[SUZAN HASKINS]

I don’t think it costs $400 to send 4 kilos, you might want to check that again. I think there is, though, a rule about not sending anything with an invoice of more than $400… And you might check at gringotree.com — there are other mail services you can use, too.

[SUZAN HASKINS]

Wonderful, best of luck!

[SUZAN HASKINS]

There used to be an American Express office in Quito… not at all sure they are still there. But I arranged cash through them way back when. Also, at Banco Internacional at Quicentro Mall they will give you cash against your credit card. The Bancon Internacional ATM machines are the only ones I’ve found that regularly dispense $500 at a pop. And those may only be in selected sites, like the hospital or mall where you might seriously need that much cash.

[SUZAN HASKINS]

Good luck, Michael!

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The US State Department writes about every possibility that “might” happen. My thinking is that if you don’t put yourself in harm’s way, i.e. go to red-light bars where the criminal element hangs out or wander the streets alone and inebriated late at night, you should be fine. I say ‘should’, because as Irving says, crime can and does happen anywhere.

That said, in 12 years of living full-time in Latin America, I have never felt unsafe. Yes, my husband was pickpoketed of $40 on a VERY crowded trolley bus in Quito in 2002 — we were only on it to appease a friend. We’re taxi people… And our car was broken into once in 2004 outside Guadalajara when we parked it where we couldn’t see it. I had some jewelry stolen in either Panama or Nicaragua… I had become so complacent I don’t even know where it happened.

Point is: Ecuador is no more dangerous than anywhere else. Think ahead… write down addresses (with cross streets) AND phone numbers of your hotel so you can find your way back. Be prepared and ever-vigilant (as you would at home) and you will be fine.

[SUZAN HASKINS]

Great, thanks for sharing!

[SUZAN HASKINS]

We’ve taken various classes over the years and I think that working at it in some kind of formal capacity (whether a program like Rosetta Stone or classes with Warren Hardy or a private teacher) is really the only way to make progress. It has to be a commitment on your part. Warren’s program is the one that really clicked for me.

[SUZAN HASKINS]

Yes, the artisan and produce markets are every day, just not to the extent they are on Saturday.

[SUZAN HASKINS]

Hi Jennifer, there are so many things to do in and around Otavalo. Saturday is the big market day, and you can spend all day just wandering through the animal market, produce market and artisan market. (You can do all these minus the animal market any day…)

You should also take the bus (25 cents) to Cotacachi and roam around our little town a bit. (You’ll find plenty of gringos in Cotacachi — just stop in Serendipity or Solid Rock restaurants or the Monkey Bar) From there you might take an excursion to Lake Cuicocha… beautiful. If you like hiking, this is the place to do it.

You might also want to do a tour of the local indigenous villages. This tour can be a little touristy, but it’s fun, and an easy way to see the artisan communities. This tour usually also stops at the Peguche waterfall. You can ask your tour guide to take you to see a shaman in Illuman… a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Your hotel should be able to help you with all this…

[SUZAN HASKINS]

I have never been charged a bag fee. However I never have more than one small bag.They may have a limit. A friend of mine says if you click through, you can use a US credit card. You can also buy tickets at the airport or at the Tame offices around town and/or kiosks in malls. If you go through a travel agent you will pay a premium. The website is not great but offers the lowest prices.

You can always call and ask for an English-speaking agent and ask all your questions in advance.

[SUZAN HASKINS]

Leila, feel free to ask questions here. And see the link to Travel Itineraries at the top of this page — lots of good advice in there.

[SUZAN HASKINS]

Yes, insect repellant is bought in Ecuador and you can pack them in your checked luggage — but I carry those most towelette repellants that you can buy at Walgreens, CVS, etc. They’re very handy as you can throw one in your pocket or wallet and always have one at hand.

[SUZAN HASKINS]

They do have licensed architect, yes. But not every building is designed or built by one — especially on the coast and rural areas. In cities, yes…

[SUZAN HASKINS]

Response from Margaret Summerfield of Pathfinder International:
It depends on the area and what is being built.
 
Building a single family home e.g. would probably only need a sign-off to say the electricity was wired ok before it got hooked up. If you are buying one and getting a bank loan, the bank would evaluate it – but purely to see if it was worth the amount stated in the loan application. That’s not to say it was built right…
 
In a condo block, they usually need to meet certain build codes and get an occupancy permit before anyone can move in (mostly to make sure it’s safe from a fire and emergency perspective).
 
There are build codes but I have no idea how strictly they are enforced and they won’t be up to North American/European levels (in the UK, for example, you can’t have a bathroom that opens into a kitchen, there has to be at least 2 doors between them, nobody cares about that sort of detail here… Rather than use conduit to house plumbing and wiring, with nice access points, they put it straight in the wall and concrete over it so you have to chisel the walls out when you get a leak…and there’s no way a building inspector can check it once it’s concreted over).
 
Bottom line,  I’d hire a company to carry out an inspection myself…
 

[SUZAN HASKINS]

I am sure there is some kind of inspection on the very tall towers in larger cities but on the small complexes built in smaller towns, I doubt it. good question, though. I will ask Margaret Summerfield, our resident real estate expert.

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