"I'd rather prep 15 years too early than 15 minutes too late." Strategic Relocation Ecuador: http://JourneymanJack.com/
"May your strategy be as dark as night and as
swift as a boulder rolling down a mountain." ~ Sun Tzu
Ecuador Real Estate: http://EcuadorRealEstate.org
Addendum: Attorney, Nelson Idrovo, who writes: For permanent
residents of Ecuador thinking of applying for naturalization after 3
years of residency, as of February 1, 2015, there is a new directive
regarding the amount of time you can be out of the country.
For the naturalization process, you can only be out of the country a
TOTAL of 90 days for the entire THREE years before application. Again, this new directive went into effect February 1, 2015. If you are not interested in naturalization and remain as a permanent resident then the following still applies:
In the first two years of residency you can only leave the country for
90 days in each year. After two years of residency you can be out of the
country for longer periods of time......<read more> http://gringosabroad.com/ecuador/ecuador-citizenship-requirements-update/
February 7, 2014- “Every day on Ecuador's Road System 13 people are killed and 152 injured- Broken down into an average, equates to Every single Day 365 / 24 / 7.” (That's in the 2nd smallest country in SA, roughly the same sq. miles as Col. or NB.) http://www.elcomercio.com/actualidad/seguridad/13-muertos-y-152-heridos.html That’s the harsh reality of the Ecuadorian daily road accident statistics, ”said the leader, who described as ”catastrophic” as to those statistics. He noted that 5% of the mishaps are caused by acts of God, bad weather and mechanical problems, and 95% by liability of persons as incompetence and recklessness (62%), drunkenness (11%), speeding (10%), invasion of the opposite on coming lane (9%) and disrespect of the signals (7%). In December, the National Transit Agency (ANT) reported that between January and November 2013- 24,759 traffic accidents occurred in Ecuador, where among the leading causes of mortality, leaving 2,025 dead and 19,856 injured.: http://latinamericacurrentevents.com/ecuador-average-of-13-deaths-a-day-from-traffic-accidents-152-injured/30575/
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16 SEP 2014- East ECUADOR Sector of GUARUMALES: Bus Accident due to Brake Failure, Bus Leaving Macas going to Cuenca, 20 Injured: You Tube video News Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVM-_vmutmo
A compilation of Smash Hits from Ecuador 911 Traffic Cams for 2013, the 2014 Edition should be out shortly, stay tuned & buckle up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4OwEs4VGgw
Road work has come a long ways in the Macas area in the past few years:
September 28, 2014- Many bus drivers in Ecuador suffer from health problems resulting from stress, being overweight and long hours at work. At Carlos Andrade Marín Hospital in Quito, of the 35 patients seen on one recent day, ten were professional drivers. Many of these drivers have stomach, kidney and back problems. They also suffer pain in their hands and fingers from shifting
gears all day long. One driver passed out on his bus. He said he was very tired and had worked from 05:00 to 23:00.
Another problem are drivers who eat while on the road. According to statistics from the National Transit Agency, this is one of the leading causes of accidents. The drivers say they don't have time to sit down and eat. So they grab something from a food stall to take on the bus.: http://www.elcomercio.com/actualidad/comida-deshoras-afecta-salud-choferes.html
30 SEP 2014- N. Cuenca, Challuabamba, Petro Tanker disconnects (comes lose / go out of control) from Road Tractor and slams into produce semi truck with cattle, 3 dead at the scene: You Tube video News Clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWVMOR9albA
Another
compilation of Smash Hits from Ecuador 911 Traffic Cams for 2013, the
2014 Edition should be out shortly, stay tuned & buckle up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnGlQtpacSY
22 OCT 2014- Pretty
amazing picture. Armed suspects attacked, then blew up an armored truck
on the Quito-Lago Agrio road. One person was killed and at least two
others were injured. The attacked took place near the Reventador volcano
as the armored truck was headed to Lago Agrio (Sucumbíos Province). The
military later apprehended two suspects.: http://www.elcomercio.com/actualidad/funcionarios-banco-pichincha-detallan-robo.html
November 3, 2014- There has been another bus accident. A Flota Pelileo bus overturned this afternoon on the Pifo-Papallacta road, about three kilometers from the junction with E35. Some of the injured were airlifted by helicopter to a hospital.
Update: Police say at least four people killed and 18 injured.Photo courtesy: Policia Nacional: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=880275422017724&set=pcb.10152768062946140&type=1&theater
09 NOV 2014- "On second thought – perhaps Ecuadorian drivers aren’t so very crazy after all. I guess I just have to remind myself (as we sway to ‘n fro above chasms of vertical certain-death drop-offs though the Andes) At least if I plunge to my death here amid the splendor of Ecuador – ’tis a smidge more classy than say… being smashed to smithereens by an 18-wheeler toting a truckload of Chinese Chia Pets that’s lost control on the icy I-5 freeway from Seattle to Portland, no?
What about you? How do you deal with harrowing, white-knuckled, gut-freezing risks when you travel?
I
think the issue here with driving is the very one you identify–buses
winding at insane speeds along the edges of Andean cliffs that drop off
for seeming miles. It’s the bus-cliff-speed combination. - See more at:
http://www.travelnlass.com/2014/11/09/ecuadorian-drivers-petty-annoyance-death-wish/#sthash.CbuUyiLg.dpuf
I
think the issue here with driving is the very one you identify–buses
winding at insane speeds along the edges of Andean cliffs that drop off
for seeming miles. It’s the bus-cliff-speed combination. - See more at:
http://www.travelnlass.com/2014/11/09/ecuadorian-drivers-petty-annoyance-death-wish/#sthash.CbuUyiLg.dpuf
I
think the issue here with driving is the very one you identify–buses
winding at insane speeds along the edges of Andean cliffs that drop off
for seeming miles. It’s the bus-cliff-speed combination. - See more at:
http://www.travelnlass.com/2014/11/09/ecuadorian-drivers-petty-annoyance-death-wish/#sthash.CbuUyiLg.dpuf
November 12, 2014- Sto. Doming- How much is a life worth in Ecuador? In the case of the people killed in last Saturday's bus crash on the Alóag-Santo Domingo road, their families will each get $8,000. That's how much insurance will pay out. It includes SOAT insurance which all vehicles are required to have. Those who were injured will receive $3,000. Fifteen people were killed when the Panamericana bus went off the road and down a ravine. Investigators have not released the final report on the accident, though driver error is suspected.: http://www.elcomercio.com.ec/actualidad/usd-recibiran-familiares-fallecidos-panamericana.html
There
are often comments made about free health care in Ecuador. There are
times some of these reports appear to be accurate. This does not appear
to be the norm at all for private hospitals. Here is a case everyone
should take a look at. A couple from the UK (Husband UK, wife
Ecuadorian) who traveled on vacation to Ecuador. They went to the
Galapagos and were in a serious bus accident. He was transported to the
mainland to try to save his arm as they were going to amputate
it in the Galapagos. They also reported that they were not allowed to
leave the hospital until their bill was paid in full. The couple also
believed they were told by the minister of tourism office that they
would receive financial assistance. The tourism ministry denies this.: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-2848530/Couple-left-16-000-medical-bill-private-hospital-treatment-bus-crashes-VOLCANO-dream-holiday-Ecuador.html
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17 NOV 2014- S. Quito, Amaguaña, Tanker Tractor Trailer runs Red Light strikes 3 cars and crashes into house, 2 seriously injured, Truck Driver fleas scene of accident on foot: You Tube video News Clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wniMcYjxPvc
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November 26 at 10:45am- There has been another deadly bus accident, 6 Fatalities this time in Cotopaxi Province. A bus carrying 60 passengers crashed this morning in the Planchaloma sector of Toacaso parish. ECU-911 says there are 6 deaths and injuries, though the newspapers have
conflicting numbers. Ten ambulances were sent to the accident scene.: http://www.elcomercio.com.ec/actualidad/heridos-accidente-transito-cotopaxi-latacunga.html
November 30, 2014- at 9:15pm- The bus driver who caused an accident that killed six people and injured 58 in Cotopaxi Province, reportedly had an expired license. The accident happened four days ago. The Iliniza cooperativa bus hit a house, then crashed into a vehicle.
Most of the passengers were children. The cooperativa has been suspended from operating for 21 days.: http://www.elcomercio.com/actualidad/chofer-bus-ilinizas-victimas-licencia.html
04
JAN 2015- "How Ecuador’s “civil” legal system impacts expats". ..Of
course, you need to have your wits about you on foot, especially on
crowded city streets, if you don’t want to get run over, whether you’re
in a common-law or civil-law country. And pedestrians do have certain
rights in civil-law Ecuador, such as at corners, where cars are mandated
to yield. But cars have the de facto right of way in Ecuador... http://cuencahighlife.com/common-law-versus-civil-law-societal-safeguards-or-personal-responsibility/
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January 3, 2015- Quito- Not a great start to the year for beer truck drivers. Today a beer truck on Av. Interoceánica in Cumbayá lost part of its load as it was trying to turn a corner. The beer bottles were empty. The truck was headed to a brewery plant. Yesterday, another beer truck lost control on the new bridge over the Chiche River. The railing stopped the truck from going over the side.: http://www.elcomercio.com/actualidad/camion-cervecero-maniobra-cumbaya-traficovehicular.html
January 4, 2015- Esmeraldas, Ecuador - In a clash between drug traffickers & police roadside traffic stop, Three police officers were shot in Esmeraldas Province. Two died and one was wounded. The bodies were found on the Las Piedras-Tachina road. The Interior Minister said there was a shootout with criminals who used a police vehicle to transport drugs. Sounds like there may have been dirty cops involved.
The captain of the Special Operations Group was among those killed. There's a Twitter photo of the bodies on the ground: http://elnorte.ec/sucesos/53987-muere-michel-morales-oficial-ibarra-en-enfrentamiento-entre-polic%C3%ADas.html
January 4- 2015- A popular famous singer celebrity known as "Sharon the Sorceress" was killed in a traffic accident in Santa Elena Province early this morning. She was getting out of a car when she was hit by another vehicle. The prosecutor ordered the detention of the companion of the artist to clarify the circumstances of the accident. "Sharon La Hechicera" was the stage name of Edith Bermeo Cisneros who was born in Durán (near Guayaquil). Besides being a singer, she was also a soap opera actress and a TV host. She leaves behind two children.: http://www.eluniverso.com/noticias/2015/01/05/nota/4400861/dos-detenidos-tras-atropellamiento-muerte-sharon-hechicera
January 5, 2015- Quito- We went for a walk around the Mariscal and witnessed a 'hit and run' accident! A gal in a car hit a motorcycle and took off... but couldn't go very fast due to traffic, and witnesses stopped her! Police, ambulance... the works!
January 5, 2015- Quito- Hi everyone, I had an unfortunate experience today on a very crowded and hectic bus in Quito where my new Ipad was pick-pocketed right under my nose from a what I thought was a secure over-the-shoulder purse close to my body in the front. Lesson learned ~ do not take public transportation when it's crowded if I have anything of value on me!
07 JAN 2015- Quito- SECUESTRO / Kidnapp EXPRESS, QUITO: An Ecuadorian friend took an illegal cab from 6 di Diciembre y Gaspar Villarroel at about 10pm last night. He was kidnapped, badly beaten, robbed and dumped outside the city. Yes, he does know better than to take illegal
cabs, but anyone can let their guard slip for a moment and make a mistake. So this is a reminder of what can happen if you do.
Taxi kidnappings are relatively rare in Quito, but please please don't take the risk with illegal cabs. If you have to hail a taxi on the street, stick to yellow cabs with a number on the door, check they have a security camera and red button before you get in. If anything about it feels off, wait for another one.
07 JAN 2015- Cuenca to Guayaquil bus was robbed last night. Interesting side-note, a lot of students from the University Catolica were on the bus all with laptops... so it may have been a known this was an especially good bus to rob. Cuatro delincuentes armados, la noche del lunes desvalijaron a los pasajeros del bus de la cooperativa San Luis, placas AAA-1303, que cubría la ruta Cuenca-Guayaquil. Fecha de Publicación:
2015-01-07 00:00 - http://www.eltiempo.com.ec/noticias-cuenca/155562-ladrones-desvalijan-a-pasajeros-de-un-bus/
07 JAN 2015- My friend Kay that forgot her check bag in the back of a taxi met with the prosecutor and judge the other day in Cuenca over the theft of her one bag that had a value of $5000. plus in contents. Couture and designer clothing etc. (bluefish wearable art) They said both the taxi driver and the taxi company owner are to both go to jail if they find the driver guilty.
Napoleon law means everyone has to be responsible. All of the video tapes do not stand up to the driver's lies, plus he said he needed a week to try and get her things back.
Sounds fairly guilty with that statement right there. Within filing, the court date follows within 4 days, tomorrow.
08 JAN 2015- I often hear about bad experiences on buses, but we've had good luck. We've been on some buses where the drivers are 'fast' but never dangerous... until our last trip back from Intag. We caught the last bus to Otavalo at 2:30, it was a 6 de Julio bus.
Normally this ride takes nearly 2.5 hours, the driver made it from Nangulvi to Otavalo in 1.5 hours. Never have I feared for my life before and I don't understand why we didn't just get off of the bus. Maybe it was because we only had about $2 plus change left on us...
...honestly I'd rather have taken my chances and gotten OFF of that bus. We've had folks take us in before and take good care of us! We did agree, if this ever happens again we will get off the bus anywhere and just figure it out. When the assistant came along, that was the first thing I noticed - he was slow, sleepy and red eyed and reaked of alcohol. Then we noticed the driver's driving.
All over the road, speeding up for curves, running off the road. These roads aren't particularly safe in the first place even with good driving! Seriously I don't know why we stayed on, but never again! This was also the only time I had ever witnessed so many passengers awake on a bus, no one was asleep. Hardly anyone spoke.
My husband got a photo of the driver so we could remember his face and never get on his bus again. When we reached the terminal in Otavalo, you could just see the look on his face - pride. The photo didn't turn out good at all. He had a long, slender, downward pointing nose.
That's feature of his face stood out to me most of all...
13 JAN 2015- Esmeraldas- Two People Killed on Motorcycle in Collision with Bus- The two occupantsof a motorcyclediedTuesdaymorninginEsmeraldas-San Lorenzoroad,north ofthe province ofEsmeraldas,tocollideinto abuscompanyTransEsmeraldas. The accident, according to thepolice report,occurredat 06:10at a place knownasCasa dePobre.From the impact, the red bike, HW96ILplates, was shattered to pieces. When the policearrived,the bus driver & bus, (license platesPUC-152) was no longeron the site. It is presumedhefled the scene of the accident. The bodiesof the victimswere taken to theForensicInvestigationCenterof the Office ofEsmeraldas.: http://www.eluniverso.com/noticias/2015/01/13/nota/4433541/dos-personas-mueren-accidente-esmeraldas
From the above dozen or so cited accidents from 15 SEP 2014 to present date / time of this blog 15 JAN 2015 in a 4 months / quarter, period of time, there are another dozen incidents I missed & failed to log and compile, another dozen that never made it to the news, and no telling how many vehicles at the bottom of ravines & gorges throughout the country yet to be discovered?
I strongly urge and recommend anyone coming to Ecuador for a first time visit or vacation to please purchase travel insurance with Medi Vac Helicopter back to Quito, and Air Ambulance back to USA through a private carrier or even through your air lines or travel agent:
--"Former Flint MI Firefighter struggles for his life after harrowing trip to Ecuador"--
For the Malone family, a business trip to Guayaquil, Ecuador, changed
their lives when Karen Malone's husband Perry Malone, a retired Flint
firefighter, complained of discomfort from shortness of breath. It was
an ailment that eventually left him comatose with brain damage and the
couple stuck in Ecuador wanting to come home.: http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2015/01/mt_morris_twp_woman_talkes_abo.html
Many of the above news articles, translations & commentary were
compiled from various Ec. Expat blogs, forums, groups, & sources.
Many thanks to David S. in Cotacachi & Nic C. in GYE.
By-
Nicholas Crowder- Ecuador- November 3, 2014- If you are thinking of
moving to or already live in Ecuador, I encourage you to take a look at
my book "100 Points to Consider Before Moving to or Retiring in Ecuador"
This is a no frills serious look at living in Ecuador and understanding
the culture of a very complex and intricate country. When I first
arrived in Ecuador in November 1980 (35 years ago), I was way out of my
league and was only 24 years old. I married there and became enthralled
with the culture.: http://www.amazon.com/Points-Consider-Before-Retiring-Ecuador-ebook/dp/B00DZTZ4HC/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8
17 JAN 2015- During the first four days of operation, Quito's (traffic cams) fotomultas cameras
caught 1,202 drivers violating traffic laws. 955 ran red lights or
invaded zebra crossings. More than 200 drivers invaded the bus lanes.
The 63 cameras operate seven days a week from 06:00 to 21:30. http://www.elcomercio.com.ec/actualidad/sancionados-fotomultas-quito-contravenciones-transito.html
18 JAN 2015- A womandiedinbusaccidentin LosRíos, Puebloviejo outside of Guayquil, andfifteeninjuredwas the outcomeofa traffic accidentinPuebloviejo-San Juan, about 07:00yesterday. According towitnesses, ashuttlebusTransEsmeraldas, disco 108, apparently losttrackand overturned....................... <stock photo>
Quito Ecuador: Survey says, 80 percent of women are afraid to use public transport due to being Victims of sexual harassment on public transport, ...It
is based on surveys conducted by the UN and by the Municipality, said
that 80% of women in the Ecuadorian capital "afraid to use public
transport" and that one in four of 25 to 40 years they have been
"touched intimate in public transport "parts.
Quito Ecuador: 4.8 vehicles stolen per / day: The article indicates 80 percent of the vehicles stolen are vehicles parked on the streets.Legal reforms and readjustments arises for the national police
in Quito to reduce the theft of cars that, according to official
figures, rose last year by almost 6%, with relation to 2013.
According to figures that manages the headquarters of the district
Metropolitano de Quito (DMQ) the year ended was recorded, between
January and December, 1753 robberies of trucks, 94 more than those that
occurred in the same period in 2013 in the capital. An average of 4.8 a
day. <Link Source> http://www.eluniverso.com/noticias/2015/01/19/nota/4456696/48-autos-dia-robaron-quito
Common Law Versus Civil Law: Societal Safeguards or Personal Responsibility?
Published on January 3, 2015 by: CuencaHighLife |Comment
by David Morrill and Deke Castleman
....By contrast, Ecuador, along with all of
Latin America, most of Europe, all of Asia, and most of Africa, 150
countries in all, operates under “civil law.” In civil-law societies,
laws are written, collected, and codified by legislatures and are rarely subject to co-creation by the outcomes of lawsuits and the opinions of judges and juries. As such, the court system is inquisitorial, unbound by precedent.
Courts are composed of specially trained magistrates with limited authority to interpret the law. Court officers examine evidence and, often with the help of legal scholars, develop the arguments for both sides of a non-criminal dispute. Then they rule on
the issue.
In effect, a magistrate is an investigator, prosecutor, defense attorney, judge, and jury all rolled into one. He’s also a mediator; after a ruling, he helps resolve the disagreements that led to the lawsuit, about such issues as contracts, property ownership, divorce, child custody, personal injury, property damage, and
the like....<read more> http://cuencahighlife.com/common-law-versus-civil-law-societal-safeguards-or-personal-responsibility/
Keith Lampe died earlier this week, in Vilcabamba, Ecuador, at the age of 83. Keith was also known as Ro-Non-So-Te, and affectionately as Pondo, short for ponderosa pine. And indeed he was strong and sturdy like a stout, towering pine tree.
I came to know Pondo
only in the last months of his life, through the agency of a mutual
friend, and then only by e-mail, though we both lived in Ecuador and had
a number of friends and acquaintances in common.
Pondo was a Korean War
veteran who subsequently took a radical turn towards peace, and spent
the last 60 years as a radical advocate for peace and environmentalism.
His commitment even extended to multiple acts of peaceful civil
disobedience that resulted in his arrest and incarceration. Pondo was
well known for his widely circulated, e-mail newsletter that dealt with a
wide variety of environmental and political issues.
Why Ecuador?: Rumy Tola Casa #9 For Sale: This house is less than two years old! Beautiful fenced in yard with lots of fruit and ornamental trees and plants. Approximately 200 squa...
...We love this house and would gladly keep it and continue to live in it.
However, we have decided that for our children's education and our
careers we need to return to the United States. We are offering this
house for sale by owner in order to avoid paying a commission. This
allows us to price the house lower than other similar houses on the
market and share that savings with the buyer as well...<read more> http://www.why-ecuador.com/p/blog-page_30.html