We welcome new member Rod a/k/a Rodrigo, who was born in Quito and lived in California for 40 years.
Now retired, Rod told us in his self-introductory post that he plans to stay here in Ecuador (location not mentioned) "till I find a better place."
What's better than Ecuador?
Well, it's true that we Expat blackjack players would like to have seen Ecuador keep its casinos open instead of voting them out of existence eight years ago.
Some Expats were bummed out five years ago when the Big One hit the coast and Bahía's condos and other places were badly damaged.
Take Quito and Cuenca, though, the most popular landing places in La República for arriving Expats.
The Andean weather is cool to mild, unlike roasting cities such as Barranquilla, Colombia, and other lowlands locations.
There's plenty of nightlife here in Quito, although The Situation means that many places close by 10 p.m.
There are some wonderful restaurants for the Gringo palette if you know where to look.
Cuenca has historically had plentiful Expat meetups, although I'm not clear on whether The Situation is still putting those on the back burner.
OK, there's little outdoor swimming under a sunny sky, unless you're staying at a fancy and expensive hotel with a heated pool. But swim we can, as I did today at the Matovelle indoor pool next door to the famous Basílica.
Which brings us to the pleasure of living -- in Quito and/or Cuenca -- near historical buildings. Both municipalities are World Heritage sites. Within easy walking distance of my condo in Centro Histórico are the presidential palace, the largest Catholic cathedral for hundreds of miles, and the famous Plazas de San Francisco y de la Independencia. The iconic virgin statue at El Panecillo overlooking old town is nearby and I have the pleasure of seeing it every day from my condo's windows.
Need a beach? Ecuador has those too, only not here in the highlands.
cccmedia in Quito
FYI -- Rod posted on a thread that is reserved for New Members introductions. That is why I created this new thread, to discuss the topic at hand.
Rod Will Stay Until He Finds a Better Place Than Ecuador
So tell us, Expat.com members -- including Rod and other participants of this Ecuador forum -- are you looking for a place better than Ecuador?
What would make a place better?
What would make Ecuador a better choice for you?
If Ecuador is your first choice, what city or location is your favorite?
cccmedia in Quito
A better place might have:
a lower cost of living, lower crime, less litter, better quality food and drink, more art, purer air, purer water, fairer society, more music, more personal and economic freedom, more equality under the law, more entertainment options, less traffic, more innovation, less poverty, quieter at night, fewer risks of natural disasters, more economic growth, more sunshine, less drought...
No place is perfect.
I love Ecuador.
It's a great value and I feel like it has a better future
lebowski888 wrote:A better place might have:
a lower cost of living....
Yo, Dude, you led with cost of living. That needs some 'splainin'.
Cars aren't inexpensive, but most don't need a car. Bus fares are low.
Rents, medical/dental care are really low compared to some more famous countries.
The cost of a condo here in El Centro is low. If you buy in Tenis or Gonzales Suárez, yes, you will pay plenty. But I don't think you bought there.
Gas at the pump went up, but was $2.09 per gallon for 'extra' when I bought gas tonight. Californians are paying $4.31 for 'regular' gas (equivalent to Ecuador 'extra') -- more than twice the Ecuador price.
What are you, your family or Expat X paying for that's not in the low-cost-of-living range?
cccmedia in Quito
I was just listing comparative factors someone might consider. Cost of living is often the big headline for Ecuador. But there's many other factors an individual might consider and rank.
Cost of living is low in Ecuador, compared to North America. But is it the very lowest in LatAm? I am doubtful. I guess that other countries could have lower costs of living, due to currently favorable exchange rates or other reasons.
But one might trade off a lower cost of living in say, Asuncion or Lima or La Paz with, say, worse traffic, or higher crime rates, or fewer cultural activities.
If constant sunshine is one's preference , there are certainly places in south America much sunnier than anywhere in Ecuador. For example, northern Chile. But, being the high desert, also barren and lonely. So, tradeoffs.
lebowski888 wrote:If constant sunshine is one's preference, there are certainly places in south America much sunnier than anywhere in Ecuador. For example, northern Chile... the high desert... barren and lonely.
Ecuador sunshine as reported via the international press was key to Expats' expanded awareness of this country as a first-class retirement destination, starting in the first decade of this century.
International investment adviser and entrepreneur Gary A. Scott is credited with being the lead voice in that decade for promoting Ecuador internationally and attracting worldwide attention, especially to Cuenca.
Scott publicized Ecuador as "The Land of the Sun" as he bought many properties in La República, publicized and taught seminars to Expats and established a Cotacachi, Ecuador, hotel of the same name -- Land of the Sun Hotel & Spa.
cccmedia in Quito
Quito's TaytaSun burns you horribly. Food is good. I ate mama-mashua yesterday. Must try it.
☀️🍀
rodrigoleivacastellanos wrote:Quito's TaytaSun burns you horribly. Food is good.
☀️🍀
.
Not sure about the Tayta part. I can say this... those of us with light skin living in the Ecuadorian capital learn not to over-expose ourselves to the midday sun.
After 2 p.m., I like to walk on the shady side of the street. In the hours closer to 12 noon that may not be possible as few shadows are evident.
cccmedia in Quito
"Tayta" = Ultimate Father.
☀️🍀
I remember when I arrived in London in early summer of 93. The weather was beautiful. It was sunny and warm. Not a bit of rain. After a few more weeks of mostly nice weather, I thought that everyone was exaggerating about the famously miserable British weather. I remember calling my parents and a few friends and telling them that, in fact.
When October came, I realized after a few weeks how wrong I was with that first impression. And the chill, gloom, and rain persisted almost non stop until May 94. I had to later recant my past staements. But also, I didn't go to London for the weather. I was there for work, music, history, and culture.
In 2021 it's much easier to access records of the weather and get reliable information about it. nowadays we can Google the climate for a locale if that thing is an important factor to us.
Nonetheless, despite both cities being on the West Coast, San Diego has far more sunnier days than Seattle. Most adults in the US know this.
I would be insane to market and sell property near Seattle or London for their incredible sunshine. That would certainly be an advertising failure.
Luckily, every time I have gone to Cuenca, it has been mostly sunny. Unfortunately, every time I have been to Quito, it has rained like crazy.
My first impressions don't tell (or sell) the story.
Rod, after 40 years living abroad you should explore all the diversity we enjoy in Ecuador. Incredible nature, delicious food, wonderful people, lovely weather so that you can reconnect with your roots, identity and feel again like "one of us". Of course Ecuador is not paradise, you will find in the way challenges and situations. The more you know people and country the more you will be able to enjoy.
We are not paradise but almost if you compare with many other places.
Cuenca, Cotacachi, Vilcabamba, and Quito are affordable paradises ( between some others) getting more and more retired citizens from the world.
Good luck, I hope you can find what you are looking for.
Mónica
Yes. So true. Thanks.
Ecuador is a very difficult people. I will visit more places post Covid19.
The first thing I must find is a place for a blood test to detemine the level of glyphosate in my body.
Saludos, Always,
Rod
rodrigoleivacastellanos wrote:The first thing I must find is a place for a blood test to detemine the level of glyphosate in my body.
You can find several places doing an internet search, that will test for glyphosate. However urine and blood testing only show short-term exposure in the near past, not long-term exposure. Blood tests may show exposure in the last 2-3 days, urine tests in the last 2-3 weeks.
Here are several links:
https://detoxproject.org/5-things-you-n … e-testing/https://holisticprimarycare.net/topics/ … -exposure/
Do an internet search for
test for glyphosate in humans
...and you can find many links.
Thanks much! 👍🍀
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