Questions About Living At the Ocean -Bahia de Caraquez

Lonecowboy,

I don't know about triplicate - but I always made certain to scan my documents before giving them in to the Consulate.  My situation was somewhat different, living where I could just go there in person and wait for items.  Actually I went there 9 times.  My 8 documents morphed into 20 documents if I recall.  They had to separate certain things such as translations, etc.  All my translations were professionally done and notarized first in Ottawa, then authenticated by DFAIT, before submitting them to the Consulate.    They were always trying to be helpful, and were competent.  The issue was that Quito's computer program did not have a way to accept documents of translation for someone 65 years of age, or something like that.  Ottawa had to request Quito to alter its computer program in order to accept certain documents.  Also it was the first time that year that anyone my age had requested documents stamped.  While time wound on, I went and requested, once again, my background checks from RCMP and from Ottawa Police (for the provincial records).  This was looking ahead, in case in Ecuador the documents, after 6 months date of issue, became out of date.  This was a really good idea it turns out.

@ Lonecowboy and HelenPivoine > Your questions concern mainly visa, maybe you should create your own thread under the Information on visas in Ecuador section as we are drifting a bit off topic here.

Thanks all,

Priscilla

Dear wanderingbears,
Yes, I'd love to know more, e.g., how to get there from Quito, types of housing and range of costs for a 1 BR, infrastructure, closest medical facility, getting around without a vehicle, etc.
PS

Hi Charlie 'WanderingBear'. Sorry we got disconnected somehow last spring.
Sure sorry I did not take your advice as to Pensioner Visa out of Manta. I spent my 90 day Visa there (north west of Quito) and had a very bad experience with an Ecuadorian lawyer i hired before I left Canada.
I Just recently was referred by CCC to the Ecuadorian law, protecting Gov. Consul Generals & abogados. Seems that jail terms are waiting for those willing to expose crooked practices and incompetant CG's.
A very costly but also a very wonderful  Ecuadorian experience, Thanks to the everyday, honest people of rural Ecuador.
Please send personal email if you wish to know more.
Lonecowboy

Lonecowboy wrote:

Just recently was referred by CCC to the Ecuadorian law, protecting Gov. Consul Generals & abogados. Seems that jail terms are waiting for those willing to expose crooked practices and incompetant CG's.
Lonecowboy

The Cowboy's oblique reference is to an EC law prohibiting published attacks -- whether true or not -- against visa facilitators.

The item is prominently featured at the moment on the welcome page of dayinquito.blogspot.com.co (or google:  day in quito blog), dated November 21, 2016.

cccmedia in Quito

Lonecowboy here
Once again my lack of PC experience has put me in the 'spotlight'.
That was supposed to be a personal reply to Wanderbear.
Bill

Hey there Lonesome Cowboy, I sent you twp private messages since your last post.  Do you know how to access them? 
Wandering

hello wandering bear, I hope you are still out there. i would like to visit, stay a couple of weeks, and
really get a feel of the area. would i be able to accomplish this with out driving ? where would i fly
into ? do they have rentals,  could i rent short term ? Are their medical facilities close by, pharmacies ?
Is the town nice, and do you have to drink bottled water ? what is the best months to visit ? Is our
Christmas (12-25 ) a nice time to be there ? I guess I have bombarded you with questions. I would
appreciate any help you may give me. One more approx. rental amts. ?
Thank You,
Ms. Hazel

wanderingbears wrote:

Where we live (on the oceanfront in Bahía) there are Roosters living behind us.  And there aren't wild dogs, but our neighbors have dogs that seem intent on barking quite a lot of the time.  As far as other noises, we do have the Ocean Waves coming in, but we find them quite comforting and soothing.  Since we have chosen to live at the Ocean. And oh yes the Motorbikes and Scooters yes we have them.  There are areas where you will not have the dogs and roosters.  Mostly the gated communities will not allow dogs , roosters and motorbikes to bother the Home Occupants.  We live on the Malecon now and there are motorbikes at night.
  We are building a new home north of Canoa where none of these activities will be allowed, including no animals in the neighborhoods.  All animals will be in barns, and or the farming areas.  In these types of developments there will be homes for rent by the owners who are either investing to rent or only here part of the year.  There will be no loud noises allowed after a certain hour.

Once upon a time (2013, 2016), Charlie Wandering Bears was eagerly promoting Bahía de Caráquez on this forum thread .. and preparing his new home near Bahía outside Canoa, Ecuador.

Charlie dropped off the thread's 'radar' the year before there was an earthquake that was centered in the Pacific Ocean off Bahía .. and which damaged some of the condo buildings where Expats were living.

With Charlie out of touch and no other Expats reporting to us from Bahía, we have been going a long time without getting the in-city Expat perspective on that once-popular and growing-ever-more-popular city.

Is anybody on this forum currently in Bahía (late 2018)?

What happened to the worst-afflicted condos?

What's the word on the street about the vote (probably March 2019) on whether to allow casinos and gambling in Bahía?

Have many Expats locked up their (damaged) condo apartments since the earthquakes and gone North to think about whether to return to Bahía?

Has the mall been completed?  The cinema?  Healthcare updated? 

cccmedia

Ive been in Bahia 10 years,
The malls long been finished, the Cinema finished too and very nice.
Health care IESS has a brand new building  including MRI

Most the expats that left after the earthquake are returning plus some new faces in town.

The condos that did not have insurace have been bought up by Quito companies and are  beening restored .

Underground wireing for the city is almost complete
fiber optics is complete
complete new water line system, we always have high pressure water now.

Hey that's great news. I hope to make it up to  Bahía in March

misha16 wrote:

Ive been in Bahia 10 years,
The malls long been finished, the Cinema finished too and very nice.
Health care IESS has a brand new building  including MRI.

Most the expats that left after the earthquake are returning plus some new faces in town.

The condos that did not have insurance have been bought up by Quito companies and are  being restored.

Underground wiring for the city is almost complete
fiber optics is complete
complete new water line system, we always have high pressure water now.

Good job, good update, Misha.  

Seems like a great rebound for your city.

Please tell us about your experience with the weather in Bahía.  What are the best months of the year for a pleasant experience, in your opinion?  What are the best months for ocean swimming when the water is most comfortable?

Is the city semi-deserted during the off-season months (such as, perhaps, June-November)?

What's the word on the street about the possible return of casinos next year?

cccmedia

The weather is wonderful, very sunny and fresh  especially June through October. With January beening the hottest month in the year. January through March are the best times to swim and really enjoy the ocean with spectacular sunsets.

The "off season" has many events August beening the busiest time off the year.

The word of the street about the casinos comes right from the politicians mouth Daniel Mendoza.
I've ran into him a couple of times at the sports bar, he says Bahia will be the only casino zone in Ecuador. (Bahia includes pajonal valley)


Hope this helps.

misha16 wrote:

January through March are the best times (in Bahía) to swim and really enjoy the ocean with spectacular sunsets.

The "off season" has many events August being the busiest time....

The word of the street about the casinos comes right from ... Daniel Mendoza.  I've run into him a couple of times at the sports bar, he says Bahia will be the only casino zone in Ecuador.

Hope this helps.

Yes, it is helpful, Misha.

The many events around August -- are these often Expat-friendly events?  How would you describe the Expat community and its events in Bahía?

The Daniel Mendoza you mentioned -- is he the local assemblyman in your area?

cccmedia

Daniel Mendoza is an Assemblyman  from the National Assembly of Ecuador based out of Quito.

The events are amazing, but not well advertised in english. They would all be on facebook which I dont follow.

Half Marathins,
Half triathlons
Swimming races across the Bahia bay
Mountain bike races through the trails surrounding  Bahia.
Ive competed in a strongman obstacle course on the beach
National Beach volley ball tournaments
Surfing events

Today there is a horse event-parade marching down the Boardwalk

Something interesting to note, we have a expat whos ex special forces. he offers a free boot Camp.
For anyone who wants to get in the best shape of there life for anything.  He group trains in the morning and evenning and has a great turn out.

Here is a web page that shows the dates of some sporting events in Bahia de Caraquez.

Bahia Activa, Bahia de Caraquez
Saturday Novermber 17 10am is the next event.

http://bahiaactiva.com/