador 2014

This information was kept current every day during our second month in Ecuador.

These numbers should give a good indication as to what normal
expenses will be for the coming months. I was hoping it would be a
little less, but we would have to stop eating out, and how do you do
that?
Here are the numbers from May of 2014.

• Rent on our 2 bedroom 2 bath, 1300 square foot, fully furnished, El Centro apartment, with internet and Direct TV included was $650.
• Data plan for 2 smart phones $70. (we own the phones)...read more: Cost of Living in Cuenca Ecuador 2014

GI DJ - US Military Veteran in Ecuador: Smelling Pepperoni While Getting Acupuncture

GI DJ - US Military Veteran in Ecuador: Smelling Pepperoni While Getting Acupuncture: A few weeks back I wrote about discovering a older Chinese man who managed his sons pizzeria who told me he was a DR back in Taiwan. http://...

Agreement signed between U.S. And Ecuador for marketing of bananas

--That's no small bananas--



United States imports an annual average of 30 million boxes of bananas,
with an estimated market value of $885 million dollars, through the Port
of Hueneme. This agreement, managed by the PRO ECUADOR's Commercial
Office in Los Angeles, provides a more direct approach that will provide
exporters of Ecuadorian bananas, better facilities.

.....read more: Agreement signed between U.S. And Ecuador for marketing of bananas