[ANDREA LYMAN]

The minimum fare in Cuenca is $1.41 but I always pay $1.50. There is a slightly higher minimum for night, but it is not much. I usually round up to the nearest 25 cents if it’s close. When you start out, you should make sure they have their meter RUNNING! Otherwise, you’re at their mercy, unless you have taken the route before and can say that you have never paid more than…such and such. It’s MUCH better than it used to be before they had meters!!

[ANDREA LYMAN]

This depends on your issuing bank’s parameters. I have 3 debit cards, and each has a different daily maximum – one is $200, one is $400, one is $600. I use mine all the time here in Cuenca with no problems.

[ANDREA LYMAN]

In Cuenca, we have received FedEx deliveries right to our door. DHL always calls and we go pick it up at their office. DHL is very expensive but both they and FedEx are reliable. I’ve only received documents and the like, not heavier packages.I would never trust the mail system here, so I’ve tried to have everything possible sent to me via email. I have a friend in the US who gets my very few pieces of mail and scans them. I tell her what to do with whatever isn’t tossed out. Works really well!!

[ANDREA LYMAN]

You can only know for sure if you visit in person and stay a while. It’s as simple and true as that! One person’s too cool, is another person’s perfect. If possible make a couple of trips at different times of year and really live into what it would be like to see yourself LIVING in a place. Being a tourist and living somewhere are different experiences. It sounds like you have a huge number of locations to cover in your time frame. That may or not give the most accurate ‘read’ on what a place is like, or what the weather can be like over a longer time period. ‘Boots on the ground’ is the wisest advice ever given for exploring where you want to live – and it’s SO worth it in the end!

[ANDREA LYMAN]

It depends on your bank and the debit card. I can withdraw up to $500 on my debit card, $600 on one of my credit cards and $200 a day on my local JEP account. So it depends. And yes, always make sure that a credit card you may use has no transaction fees – some do and some don’t. I’ve never, ever had any issues using any of my cards. I have heard of other shaving issues, but I never had in 2 years of living in Cuenca.

[ANDREA LYMAN]

You can check out Gringo Post gringopost.com – they have a daily newsletter that goes out via email. You will see many groups like you are describing that welcome people to participate. There are LOTS of fun things to do in Cuenca – your heads will be spinning and I’ll bet you won’t be able to do all of them!

One of the acting groups is: Azuay Community Theater A.C.T. Ninfa Gonzalez: ngtrade5@hotmail.com They are currently working on a production for sometime in April. Also, there are several choirs in town. One wonderful group is the Cuenca International Chorale. contact: Phil Kennemer kennemer.phi1@gmail.com Another fun group is the Cuenca Dance Mob. For more info, contact: David Naccari danceclubcuenca@gmail.com

Have fund and good luck!

[ANDREA LYMAN]

If you subscribe to Gringo Post, daily they have notifications of rentals, sometimes several, and they also have a real estate section to check. We have found several excellent short term rentals that way. The parameters of what you are looking for should be easy enough to find. You can also look online at VRBO, Flipkey and other sites that feature short term rentals. Good luck!

[ANDREA LYMAN]

Something else to think about….if your wife will be getting her permanent residency visa as your dependent and something happens to you, she will have to get her own visa (and go through the whole process) to remain here in Ecuador. Some couples get separate visas so this is won’t be an issue (e.g husband gets a pensioner’s visa, wife gets an investor’s visa). Something to consider!!

[ANDREA LYMAN]

I don’t know what you found in the way of prices from Guayaquil to Cuenca, but for a couple, I doubt you could fly for cheaper than a car pick up. Let me know if you’re interested, and I can give you the info for a great driver pick up (in a nice car with a good, safe, US expat driver). We use him a lot for when we’ve needed to go to/and or from Guayaquil. Also, the drive (depending on time of day and the fog) can be lovely as the route goes through the Cajas National Park.

[ANDREA LYMAN]

Definitely paying cash is the way to go – the discounts are huge!!!! And yes, the best way is to just withdraw from ATMs over a period of time to gather the funds you need. That’s how we all do it in Cuenca, too.

[ANDREA LYMAN]

Thanks, Suzan! I contacted Dana and she has been more helpful than anyone else I have contacted!

[ANDREA LYMAN]

Pianos…..I’ve been exploring this for four months – bring your own or find one on Craigslist and bring it! Good uprights (now OR used) are incredibly difficult to come by. Mostly no one can afford them and they just use cheaper electronic keyboards. 🙁

[ANDREA LYMAN]

Suzan, Was there supposed to be a link for Cruz Blanca after, “Learn more at.” ? I don’t see one. Thanks!!

[ANDREA LYMAN]

I think different people have different ways of learning, and therefore, may find methods that work for them that are different for others. As a teacher (for 40 years), I know that people have different learning styles and I personally find a certain method better than the method that works best for my husband! Perhaps briefly trying out 2 or 3 options will determine a method that ‘rings true’ for each person. And in the meantime, you may learn a few things regardless of the method you end up with!! Good luck!!!

[ANDREA LYMAN]

Wow! Now THIS is new information – and I like the new simplified process. Wonderful. This is great – and I am going to contact a Cuenca lawyer to confirm that this is true there, as well. Thanks a million for providing this info from a couple of different lawyers. I appreciate your help!! As always……

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