WEBCAM of Juan Jaramillo Street in Cuenca Ecuador

As we were sitting on the balcony of Govinda's restaurant enjoying lunch we thought we'd just set the camera down and record the happenings on the street.  This gives viewers a Birdseye view of what the streets are like during the day in El Centro of Cuenca. Remember when we told you the transportation system was good in Cuenca? Well, now you can see if for yourselves. In this video, in a span of just a few  minutes three buses came by and dropped off passengers and picked up passengers. You never have to wait long for a bus and that's good, especially when its raining. To the right of the video is a street vendor selling fruits and veggies.



                

Parque de la Madre Grand Opening in Cuenca Ecuador

(April 28, 2013)

Cuenca's new Parque de la Madre is an 8 million dollar renovation project located in the downtown area along the river on Avenue 12 of April (Doce de Abril). The downtown area really needed a nice athletic park like this one. It has a running/jogging track, bike lane, basketball court and lots of nice playground equipment for the children. It's a beautiful park. This video is the grand opening of the park where many events are happening over this weekend. 





                         

Riding Your Bicycle in Cuenca Can Be Dangerous

A friend's brother lies in the Cuenca hospital in a coma. Last week he was riding his bicycle on a side road from Gran Columbia by the Latin Clinic and was hit by a taxi driver. Pablo was thrown 20 feet off of his bicycle and is in very critical condition with a cracked cranial. The doctor has told the family he is in God’s hands at this point.



We’ve touched on this issue briefly in another article on the blog and we feel this issue is very important. We have readers write in occasionally wondering about bicycle sales in Cuenca and how safe it is to ride a bicycle here. To put it bluntly Cuenca is NOT a bicycle friendly city and we would not advise riding on the city streets on a bicycle anywhere in Cuenca. Trying to cross the street by walking in some areas of Cuenca is also risky! Pedestrians need to be careful.



Bicycling in Cuenca



A friend informed us that once in awhile on the weekend the city will shut down Avenue 12 de Abril just so bicyclists can ride their bikes, but then you are on their schedule instead of your own, which makes it cumbersome to say the least. We also see bicyclists on the walking trails along the river but the problem with that is if everyone starts riding their bike on the river trails there will not be any room for walkers and joggers. And the river paths get pretty packed on the weekends.



Drivers in Cuenca think they Own the Road



We often comment to each other how laid back Ecuadorians are in everything, except when they are behind the wheel of an automobile. Ecuadorians are like different people when they’re driving. The streets in Ecuador would be complete and utter chaos if they discontinued the manufacturing of car horns! In Ecuador they drive with their car horns instead of by driving laws. Or so it seems.



Five out of five drivers in Cuenca drive unpredictably and four out of five drivers drive radically. It is not uncommon to see drivers run red lights; swerve into another lane without using blinkers; and almost hitting pedestrians, bicyclists and other vehicles on the road. We’re sure that brake jobs are big business here because of all the pressing on the brakes the drivers do. And surprisingly, four out five Ecuadorian drivers wear a seat belt even though wearing of seat belts is NOT enforced here! We have had Ecuadorian drivers tell us to put our seat belt on when we’re in the car with them!



Lanes do not mean anything to drivers in Cuenca. You’ll see three and four cars all lined up in two lanes. Motorcyclists wriggle their way in between crammed cars and miraculously they honk their way out of hitting one another. It seems chaotic to witness when you first move here, and you would think there would be more wrecks and fender benders than there is. Traffic miraculously flows quite smoothly in spite of appearances.

We’ve ridden in city buses where the bus sideswiped a motorcyclist and in another bus when it rear-ended the car in front of him only because both drivers were not being watchful. In downtown area where there are no lights to speak of, when cars and taxi drivers come to an intersection they honk at each other and whoever gets to the intersection first gets to go. Forget about stop signs, seldom to drivers stop at stop signs.



Driving Laws Are Not Really Enforced



The crazy thing is, for Ecuadorian drivers this is all normal. Laws are not really enforced, although they are trying to enforce the speeding law in certain areas of Cuenca today…we still witness speeders and erratic drivers, even around police.



Legally speaking, pedestrians do have the right of way in Ecuador, but try and tell the drivers that. We have the Ecuador driver’s manual which is comparable to the one in the US, with all of the same laws of the road and yet, most drivers in Ecuador are not obeying the driving laws. Then people get run down and thrown from their bicycles like what happened to Pablo.



FYI, the taxi driver who hit our friend’s brother abandoned the scene after he hit Pablo, and the family will never know him, nor will he have to take the responsibility for what he has done…and he’ll probably keep driving like a mad-man in Cuenca Ecuador. Some drivers should not be allowed behind the wheel of an automobile.



We’re just letting you know that as tempting as the thought of riding a bicycle in Cuenca Ecuador is, due to the year round mild weather: riding a bicycle on the streets in Cuenca is not a very good idea, unless you are on an actual riding path for bikes or the streets are blocked off for bicyclists.



Update 1: A few days ago we were informed that the patient is out of a coma after 18 days, but still in critical condition. It remains to be seen what kind of head trauma this young man has received.



Update 2: In April 2013 the city of Cuenca hired on 110 new traffic police. Perhaps with the new units in force, traffic may begin to improve. Time will tell.



Update 3: November 2014 - Is traffic better in Cuenca? Unfortunately, it is not; pedestrians still need to be very careful, as do people on bikes and motorcycles. I think the traffic police are enforcing the speeding laws more, however, pedestrians still are honked at and basically have no walking rights anywhere in Cuenca. 

California Kitchen Restaurant Review

California Kitchen in Cuenca Ecuador is a recommended restaurant on our list of good places to eat. The food is North American style Cuisine with a hint of International.  It was interesting and a pleasant surprise that my steak sandwich was on Italian style focaccia bread and it was very good. It was a lot of food for a lunch plate. The Chicken salad was the best we have found so far in all of Cuenca. The coffee was good and they give you refills!!  Service was great. We really have nothing to complain about. Overall the dining experience was great. California Kitchen is located on Luis Cordero 5-65 y Honorato Vasquez.



                   

110 New Police Patrolling the Streets in Cuenca Ecuador

In a recent news article in the El Mercurio, dated April 16, 2013 it was reported there is now 110 new police units in the municipality of Cuenca. We’ve seen these new police men and women all over Cuenca and they seem to be pretty busy directing traffic and pulling speeders over and other drivers who are not following traffic laws.



The article states that 25 units are on bicycles, 20 units patrol Cuenca on motorcycles and the rest are in new 4-wheel drive black police vehicles. The first thing you’ll notice about these new police is they dress much like the police you see in the northern country. They wear a white short-sleeve collar shirt; black pants with a big broad stripe down the side, and of course their matching black police hats.



Traffic congestion in the city of Cuenca is terrible and unfortunately most drivers in the city drive with their horn rather than Ecuador traffic laws which makes it difficult to cross the street, or ride a bicycle; its really pretty bad. The big change you’ll see with the new Cuenca police is they actually help pedestrians cross the street by stopping traffic!! And that’s a good thing.



                  

We're Sitting Across from Park Calderon in Cuenca - Discover Cuenca Ecuador with Us!

It's ten in the morning in Cuenca Ecuador, just when things start to happen. We're sitting across from Park Calderon. Ecuadorians are going to work and doing errands; the tourist bus is heading in to pick up its first load of passengers for a tour of the city; police are socializing with each other while directing traffic; school children are out for the day on a field trip; and pretty young women in red dresses are happy and enjoying the beautiful day in Cuenca. All of these goings-on  in this video in a span of about 2-1/2  minutes. Enjoy discovering Cuenca with us!



                 

Art Festival in Cuenca Ecuador ~ April 14, 2013

Movie and cartoon characters made from paper mache.



Cuenca celebrates Art Fair 2013. Cuenca has two major art festivals per year in the months of April and November.   We always attend and try to take videos on different aspects of the festival… so we have lots of videos on various local and international artisans and their wonderful art. However, no matter what month it is there is always something to do, see, visit and enjoy in Cuenca!



                

Organic Grocery Store Coopera in San Joaquin Cuenca Ecuador

Organic food prices in Ecuador are amazing! The produce is fabulous. As we were paying we asked the attendant behind the counter if ALL the produce in this store was organic and she concurred it is ALL organic produce.



Let's take a look at some of the prices of vegetables and fruits in the organic food cooperative in San Joaquin.  One kilo is 2.2 pounds. This organic food cooperative is located about two miles off of Avenida las Americas on the autopista (highway). The organic grocery store is next to the organic Fonda Restaurant with the thatched roofs. If you pass the restaurant you've gone too far.



                 

Organic Food Restaurant in San Joaquin - Fonda Coopera in Cuenca Ecuador

At the Fonda Coopera restaurant they farm a lot of the food they serve. The several ponds they have on the property are full of trout. They also raise their own chickens and vegetables. The restaurant specializes in organic chicken, fish, and Ecuadorian dishes using  a lot of vegetables.



The food was good. The dessert was suburb and the ambiance was excellent. To get to the Fonda Coopera just take the autopista (highway) from Avenida las America and go about a 2 miles and there on the right is the restaurant. You'll know it when you see it by the three thatched roofs. Bus 8 or 19 will take you there, plus most taxi drivers in Cuenca will know how to get to the Fonda Coopera organic restaurant.



               

Moving to Cuenca Ecuador? Staying Healthy and Happy (2 of 2)

In part one of this article we talked about adjusting to the altitude and culture. Click here to read part one.



Adjusting to the Weather/Climate



This is Cuenca weather. One minute you will be in a t-shirt and the next you are wearing a hooded parka and holding an umbrella. If you happen to be out and about for the day, you might take off and put back on your jacket three or four times in one day. It's just the weather here.



No worries, you will get used to the weather. Many people who live here enjoy the “spring-like” weather all year-long but we still reminisce about our wood stove after Cuenca’s chilly nights. It really depends on where you are from. If you are from Miami, Florida you will be cold here. If you are from Seattle, Washington you will think it is great weather in the Andes Mountains.



The best weather for two years in a row, that we have experienced, is in the middle of winter, which is June, July, August and September. These four months have been the sunniest and warmest days in Cuenca. During this time of year, you will wake up to a chilly home or apartment because the nights do get a bit colder, but by early afternoon it is mostly sunny and 70ish outside. Winter is simply beautiful here!



Last year in April, it poured 27 days out of 30.  This year in April the weather has been semi-rainy but we're also having some beautiful Cuenca days!! March and April are probably the rainiest months in Cuenca. The best advice we can give you is always bring your umbrella and hooded parka with you when you leave the house and enjoy yourself, rain or shine!



Healthy Food Choices



Adjusting to your new life in Cuenca is all about feeling good physically and making healthy food choices. It is easy to overindulge when you first get here with the deep-fried foods and the many bakeries that abound in Cuenca. However, if you are still not quite acclimated to the change in altitude you may want to hold off on eating anything that could make your body’s resistance low and make you sick.



You do not want to come down with a bronchial cough or other illness. We have witnesses that some people when they first arrive become ill with upper respiratory ailments and that coupled with altitude change makes for lung/breathing issues.



The best way to make sure you adjust to the new environment quickly is to eat healthy, which is not hard to do in Cuenca! Fresh fruits, vegetables, chicken and fish are abundant in the grocery stores and Mercados in Cuenca. The fresh chicken, eggs, and dairy are absolutely splendid here.



When we first arrived we ate too much white rice and refined flour baked goods from the bakeries and we could tell it was slowing us down. This is not how we ate before we moved here and our bodies could tell the difference. After about two or three months we decided the vacation was over and it was time to settle back into our healthy eating habits.



Unhealthy eating overtime makes one moody and overly sensitive to change and to their new surroundings. Moving abroad can be a stressful time in a person’s life so why push your body to the limit? Being away from familiar people, places and things can make one view their new lifestyle abroad in an nonconstructive light and subsequently they will experience depression and homesickness for the familiarity they left behind.



Your chances of escaping this emotional roller coaster are much better when you eat right. Try to not eat too many foods that mess with your emotional wellbeing, namely sugary treats, refined foods, soda and alcoholic beverages. Treat your body well and you will enjoy your new life with much more vigor and pep. Cuenca is a walking city.



Tourist or Resident?



If you are moving to Cuenca as a resident it is best to get it in your mind that you are not just a vacationer but a resident, even if your paperwork is still going through the process. Don’t fall for the tourist traps that are so ever present in Cuenca. Case in point, when searching for a rental, think about your situation? Will you be living in your new abode full-time, a year or longer, or a month or two. The difference in price will be astounding!



As friendly and helpful as Ecuadorians are, they will target tourists as being rich and therefore can afford whatever price they feel like throwing out to you. It still happens to us ALL THE TIME. But then Frank starts speaking in Spanish and tells them we have lived here for two years and they are like, “Really”? Frank replies, “Si, somos Gringcano’s”. (Yes, we are Gringcano’s). And they laugh up a storm and we get a normal local market price, most of the time. If no reduced price, we smile and walk away.



Don’t pay tourist prices when you live here.



(BTW, even if you are rich, do you want to be taken advantage of because of that?) Frank let's them know right away. "We aren't rich and we aren't tourists, we live here"!



Learning Spanish



It is more difficult to integrate within the culture when you cannot speak the language or understand what the locals are saying. It will make you feel like an outsider, and it will lessen the chances for you to make Ecuadorian friendships. Having friendships within the community is an important part of integration into your new life here.



It is very important to meet local people, learn Spanish, and realize you are not an outsider anymore… then you can slowly mesh your life into the Ecuadorian way of life with fortitude and patience. The Ecuadorians will be more than happy to put out more effort to speak a little English, if they know some, if they know you are working hard to try and speak Spanish.



Wellbeing in Cuenca



Happiness is not a place; happiness is not a person; happiness is not stuff and materialism. Happiness is a state of mind; happiness comes from the spiritual and fundamental nature of a person. We make our own happiness through having a balanced lifestyle, which involves the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspect (health) of our lives.



No matter where we live, most people would agree, we should strive to maintain balance in our lifestyle, and we do that by eating a healthy diet, exercising on a regular basis, being outdoors, walking, meeting new local people within our community, and enjoying our time in this new place we are calling “home”.



Your new life here in Cuenca will be whatever you choose it to be. Most expats to Cuenca that we have talked with tell us they have lost weight, they feel and look better, and are really enjoying their new life in Cuenca. Isn’t that what you are expecting out of your new life abroad?



Tell us what you are expecting/wanting out of your new life in Cuenca in the comments. Our readers would love to hear from other expats that are making the big move to South America. And, if you are already living here we'd love for you to share your new experiences with us!  

Best Rental Prices in Cuenca Ecuador! $300 Dollar Cuenca Rentals!!

We are pleased to share with our readers the BEST RENTAL PRICES IN TOWN - THIS WEEK ONLY!   These are LOCALLY  priced rentals so better act fast...they will be gone. 

Click here to view photos of these great priced rentals!

BTW, if you would like to be alerted of special rentals like these in the future, please sign up to the $300 Dollar Cuenca Ecuador Rentals for all the updates sent to your inbox as they come in!

Famous Aji Sauce Recipe Made by Ecuadorians In My Kitchen!

We are blessed to live next door to some wonderful Ecuadorian neighbors. We share recipes with each other. They have made us some excellent homemade humitas and other tasty Ecuadorian foods. I asked Maria if she would like to come over to our house one evening to show me how to make the famous Ecuadorian aji sauce.  And here it is. Maria is a good cook.



Aji sauce is served in most Ecuadorian restaurants as a side dish for putting on rice and chicken. Sometimes it can be quite spicy and other times not spicy at all. We like it spicy but you can substitute regular bell pepper for the hot aji peppers to make a more mild sauce.

There are many different versions of aji sauce. But this recipe is the richest and best tasting we have ever had. And we are pleased to share this recipe with our readers.



Ingredients

4 tomatillos

2 aji peppers

small bunch of cilantro

1 white onion or big bunch of scallions

1 tsp salt

1/4 cup olive oil





Preparation

1. Boil tomatillos for ten minutes.

2. Mince aji peppers, cilantro, and onion and set aside.

3. Drain tomatillos and cool slighlty.

4. Take skin off tomatillos. Slice off the end end and the skin will easily peel off. 

5. Place tomatillos, peppers, onions, olive oil and salt in blender and blend for several minutes until creamy.

6. Use a small mesh strainer and strain the aji into a small tupperware bowl.

7. Add cilantro and mix well. Add salt to taste.

Aji is really good on brown or white rice, chicken, fish, or whatever you like. Aji sauce lasts in the refrigerator for a full week if covered properly. Enjoy!

Moving to Cuenca Ecuador? Adjusting to the Culture and Environment (1 of 2)

Are you moving to Cuenca Ecuador? We have read about, and know people personally who for one reason or another had to leave Cuenca, whether it was due to health reasons or an inability to overcome the culture shock of being in a Latin American country, they could not make Cuenca their home. A small percentage of folks leave South America all together while others move to different parts of the continent.



When You First Arrive – Adjusting to the Elevation



The altitude can affect some people a bit more negatively health-wise and especially if they already have health issues such as high blood pressure, and heart or lung conditions that are a preexisting health problem. We know of two people personally, who had strokes after the first week of moving here, one of them smoked.



Living in a high altitude works your body harder, especially the arterial vein system. This is why most folks find themselves short of breath, headachy, and even a bit nauseated for the first few weeks of being here. But for most people the symptoms go away as the body adjusts to the changes in altitude, which most people do just fine.



Frank and I meet new expats to Cuenca all the time and we ask them how they are adjusting to the altitude. The answers are quite consistent. Healthier people tend to have milder symptoms, while those with preexisting health issues experience more severe symptoms that last longer as their body tries to adjust and acclimate to the environment. Most people, even with preexisting health issues adjust fine even though they will experience harsher and perhaps longer symptoms.



We know of one lady personally who had nausea and vomiting for the first three days of being here. She is fine now.  We also know of one couple who had to leave Cuenca, because the wife had preexisting health issues and she was having trouble breathing, even after months of being here.



Cuenca and Quito are both considered high altitudes and certain people, a small percentage, may be taking a health risk to being at 8,200 feet of altitude. If you feel you may be at a risk and if you have any preexisting conditions, it is important to talk with your health care practitioner before visiting a high altitude area.



Here are some ways to stay healthy and curb some of the symptoms if you experience high altitude symptoms.



Making Your Move Less Stressful



We all know that just moving across town can be stressful, so then think about uprooting yourself from everything you have known for years, familiarity, family, and culture that you are so used to and moving to an area that is so drastically different! The reality is you will find some things challenging to say the least.



You will experience some amount of stress looking for a rental, bringing in your container, trying to figure where grocery stores are, furniture stores, etc.  Plus if you do not know the language it makes doing anything here a bit more difficult for anyone.



Many folks write in to tell us how the DIY Cuenca Landing Guide curbed much of the fear and took the edge off of moving to a third world country and they are very glad they have the Cuenca Guide for when they first arrive. This is what we were hoping for when we wrote the Guide and we are pleased to know it is helping so many people make the move less stressful and more enjoyable for them.



Getting Over the Shock of Latin America



Culture shock can be either a negative thing or a positive thing. Very few people experience negative culture shock. Negative culture shock is when you arrive in a totally different environment than you are used to and you view everything around you in a negative light. This causes distress and fear within a person, leading them to want to leave the place they feel fearful about.



We met one guy who felt fearful leaving the hotel because of all the armed guards with sawed-off shotguns and houses with tall gates around them. Most people who come here to live will get used to this, but some people will never get used to it. It’s a fact of reality - no two people are the same. Everyone views things differently.



We also know of one guy who left Ecuador because he couldn’t get his brand of peanut butter that he knew and loved-this is a true! You will find there are many things that you cannot get here, or, at the very least are very difficult to find, and or, are VERY expensive. This is the problem with “retiring abroad” and all the hype that goes with it.



The first few months may seem like you are in a whirlwind trying to get settled into your new life. For many folks the differences are taken with a grain of salt because you’re still on your honeymoon. It is OK that everyone is sort of laid back and your paperwork is taking forever to get organized and processed. It is OK that you can’t find some of your favorite foods you love so much. It is OK, that some areas of the city are a little dirty, smelly, or well, not what you are so used to. Everything is OK.



After about a year, changes begin to take place, culture shock wears off and you realize this is home. Or, some folks realize this is not home. What then? After the honeymoon, some people don’t like it here…No matter how much research one does, and no matter how someone else feels about a city called paradise, it does not mean that everyone is going to adjust to long-term life in Ecuador. And that is just a fact of life.



Some expats, especially the ladies, begin to get homesick and miss their children and especially grandchildren tremendously.  All the euphoria of living in this new paradise begins to ebb and they begin to see things differently and many go back to where they moved from. Missing family is the number one reason expats go back.



Stay tuned for part two of this article where we discuss some of the adjustments we made since living here, and ways to stay happy and healthy AFTER you move to Cuenca Ecuador.

DIY Cuenca Landing Guide Review

Happy customers of the DIY Cuenca Landing Guide are letting us know they are glad they have all the useful information that is in the guide when they arrive in Cuenca! If you are moving to, or even just visiting Cuenca, the Cuenca Landing Guide is a must have book in your arsenal of resources that you bring with you. The guide can easily be downloaded to your favorite electronic gadgets and readers so you can have it with you wherever you happen to be.



             

Ecuador Residency Visa: Cuenca Expat Shares Her Experience (Part 2 of 2)

This is part two with Cuenca Expat Andrea talking about her experience with the Ecuador residency visa. Andrea shares some good information and new changes to the Ecuador immigration laws, a recurring theme in Ecuador.  Andrea's experience confirms that no matter how many people you ask, what may work for one person this week, may not work for the next person next week.  Andrea shares her decision to start the Ecuador Immigration process from home, as recommended in the DIY Cuenca Landing Guide.  To view part one of this video, click here.