Thursday, May 15, 2014

Our New Andean Life: Father's Day

Damn Goats!



 

As many of you know we have been having serious issues with our goats. 
To the point where we are seriously considering selling them.  First it
started off with moving up here on this mountain above Cuenca and
eventually not having enough pasture.  So, we created more pasture with
the hopes of moving them back and forth between pastures every two
months or so.  




 Well, the wire that was sold to Mark as aluminum was not
and has started to rust, which has created shorts in the wire.  Which
means that the electric power running through the fence is weak and the
goats have learned that.  Every two or three times a day they go through
or hop the fence to head to greener pastures.  Our neighbor's
pastures.  They don't eat as much as his cows do and don't do any of the
damage that they do, but they are our neighbors and we want to be good
neighbors.  So, they can't keep doing this...read more:


Our New Andean Life: Father's Day:

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Retiring to Ecuador....Why not!: Cinco de Mayo - a Mexican holiday in Ecuador

Cinco de Mayo - a Mexican holiday in Ecuador





Cinco de Mayo isn't celebrated in Ecuador. Why? Because it's a Mexican
holiday and one that many in the US have adopted as a reason to party.
In our case it became a reason to meet up with friends, both old and
new.



Jack Abercrombie,
a well known tour guide-driver from Quito (the capital of Ecuador) was
visiting the area for a few days and called for a gathering of friends
at Fabiano's (our favorite pizza spot). He anticipated maybe 20-25
people. We ended the afternoon at over 40!



We saw old friends and made several new ones. We caught up on folks were
doing, talked motorcycles, listened to stories about health care here
in Cuenca, chatted about the adventure of moving here and a lot more.



Here are some photos I took...great afternoon and delicious food (I had the lasagna and Stu had a meat lovers pizza)...: http://www.retiredincuenca.com/2014/05/cinco-de-mayo-mexican-holiday-in-ecuador.html

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Terra Nova de Corazón: My first workshops! Manglaralto area, ECUADOR

Terra Nova de Corazón: My first workshops!:

Tuesday, April 8, 2014











My first workshops!





I've been expressing to people that one of the primary goals of Terra Nova is to create a sacred space for people to host/attend workshops (for growth,
healing, living skills, etc.), or simply take a retreat from the daily
grind of Industrial Civilization. Our first events, May 16-18, are shown
here - Guy McPherson giving his presentation on the Global Climate
Crisis, followed by a 2-day workshop on processing and moving through
grief. Pauline will be there as a co-facilitator and to document! 


We
plan to host a potluck on Friday evening, 5-7pm, before his
presentation. If you're in the Manglaralto area, please stop by and
introduce yourself. If you're coming from out of town, we have a great
deal at Hosteria Arandú ($20-25/night per person, including breakfast), or you can camp/hammock on our land.
For more information or to RSVP, please contact me directly.

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

What Do Ecuadorians Think About Americans in Ecuador?

What Do Ecuadorians Think About Americans in Ecuador?



Do You Care About What Ecuadorians Think About You?   (part 2)


Lets start with a couple of short stories today…





Americans in Ecuador 

An Ugly Touchdown in Guayaquil


I was pretty tired when our plane landed at Guayaquil International…
Another long flight from the states. It was almost mid-night as the
plane taxied towards the gate and finally came to a stop.



Now count to 5.


That is how long it took for some guy sitting behind me to yell, “hey, turn the lights on.” 


The lights were turned on and everyone started to get out of their seats to disembark. The same guy yells again, “Thanks for the lights…. Guess this is the first time you ever flew an airplane.” 


I looked over at Chad and whispered, “Mad White Guy”.


Yes, we were not even out of the plane before some whack-job decided to open his mouth....read more: http://www.ecuadorgeorge.com/americans-in-ecuador/#.U06dvxUtmXY.facebook

Tourism in Ecuador Heating Up- NEW YORK, March 25, 2014 -

Tourism in Ecuador Heating Up-

NEW YORK, March 25, 2014 - Featuring the highest active volcanoes in the world, the greatest concentration of species by area, white sand beaches and the breathtaking Galapagos Islands are just a few reasons why Ecuador received recognition as the “Green Destination of the World for 2013,” by the World Travel Awards. According to the World Travel Awards, Ecuador is also considered the number one destination to visit in Latin America and the seventh must-visit place in the world in 2014.











“We’re excited and welcome visitors to Ecuador to explore our country’s rich landscape,” announced experts from The Ministry of Tourism of Ecuador.

From environmental and biological diversity, entertainment and adventure, Ecuador offers something for every traveler.




 Considered a year-round destination, tourists can explore the Andes Mountains, relax under the dense canopies of the Amazon, sight-see along the beaches of the Pacific Coast or observe the Natural Heritage of Humanity site of the Galapagos Islands. http://www.hospitality-industry.com/index.php/news/comments/tourism_in_ecuador_heating_up/#.U0uDmIRH5xI.twitter

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Charlie Rose has a conversation with President of Ecuador Rafael Correa.

April 15: In this 13:28 minutes excerpt, Charlie Rose has a conversation with President of Ecuador Rafael Correa. He is an economist who served briefly as finance minister before running as a populist reformer in the 2006 presidential election.: http://www.businessweek.com/videos/2014-04-15/ecuador-pres-dot-rafael-correa-charlie-rose-04-15

 To see full 30 min. interview click here: http://charlierose.com/watch/60375171

 Exclusive video interview with Rafael Correa, CNS-Posted on April 16, 2014 • Filed under: Ecuador, Politics-Courthouse News Service Interview with Rafael Correa, President of Ecuador: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ac9IOkWp2A0

Monday, March 31, 2014

Moving to Ecuador This Week - March 31, 2014 - If It Were Easy, Everyone Would Do It!

Moving to Ecuador This Week

| March 31, 2014 | 8 Replies

  If It Were Easy, Everyone Would Do It!

  We are finally moving to Ecuador.
These last 4 months have been the craziest time, and this final 30 days has been completely out of control.
Tomorrow we finally leave for the airport. We have booked a nice room near LAX to rest up before the all day relocation to Cuenca on Wednesday.
Nervous stomach, chest pains, mini rages, sleep deprivation, mind racing, E.D., and strange hair growth in weird places are all ongoing issues. Did I mention the boil and toe nail fungus? Funny what your body does when it is under stress.
I don’t do drugs anymore, so valium has been out of the question…. and I don’t drink either.  Lucky for me I still have a dirty mind.
My stress management tools usually work pretty well.
But these last 30 days have really been a challenge. I expect I will have some wisdom to share soon, once the inside of my head slows down just a bit and lets me think clearly again....read more: http://www.ecuadorgeorge.com/moving-to-ecuador-3/#.UzmR0szJ1aM.facebook