[DAVE HAIG]

Visiting Cuenca now, and had Googled for blood supply in Cuenca and here´s the site that I found:

http://cuencanewsdigest.com/campaign-for-blood-donations-in-cuenca-underway-p946-90.htm

Visited a doctor for a physical checkup and asked about donating blood and he recommended the Cruz Roja     (Red Cross).   I went in (that street is listed in the article..   Calle Presidente Borreo…   look for the Red Cross trucks parked on the street).    They called up an employee who spoke English (had lived in the U.S.)    and he talked me through the questions…     all the standard questions on health, drugs, sex, diseases, medications , etc.     Did the finger prick test for iron,  had the blood pressure and pulse taken,  and donated.

I´m now a card carrying blood donor for Cruz Roja Del Azuay.       (Cuenca is in the Azuay province)               Dave

 

 

[DAVE HAIG]

Visiting Cuenca now….   the dentist I went to only takes cash, and if I understood correctly told me that the banks charge a 12% transaction fee for credit cards.    The hospital lab I used took my Visa card ok, and when I checked my account saw that I was charged a $ 0.76 Foreign Transaction Fee.

Used my ATM card (from Nevada State Bank) at Banco Pinchincha,  no extra charge, but when I checked my account saw that my bank charged an ATM Foreign Transaction Fee of $ 2.50,   and a Foreign Transaction Fee of $ 4.00,     so a total of $ 6.50.     Hope that helps!   Dave

[DAVE HAIG]

Just got back online. Thanks for the responses… gives me something to think about. Hope you all enjoy the holidays!

[DAVE HAIG]

Hello Thomas….. here’s a link for Cuenca real estate tours…. one in December, then another in February.
http://www.cuencarealestate.com Hope that helps! dave

[DAVE HAIG]

Thanks Suzan… I’d like to get the medical stuff out of the way first…. then be free to explore. Here’s my email in case anyone wants to discuss anything and avoid tying up the blog. haigd11@yahoo.com Right now it’s looking like flying from Las Vegas, NV to Quito, a few days there, then bus to Cuenca… medical & dental, then explore the city, the southern towns, and hopefully some of the southern coast. There’s a city real estate tour, and carnival in February too. I’ll manage to keep busy! Dave

[DAVE HAIG]

Thanks Ed! is it really that easy? I’m used to a month in advance for an appointment, and once tried to see a dentist in upstate New York and was told they could try to squeeze me in, in 3 months.
I don’t have any conditions…. just looking for a general checkup, blood work for whatever, vaccinations, and probably a referral for a colonoscopy, and skin screening so maybe a dermatologist. My dental would be regular checkup, xrays, maybe patch a chipped tooth, maybe whitening, and checkup on crowns that i have. I’m semi-retired, (long term unemployed, having worked a variety of part-time jobs), so it will be 4 years since the last checkup, so I’m using this as a chance to get things done and further explore the idea of retiring there. I’m an IL subscriber, and get the GringoTree email, and have the recordings from the last Ecuador conference. It does sound good and from here it looks like it would be a good fit for me.
Thanks again, and maybe see you all in February! Dave

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