The Largisimo
American looking for information about Ecuador
Forum posts
47
About me
American
Registration: 28 April 2012
No Spanish language, just English.Can I live in Mexico ? by GuestPoster1020302
Hi, I don't know Spanish not at all,but know English and Russian languages. I am thinking about moving to Mexico (any area,closer to sea/ocean). Are there areas,where local Mexicans speak in English ? Is it possible to live in Mexico without ...
James, this sounds very impressive that you were able to do this at 52 (my current age). I have more than a basic grasp of Spanish but would like to greatly improve it and your story encourages me. I did have a friend that learned Spanish to an ... Read More
Mercado Libre Apartment Ads
Every ad lists ambientes (usually 1 - 4). Here is another: http://departamento-suite.mercadolibre.com.ec/MEC-406890033-departamento-sector-carolina-_JM Read More
Mercado Libre Apartment Ads
Not related to ambientes but check out the photos for this apt (which only has 1 ambiente). This is the first apartment I have ever seen in my life that has had a urinal as standard ... Read More
Mercado Libre Apartment Ads
Quick (probably stupid) question. I am looking at apartment ads in Quito and there is a category I can't puzzle out the translation. For example, one apartment has 2 banos, 2 dormitorios and 3 ambientes. I get banos and dormitorios but what is ... Read More
Christian Ministry by goodbyeMN
Hello! Are there any missionaries on here? We are researching cities and would like to move to Ecuador but also work with local churches, Christian orphan ministry, or outreach programs. Does anyone know of specific needs? Leaning towards ...
Bring thick skin. Unless you are giving them food or some other thing of value you will be of little use to the indigenous. And many expats will regard you with contempt. There is ample suffering in your own country you could attend to without ... Read More
The Beach
I would prefer a large touristy town with a wide variety of lodging options, low history of street crime (muggings) against gringo tourists, and ocean surf that is warm enough to swim in and not too dangerous (riptides), or something that come ... Read More
The Beach
If you live in Quito and want a nice beach vacation for several days, what is a good city to do this in if you want easy bus ride, good choice of hotels, nice safe swimmable water, reasonable low cost? Thanks Read More
Robbed/Scammed By Farmer's Market Vendor by wlae84
This really has been bothering me. I have to get this off my chest... So I went to the farmer's market yesterday. I gave the old lady 50 cents and took 5 oranges. She took the oranges out of my bag, put them back in the bin. And then put her ...
I was visiting a friend that lived in Quito years ago. He had lived there for a year and knew his way around. We were riding a bus a good distance (Cunuyacu). When the cobrador quoted him the price for the fare he got involved in a spirited ... Read More
When the Moon Hits Your "EYE" That's Amore: Best EYE-talian Food in EC by cccmedia
Let's start with pizza, that international favorite. It didn't originate in Ecuador, but walking through some city sectors -- yes, I'm talking about YOU, Mariscal sector of Quito -- it might seem that it could have. From ...
Is cuy an available topping? Read More
Help Top Cat Decide If She'll Need a Courier for EC re Credit Cards by cccmedia
Top Cat*, a Serial Expat, is planning ahead for when it will be time to replace her credit (and-or debit) cards when in Ecuador, whether for security or for alternate-year routine replacement. (The topic got moved to this new thread to avoid any ...
Thanks. I always try and avoid financial stuff at Internet cafes. On one of my trips, also 8 to 10 years ago I used an atm at Banco Pichincha it made all of the right noises but didn't spit out any cash. 200 came out of the account. My bank ... Read More
Help Top Cat Decide If She'll Need a Courier for EC re Credit Cards by cccmedia
Top Cat*, a Serial Expat, is planning ahead for when it will be time to replace her credit (and-or debit) cards when in Ecuador, whether for security or for alternate-year routine replacement. (The topic got moved to this new thread to avoid any ...
Cccmedia, can you give us a little more info on the Quito based hacking incident? Read More
What Car Models are common in Ecuador by sfriedman39
I'd like to know what types ares cars they sell in Ecuador (i.e. Toyota, Ford, Subaru, etc). Generally what is the cost of cars new and used there.
Are automatic transmissions more common now than they used to be? I've never seen any on the cars I looked at. Read More
Crime Rate in Ecuador by DXBDINO28
I am considering moving to Ecuador but after reading this article https://www.osac.gov/pages/ContentReportDetails.aspx?cid=13476 I am bit scared . How true is the article? Can Expats please tell me is it safe for family life? Thanks
Thank you for being the voice of reason! :) Read More
Seafood in Quito (Especially Shrimp)
Hi and thanks. I would like to know if really fresh shrimp is available. I know Supermaxi sells it for a reasonable price but don't know how fresh it is. Not really a big deal so please don't put your teacher to any great effort. Thanks. Read More
Seafood in Quito (Especially Shrimp)
Do any of you who live in Quito know how readily available fresh shrimp is and what an approximate price might be? Thanks. Read More
Crime Rate in Ecuador by DXBDINO28
I am considering moving to Ecuador but after reading this article https://www.osac.gov/pages/ContentReportDetails.aspx?cid=13476 I am bit scared . How true is the article? Can Expats please tell me is it safe for family life? Thanks
an路ec路do路tal = not necessarily true or reliable, because based on personal accounts rather than facts or research. I would take the situation more seriously than this. As much as I love Ecuador and Quito specifically, crime is very ... Read More
help now emergency by carolynhunter
danygirl8903 i heed help help i need your pone number and email address cause im hyere and they lost my luggage im at the airport in Guayaquil help anybody
I do hope this was a hoax. It was very compelling to read in real time and I felt awful for this poor, old, ill-prepared woman. We have had one person hint at hidden info related to ip addresses but also another long time poster who claimed to talk ... Read More
help now emergency by carolynhunter
danygirl8903 i heed help help i need your pone number and email address cause im hyere and they lost my luggage im at the airport in Guayaquil help anybody
Carolyn, I do hope you are getting your issues sorted out and I hope you won't be put off by the frank discussions you are receiving in this thread. I hope you will continue to post and keep us updated. It does sound like you were ill prepared ... Read More
A Brief Personal Note by BobH
I don't want to get off-topic, but I guess this could be called expat-related: I have suffered a health-related issue that has required me to return unexpectedly to the US. I'm not sure how long I'll be here it looks like it could be ...
Good luck Bob. I hope you make it back to Ec soon. I have enjoyed living vicariously through you! Read More
Opening a B&B ,suggestions or advice appreciated. by Halcwhitley
My bride and I recently spent two months in Ecuador and fell in love with the country. When we return, we are considering opening a B&B . We are retired, but we both like to stay busy and really enjoy meeting people from all walks of life. We ...
Ecuador, Quito in particular, is a very remarkable place and I am glad it now has such an optimistic and positive voice on this expat forum! Jesse, thanks for the wealth of positive information you bring us. Ecuador is many things to many people and ... Read More
Best place to live in Ecuador... by Bazseville
Hi Guys, How's it going? I lived in Ecuador a while back as a TEFL teacher. I lived and worked in Quito. I had a few run ins with the locals but in general I had a great time. What do you guys think is the best place to live in ...
On the page that link takes you, towards the bottom is a link to download an Excel spreadsheet with all of the data on it that you can sort to suit your curiosities. Read More
Starting to Reconsider Ecuador- Need Advice Bad! by virtualgrace
My mother and I are considering selling our homes in America and moving to Ecuador. All our initial research seemed to suggest that we could purchase a good home on, or around, the beach for around $50-$75,000. Now we are seeing houses far central ...
Great post Michele. I hope a lot of people see it. You should have started a new thread. I bet more people would read it that way. It is nice to have a different perspective. Read More
Best place to live in Ecuador... by Bazseville
Hi Guys, How's it going? I lived in Ecuador a while back as a TEFL teacher. I lived and worked in Quito. I had a few run ins with the locals but in general I had a great time. What do you guys think is the best place to live in ...
Hi Jesse. I didn't doubt what you said about Quito appearing on lists of the 30 most polluted cities in the world but I wanted to see for myself. I found this WHO site that has a ranking of 1100 cities in the world based on air pollution. Quito was ... Read More
Professional Visa and List of Universities
Sent! Good luck. Let me know if you got it OK and if your school is on the list. Read More
Professional Visa and List of Universities
I sent you a pm. I have the list in pdf format but can't figure out how to attach to a post. Read More
I want to meet Quito expats. by Themiddleoftheworld
Hello all, I am sure some of you have seen me posting in here helping out wherever I can. I myself now need a bit of help. I would like to meet some of the expats (any age) that live here in Quito. I just want to get to know the people in the ...
The only soccer game I ever saw was in Quito (oddly, teargas was part of that experience too). Still don't know all of the rules but one thing I did learn was that when the game clock runs out the game is not really over like in American football. ... Read More
profile by xaminer
This my fist time participating in any forum and it looks as though I started out all wrong. I put a lot of information in my profile and most should have been in this area. Please see my profile and any replies to the statements would be ...
Hey Bob, Ecuador is a really nice place but reading through your info I didn't get a feeling for what you are trying to accomplish. I am familiar with Ellijay. I know it to be a somewhat ruralish part of N. Ga that I always thought was really nice. ... Read More
Vaccinations by Howardofocal
The US Centers for Disease Control recommend a hepatitis A, typhoid, and tetanus. Vaccine before traveling to Ecuador. Did you guys get them? I'm having finding them here.
Use Google and see if the local drug stores offer this in your area. I know they offer Hep A and B at the CVS's here in my area. Read More
The unofficial web page of the greater Cuenca expat community by Nards Barley
I designate this thread as the unofficial web page for the Cuenca Expat community. I also designate myself as the unoffical spokesperson. It is actually a continuation of my [url=/forum/viewtopic.php?id=224582]non-blog[/url], ...
Well it is good that you made an exploratory trip and decided for yourself that it was not for you. I think most people should go and visit multiple times over a long period of time to really get a sense of the place. I have done just that with ... Read More
Tip About Taxis in Quito by Andrellita
My tour guide friend, Angel, a native Ecuadorian from Guaranda, has lived in Quito a lot longer than I have (which is a little more than a year). He informed me that orange-plated taxis are registered and safe. White-plated taxis are not ...
Thank you for this information. The orange-plate thing is new to me. I will be sure to incorporate this knowledge on my next trip. When I am there for extended stays I try and find a nearby taxi stand where the taxis are members and use them for my ... Read More
Moving to Quito....freaking out about La Mariscal assaults by yggdrasill
I'm moving to Quito with my husband. I'm worried about safety. Don't get me wrong--I grew up in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic but I'm a bit out of practice with a third world country and I won't have a car. There's been about 580 assaults in La ...
I am sorry but I am going to have to call BS on this story. It sounds like a poor work of fiction to me. Too many inconsistencies. I believe the taxi robbery could have happened but I certainly don't believe they would have let you keep your money ... Read More
$25000 investment question by Eddie54
Hi Folks, is it true that the $25,000 investment to obtain the resident visa cannot be used by me AT ANY TIME??? I was under the impression that I can withdraw when I turn 62. Please let me know the facts about all this. Thanks.
I have heard they taste like chicken but I only pose with them not eat them so I can't tell you how they taste! My friend spent the interest on his $25K. The initial $25K stayed locked up and untouchable. Read More
$25000 investment question by Eddie54
Hi Folks, is it true that the $25,000 investment to obtain the resident visa cannot be used by me AT ANY TIME??? I was under the impression that I can withdraw when I turn 62. Please let me know the facts about all this. Thanks.
I think the 5% applies if you are taking the money back out of Ecuador and wouldn't apply if it stayed in country. I had a friend that used the $25K CD option and he had the interest deposited into his checking account giving him some access to the ... Read More
$25000 investment question by Eddie54
Hi Folks, is it true that the $25,000 investment to obtain the resident visa cannot be used by me AT ANY TIME??? I was under the impression that I can withdraw when I turn 62. Please let me know the facts about all this. Thanks.
Eddie, I am no expert but my impression is if you use the $25K option to secure your visa then the money must remain untouched. If, at 62 (I am guessing you will start receiving Social Security over the current $800 per month requirement) you can ... Read More
Medications available in Ecuador (Cuenca)? by Wanderlusting
Hi all, My boyfriend and I are planning to come to Cuenca for 3-6 months and we would like to know about the availability of the medications below. Any information you can share on any of these, including (a) whether they are available at all in ...
Misty, I too thank you for your detailed post and hope that your surgery will result in a better quality of life. From my own personal experience in the US I had an ENT tell me I had a deviated septum and he recommended surgery. I declined and told ... Read More
Expensive Items in Quito by suprsweets
Hi Expats in Ecuador (Quito), I am heading out of the US in 13 days, to move to Quito. As I will be making peanuts for a salary I will barely be able to cover my cost of living and have extra cash. I will be making about $400 a month (Any comments ...
Hi Shannon, I don't have great replies to your questions but if I did my math right you will be arriving in Quito on opening day of their new airport. When you get a chance, it would be great if you could create a separate thread and describe the ... Read More
Is food really that expensive? by luisr
Hi everybody, this is my first post. I've read a ton of the topics on here and have found them to be extremely valuable! Just one question, though: My sister's husband is from Ecuador and she was telling me last night that although housing (rent) ...
Txsbigfoot, Is your $1,700 for you alone or for you and a spouse? Thanks. Read More
Crime Story by Nards Barley
What I find odd about this story is I didn't see it in the El Mercurio or the El Tiempo newspapers, and I usually at least scan them each day. Maybe they don't want to spook tourists. [quote]On July 16th, 2012, a female U.S. expatriate living in ...
All I know is that I left a message in good faith about a close friend that died violently in Ecuador and got what I felt was an insensitve snarky remark for my effort. Apology accepted, no harm done, moving forward. Read More
Crime Story by Nards Barley
What I find odd about this story is I didn't see it in the El Mercurio or the El Tiempo newspapers, and I usually at least scan them each day. Maybe they don't want to spook tourists. [quote]On July 16th, 2012, a female U.S. expatriate living in ...
Well left(wing)clique. Nobody is trying to scare you. No need for antigun anti american screed. The point I was trying to add to was that violent crime against foreigners will not necessarily appear in the news. I'm sure all 5 of the homicides in ... Read More
Crime Story by Nards Barley
What I find odd about this story is I didn't see it in the El Mercurio or the El Tiempo newspapers, and I usually at least scan them each day. Maybe they don't want to spook tourists. [quote]On July 16th, 2012, a female U.S. expatriate living in ...
A friend of mine was murdered in Quito and it never made the news either. Read More