Forum Replies Created
-
AuthorPosts
-
SUZAN HASKINS
ParticipantHi Don, I am not sure what to tell you. I’m sure there are Filipinos here, but not that I’m acquainted with. There are a couple of women in Cotacachi who are of Japanese descent (and one of Chinese, I believe) and I met a Thai woman who has recently bought on the coast at Jama Campay. Perhaps a Google search may turn up something for you?
ParticipantGlad the info helped, Thomas!
ParticipantHi Gillian, when Ecuador rewrote its constitution a few years ago, they actually gave civil (maybe not the correct term) rights to the environment. At least one lawsuit here in Ecuador on behalf of ‘nature’ has been won because of this. it’s an unusual posture, but one we find commendable. I’ll see if I can find more info to post here. Viva Ecuador.
ParticipantWhat National Security System? Ecuador’s? This is news to me — please send me the link where you read that and I’ll check it out.
ParticipantWe have satellite internet at our home. and we have DirecTV which provides quite a few US English channels. However, we don’t get the networks, CNN or Fox News, so here’s what we do. We go to http://www.ustvnow.com — there we can access all the networks and PBS for free and wacth them over the internet. If we want to watch a football game or a political convention (which we are doing right now) we can get a 3 or weeklong subscription.
In fact, we’re thinking of dropping DirecTV and just using USTVnow – -there are a lot of websites like that out there now. I suspect the competition will bring much lower prices. (By the way, we’re also addicted to Mad Men, Sons of Anarchy and Breaking Bad. I order those from iTunes and can watch them at my leisure. Love that.)
ParticipantYou can probably find similar prescriptions here, marketed under a different name. If you go see a doctor here they can get you on the right path. Is this what you mean?
ParticipantMike, how long do you want to rent? If it’s only for a week or month, that’s one thing. But if it were me, and if I were looking for a long-term rental, I’d wait until I got to Ecuador before arranging that. Stay at a hostal or get a short-term rental while you look. That way, you’ll be sure to get closer to what you are looking for.
You’ll find info about both rentals and properties for sale at http://www.viviun.com or http://www.quito.en.craigslist.org. And if you’re looking for short-term rentals, I’ve had good luck with http://www.vrbo.com.
ParticipantI’m not a technical genius, but I’ve traveled throughout Ecuador and always been able to get reliable internet access and at a bandwidth and speed that’s acceptable for me. (I send large files, photos, etc. — but not much more than that. I also download movies and some television programs, etc. We’ve been watching the political conventions on an internet feed and that’s been perfectly acceptable.)
You can typically get DSL or satellite anywhere and cable internet in the larger cities. We pay $60 a month for our satellite service. It is only down if the electricity goes down in the house. That doesn’t happen often in Cotacachi…
ParticipantYes, Jae, there are lots of single women traveling and living in Ecuador. But please make arrangements ahead of time and let someone know where you’ll be going and where you’ll be staying. Just makes sense anywhere you travel. Along those lines, in the big cities, please don’t wear expensive jewelry or walk around with an expensive camera out in the open. I’m guessing you won’t be taking the cross-country buses, but if you do, it is a good idea not to put your purse or backpack with valuables beneath your seat or in the overhead rack. Keep it on your lap. And if you happen to go to any large market (like Otavalo on Saturday) or anywhere there are crowds of people, always keep your bag closed and wear it in front and not one your back. less temptation for any possible pickpockets. Personally, I’ve never had an incident in 12 years and I doubt you will either, but know your surroundings and keep track of your stuff when you are out and about. Like I said, that’s good advice anywhere in the world.
ParticipantIt may take longer, yes, but you should be able to do it with no problems. May cost you a larger damage deposit…
ParticipantYou can start with Dr. Jose Rendon-Mackliff at 091774609 at the Santa Rosa clinic. You may have better luck in Guayaquil. Here’s a list of medical specialists there from the US consulate: http://guayaquil.usconsulate.gov/media/pdf/specialists–facilities-2008-guayaquil.pdf
ParticipantI don’t think there are English-speaking schools but you may find a bilingual school. Start with this one:
American School
Centro Educativo
Panamericana Norte Km 7.5
2876352
*Celular
08-7187336
E-mail: american_school@hotmail.comParticipantI don’t have a problem but I’d be interested to see how others respond. The elevation does affect some people, especially upon arrival in Quito for the first time. The best thing to do is stay well hydrated and avoid strenuous activity for the first few days.
ParticipantHi Gene, we have local cell phones and they cost about $50. Then we buy ‘time.’ I can buy $5 or $10 and it lasts me for two months or so. I would not use my cellphone to call the States, though. For that, I use either Magic Jack or Skype. Those are VOIP (voice-over-internet-protocol) systems. That ends up being pennies per minute and I can call anywhere in the world.
The cell coverage in Ecuador is very good. I’m sure there are places (deep in the mountains or the Amazon) where you might have trouble, but overall coverage here is good. There are two carriers, Claro and Movistar. We have Claro, but depending if/where you end up living you’ll want to choose the one that is most prevalent in that area. You can, of course, buy a phone with a service plan from one of these carriers.
ParticipantI don’t know anyone who has brought a vehicle. The customs duties can be high. I’ll double check on this and get back to you with a better-informed answer. Expats who want a car usually buy one here. Seems like expats who live on the coast or in Cuenca are more likely to want a vehicle. In Quito or Cotacachi, most opt for taxis or buses for transportation. We don’t have a car and are very happy about that. We takes buses, taxis, or hire a private driver when we need to. It’s far less costly and less hassle than car ownership. (By the way, in Cotacachi, the favored mode of transport for expats now seems to be those 3-wheel motorcycle things with a covered trailer on back — like an Asian tuk-tuk.
-
AuthorPosts