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By the way, I don’t know where weather.com gets their info — we’ve been in Quito when the sun has been blazing yet the website always reports clouds and rain.

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Yes, the sun shines here quite a bit all the time. Right now it is the rainy season and we typically have beautiful sunshine in the mornings. It clouds over in the afternoon and may often start raining at about 4 or 5 pm. In the dry season, of course, we have lots more sunshine. I really don’t know which season I prefer the most — I love the cool, foggy nights.

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No one here is insulted by a tip. You only tip a taxi driver if he goes above and beyond — helps you with your luggage, etc. A ‘servicio’ line item of 10% is typically added to your restaurant bill and it is up to you if you want to leave more. if the service is extraordinary (not common here, by the way) you might want to add a bit more. I tip $1 per bag to bell staff in hotels — or up to $3 to $5 if we have a lot of stuff between the two of us. And it is common to leave $1 or $2 on the pillow in the morning for the cleaning staff.

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You might want to post something at http://www.gringotree.com/cuenca — and I’ve always had good luck with vrbo.com, but I’ve never searched for Cuenca. You might also try Craigslist quito.craigslist.org/ — it’s Quito-based but often has Cuenca listings.

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Here is what I found:
The English speaking AA meeting in Cuenca at noon every day of the week is at 2-30 Juan Jaramillo between Manuel Vega and Tomas Ordoñez.

The meeting is at an AA member’s home, but the street frontage at that address is a tire store named Yokohama Autolujos. Enter through the open service area of the store and head back to where the offices are, turn left and go up the stairs to the third floor. The apartment is there; it’s the only one on that floor.

E-mail Gerard at gtretton@yahoo.com for more information or call 098 656-4887. Alternately if you are at the location and need access or help call 099 735-4766. A map of the location is in this link http://maps.google.com/maps?q=-2.901253,-78.998826&hl=en&num=1&t=h&z=16

In Cotacachi, the group meets at 3 pm on Wednesday at Land of the Sun Hotel. In Quito, talk to Bill Ward, owner of Magic Bean Cafe. In Vilcabamba, contact bernie@huilcorealestate.com.

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John, that will depend on your service plan, but you should be able to….ask your provider how much it will cost you, though…

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HI Mark, there is no headset kit. This is not a “live” interactive program. And the Don Juan Bocas are a premium — you get to keep them and the Playbook even if you decide the program is not for you.

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Hi James, I am fairly certain the larger banks (like Produbanco) will allow internet transactions — you can Google them and go directly to their websites to learn more. My recommendation on banks is to be sure there is a good branch in the town where you decide to live. In Cotacachi, for example, our choices are limited. My husband and I have opted NOT to have a bank account in Ecuador. We pay all our bills in person and have found our cost of living so low that a weekly ATM withdrawal from our US bank works for us. We’ve had countless bank accounts in Latin America and just wanted to simplify. We use Capital One online banking in the US which does not levy foreign ATM charges.This system works for us — we pay our credit cards and everything else through our US bank and we don’t have to deal with the reporting issues or bureaucracy of having an account here in Ecuador.

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Hi Mark, we just answered this in the other thread…

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Hi Edward, Amy Pinoargote and Mike Sager typically coordinate the beach tours to the Salinas area. If you’d like to contact them in advance, you can do so at GPinoargote@yahoo.com and redwulf3@juno.com. I look forward to meeting you in February!

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I agree with Edd and would add that you only tip a taxi driver if he goes above and beyond — helps you with your luggage, etc. The ‘servicio’ of 10% that is added to your bill is enough but, again, if the service is extraordinary (not common here, by the way) you might want to add a bit more. I tip $1 per bag to bell staff in hotels — or $5 if we have a lot of stuff between the two of us. And it is common to leave $1 or $2 on the pillow in the morning for the cleaning staff.

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Personally, I think the best way is to bring them on the plane — pay for additional bags or upgrade to first class so you can bring them for free. If that is not an option, you might contact customs broker Sandra Baquero and seek her advice.

SANDRA BAQUERO PEREZ
Sanestar International Shipping Services
Guayaquil Ecuador
Tel. +593 (4) 501-8970 or (in the U.S.) (855) SANE-STAR (7263-7827); cell +593 (9) 969-0583
E-mail: SanestarInternational@gmail.com

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Right — you can purchase a monthly membership to use the pools at Hotel Quito and the Marriott Hotel – -and possibly the Swissotel, too.

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Here is one of the properties I have rented: http://www.vrbo.com/310646 — great location. Looks like two others are no longer renting. Don’t forget to ask for a discount or their “best price.”

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Check out these inks: http://privateschool.about.com/od/ecuador/Ecuador.htm and http://www.retirepedia.com/retirement-in-ecuador.html

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