More photos of Cuenca, Ecuador

Many of my readers have asked for more pictures of Cuenca, so here they are:

Lets start with the flower vendors, there are beautiful flowers here all year around:

 Beautiful Orchids 

 Flower markets in El Centro

    Cuenca is busy everyday with farmers selling their goods

                                                                                                            And more flowers!

 Roses are a big Export around the world.

    Park  Calderon always busy with people.

Across Park Calderon is the old Cathedral Iglesia de El Sagrario built in 1557 after the Spaniards settled Cuenca.

               Andean Indigenous Woman

Catheral de la Inmaculada Conception, construction started in 1885 and was never completed. 

       Park Calderon

                        La Escalinata (staircase) 

                       San Francisco market place

 
 Double-Decker bus - great two hour tours of the City

Ruins of the Castle of the Incas

City center from Turi

                              Central Market

      Amazing fruits and vegetables grow all year around here.

                            Fresh Bakery goods

                            Guinea Pig (Cuy) anyone?

    Many food concessions - Lunch $3.50!

                                 Miss Ecuador

   And guess where the Panama Hat is made?

            $400 can buy you a nice Panama Hat!

                 Four rivers run through Cuenca

  Rio Tomebamba                                         

University of Cuenca

And just a short drive out on Cuenca you will find beautiful Mountains and countryside!

Ingapirca, The Inca Castle

Why Ecuador for me!

By Gary A Sisk

Why Ecuador for me

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AL3XPTY/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_alp_wy8Xqb0BB5FB0

Why Ecuador for me is the story of planning and retiring in Cuenca, Ecuador. It provides the reader with all the details of why I decided to make the move from the United States. I spent hours on-line obtaining information on what is required to become a resident 

  During my preparation to move to Ecuador I spent many hours on-line reading expat blogs and hunting for information about places to live, resident requirements, and what you could bring into the country. So I started writing this book a few months ago about my personal reasons for moving to Ecuador and how I prepared for the move. I also added as much material as I could find that might be helpful to anyone else considering the move.

  Most of the material in my book has not been included in my blog. Although there are a few photos and events that are.

  Many of my blog readers may not have a kindle as I do not, so all you have to do is install the kindle app on your computer to read my book.

  I want to thank my Ecuadorian friend Bryan who spent over 20 hours reading in Spanish and English the requirements to up-load my book to kindle. Plus re-formatting the book to kindle requirements. I also  spend many hours reading and re-reading the kindle requirements with much frustration because of my minimal computer experience. They need to make it easier!

  I had a few friends tell me just to e-mail the book to them! But with 140 pages and many photos it was impossible to do that.

  I decided to use kindle because they distribute worldwide and take care of advertising and taxes, etc.; plus I do have readers in over 30 countries now.

  I do hope anyone who reads it will enjoy it and for those thinking about moving to Ecuador I hope the information will be helpful. Also keep in mind that the legal requirements for residency here keeps changing so always check with an Ecuadorian attorney or immigration here before making the move.

  This is my first book and I know I have read stories by much better writers, but it is what it is! Hopefully my writing will improve in the future, especially on a good spelling day.

  To order my book just click on the cover on the top right side of this blog.

It seems to be a rare sunny day so I am off to enjoy it - Good day to all 

   

Cuenca, Ecuador expats get together at Zoe and Di Bacco Restaurants

I have been in Cuenca since 12/01/11 and have not met any gringos or what are also called expats.


There are different gatherings of these expats which are Spanish classes - cooking classes - concerts - and even some Holiday bus and dinner trips. All these events are announced on gringotree.com which I receive in my e-mail daily, people advertise special services,   apartments for rent,  things for sale and other activities.


And then there is regular Expat parties, Friday nights at ZOE! and Tuesday nights at Di Bacco!


So I decided to go and see if I could make some gringo friends who live here.

  
           The dinning area is downstairs and the Bar is upstairs!

                        Located at Borrero 7-61 in El Centro

               And here's Juan, he can mix up some good drinks!

I sort of just sat at the bar in the corner being the new guy on the block. I did have a couple of guys who were here on vacation checking out Cuenca for future residency ask  me several questions about living here. So I really did not get a chance to meet any of the locals except for two!

The guy on the left is Michael Berger, he is originally from Oregon and now resides here with his Ecuadorian wife and child. Very nice guy, he owns cuencasbestproperties.com they offer rentals and full ownership.
 The guy on the right with his mouth open and his hand in the air, not so nice! Guess there is always one in the crowd! Michael and I were talking about Expats living here and how many of them speak Spanish and this guy says: anyone who moves here and does not speak Spanish or understand the culture is just stupid and nuts! Not knowing if this was directed at me or not because my Spanish is not perfect! Thankfully he departed to the balcony to smoke a cigarette, one Expat I will not be making friends with! Ha!

I have not eaten here yet but I understand the food is great! They serve steaks and seafood's for around $8. Guess I will give ZOE another try this Friday night!




  Anyway my Ecuadorian friends showed up to finish off the night.

The guy on the left of Bryan is Tyler from Oxnard, CA he met his Ecuadorian girlfriend Michelle, in Peru while he was in the Peace Corps, he is trying to figure out how he can stay here past his 90-day tourist visa to be with her. And to the right of her is Juan Carlos an Attorney here in Cuenca and Jimmy!

And on Tuesday night the Expat gathering is at Di Bacco, which is an excellent Italian Restaurant. It is small but it was pretty full.

                            Also in El Centro on Tarqui St.

       Great dinning area and the Bar is in the back of the room!

                      And the bartender Lauro and his bar back.

And I met another tourist! Anyway she is from Canada and will be moving here in a few months. She is here now for a couple of months checking out Cuenca and she loves it of course! No more cold winters for her!

              Expat night starts at 5 pm and is over around 8 pm!

And I did get to meet Jim, the guy in the middle, he is a Professor from Chicago who lives across the street from me and I have been reading his blogs. And the guy on the right is from Tennessee and he is just 48 and was a truck driver and decided to retire early and move to Cuenca. He is here on an Investor's visa because he is not old enough for a retirement visa and did not want to purchase a house. So he deposited $50,000 in a Coopera 10.5% CD and he lives off the monthly interest.

 And the fourth Expat I met is a great Lady from Texas, she's been          living here for about a year a loves it.

Well until next Tuesday, Di Bacco! Guess I will check out ZOE again this Friday night.




Guess I better get down and take another walk around the river! Until next time everyone have a good day!