New life

On the plus side Cuenca (at least) has very smooth and consistent sidewalks. This is rare in South America and is no small thing for someone with mobility issues, as you well know.

Medical tourism is a big thing here, so you could certainly come and take a look for yourself to make sure there is sufficient infrastructure for your unique requirements.

Other than that I can only say that the weather is good, there will never be snow or ice to deal with, the living is easy, and the people are friendly. You could do much worse.

Photosfoodandfun wrote:

On the plus side Cuenca (at least) has very smooth and consistent sidewalks.

Where are you in Cuenca? "Very smooth and consistent sidewalks"... jajaja

We have lived in 15 countries, and visited well over 100 more. The sidewalks here are remarkable.

Quito's sidewalks are good too. I walk a lot, never this much in my life before. Scubalyda as repetitive as it may sound you have to try it and see how your body responds to the high altitude if you prefer the Sierra or sea level if you like the coast.

I'm not a woman, but Ecuador is very friendly especially if one is not a pretentious foreigner. These are some of the simplest people in the world and it's refreshing to be around non-superficial people. I haven't had much experience with the medical community with the exception that they don't speak a word of English, but since you're “pretty good” in Spanish you should have no problem as Ecuadorians are patient with speaking and listening.

Rent a temporary apartment in the area you are interested in, become familiar with a nearby hospital/specialist and see how it goes. As for socializing and community, if you read this forum then you'll know that there are members who want to grow their social network and are inviting.

Good morning,

Thank you so much for answering and clarifying the walking situation, that's reassuring!

Now, would you consider it safe for a woman living alone? And are there areas that are safer in the city?

I was thinking of renting a very small appt for a couple of months to see how it works and if I like the area.  Do renters accept people leasing on a short term base? 

Is you expat community big and did you find it easy to be integrated in the group?  Is there a good sense of community among the expats?

Wow, so many questions! Sorry for that.  Thank you and have a nice day.

Lynda

Thank you so much for taking the time to give me more information on the altitude, that had not dawned on me before you mentioned it. Do you know anyone that had problems with the altitude?

I must say that one of the reasons I've been thinking of moving to South America is finding a place to live where the people live life simply, enjoy the small things in life which we often take for granted but are not always a necessity.

You mentioned the sea side, which I must say is tempting (I love to snorkel but cannot scuba dive anymore).  I'm wondering if I wouldn't get tired of the scenery, unless there are lots of  things to do and a good community.

Have a nice day,

Lynda

scubalynda wrote:

Thank you so much for taking the time to give me more information on the altitude, that had not dawned on me before you mentioned it. Do you know anyone that had problems with the altitude?

I must say that one of the reasons I've been thinking of moving to South America is finding a place to live where the people live life simply, enjoy the small things in life which we often take for granted but are not always a necessity.

You mentioned the sea side, which I must say is tempting (I love to snorkel but cannot scuba dive anymore).  I'm wondering if I wouldn't get tired of the scenery, unless there are lots of  things to do and a good community.

Have a nice day,

Lynda

Yes, I know people who suffered from the altitude, I was one of them. But I went from sea level to 9000 feet or whatever in an instant. It took me about a month to acclimate, and a year later I'm heathier than I've even been. I had asthma to put it in perspective, no more.

Unfortunately, I've read about others who didn't fare as well as their bodies simply couldn't adjust and as a result returned to their home countries because the coast wasn't an option for them.

I don't know if you're going to get tired of the scenery of the coast, but I know I would. This is why I love big cities, especially one like Quito where it's still developing, and so I like a new pub, café, or restaurant to check out in town. I like the coast for a holiday/vacation and nothing more, but I've lived that life, or basically on the beach and I don't miss it.

If you're going to be an expat, and you budget yourself properly, then you'll have the opportunity to test the kind of living and climate you like.