Is it safe to live in Ecuador? It depends what you compare it with. September 2016.

Often, people from US ask forums of expats if it's safe to live in Ecuador.
Not really; considering that Ecuador moving toward socialism, there is danger of becoming Venezuela.  Earthquakes in Ecuador range from destructive to scary and annoying. Crime is a severe problem in Ecuador, you have to be extra careful with your possessions, the thieves are always watching you, looking for opportunity to steal. 

So, it's not really safe to live in Ecuador, but it depends what you compare it with. 
At least here we don't have trucks plowing through crowd, MASS public shootings, bombing and stabbings and very unlikely for that to happen: first, because there are no free handouts here, second, lack of oxygen in the Andes and abundance of sun changing people behavior. 
As for now, I would rather be in Ecuador than in USA  or Europe.

Timeline of the attacks in US: New York, New Jersey and Minnesota. 
Saturday, September 17, 2016.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/09/19/timeline-new-york-new-jersey-bombings/90685308/

Saturday 9:35am ET. - New Jersey
Pipe bomb explodes near a charity race at  Seaside Park, New Jersey, organized by the US Marines. 

Saturday 8:30pm ET - New York 
A loud explosion is heard in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, New York. At least 29 people injured in New York's popular Chelsea neighborhood on Saturday. On Monday, NYPD confirm that suspect Ahmad Khan Rahami, 28, a naturalized US citizen born in Afghanistan, has been taken into custody following a shoot-out with police 

Saturday 8:15pm CT -  Minnesota
Knife-wielding assailant dressed in security guard uniform stabs 8 people in a Minnesota shopping centre, a bloody rampage during which he reportedly asked at least one victim whether they were Muslim and referenced Allah.
Authorities didn't identify the attacker, but the Star Tribune of Minneapolis said the man's father identified him as Dahir A. Adan, 22. Speaking to the newspaper through an interpreter, Ahmed Adan, whose family is Somali, said his son was born in Africa and had lived in the U.S. for 15 years.

If you are not safe in Minnesota mall, at New Jersey event and in Manhattan's restaurant , you are not safe anywhere. Myth of safety is long gone!



2 bedroom, 1 bath, totally remodeled

Centro Historico furnished apartment for sale or rent.

Anti-noise windows in both bedrooms

For booking, pictures and more info
http://quitorental.blogspot.com/

http://larondacondo4sale.blogspot.com/

Cost of living in Quito. Farmer market in Quito. Ecuador. February 2016.

Produce from the farmer market Ofelia in Quito. 

Prices as of February 2016.

Farmer cheese $2 - $2.25

Free range eggs. 25 cents each.

Drumstick-thigh combination $1.30 - $1.40 per pound

Pork $2.50 per pound

Fish Fillet $6 per pound

Whole fish $1.50 - $4 per pound, depends on what kind of fish. Sold with guts and everything.
Upon request the vendor would clean fish you have purchased.

Fresh peas 50 cents

Radish $1 for this bunch

Avocado 30 -40 cents each
Mora $1

Carrots 50 cents for this bunch

Corn $1 for this bunch

Onions 50 cents for this bunch

Garlic 50 cents for this bunch

Tomatoes. 50 cents for this bunch.

Yellow watermelon $2 each

Pineapple $1.25 - $1.50 each, depends on size

Grapes $1.25 per pound

Strawberry $1 per two pounds 

Mandarinas $1 for this bunch

Duraznos (Ecuadorian peaches) $1 for this bunch

Rental in Quito, for tourists and expats.

We have a 2 bedroom, 1 bath totally remodeled

Colonial Quito, furnished apartment for rent.

Anti-noise windows in both bedrooms

For booking, pictures and more info

http://quitorental.blogspot.com  

Difference in prices: Ecuador VS USA. Mascara and lipstick. Quito, Ecuador. January 2016.

When I go to US to visit family and friends, I leave my westie Sashka with my neighbor. In exchange I bring her something from US, one of her favorite items is  Maybelline Express Mascara, I usually buy it at Target, cost - $5.99. In Quito the cost of the same tube of mascara is $18.35.

Another popular item is Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer. The price of pack of FOUR tubes at amazon.com is $14 -$18. In Quito, ONE Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer tube set you back for $11.40.

Considering local wages, unemployment, rampant inflation caused by high taxation, Ecuadorian women nowadays have the same dilemma we had in my hometown (Bobruisk, Belarus) in 1980s and 1990s: to buy food or to buy mascara?

and to drown your sorrows: bottle of Absolut vodka, 750 ml, cost $20 in US and $58 in Ecuador.  

Rental in Quito, for tourists and expats.

We have a 2 bedroom, 1 bath totally remodeled

Colonial Quito, furnished apartment for rent.

Anti-noise windows in both bedrooms

For booking, pictures and more info

http://quitorental.blogspot.com 

Life in Quito. Anecdotes. Ecuador. July 2015.

One Saturday morning my downstairs neighbor found herself locked out of her car and her apartment. What would you do in this situation? Well, she called 911 and asked for a firefighters to come over and get her purse from a locked apartment.

They came upon request, without sirens and other rocket: no police, no ambulance. Group of firefighters marched to our terrace and with the thick black rope one of them descended to her bedroom window, slid the window, got inside, picked up her purse with the keys and delivered it to her on a terrace! Unbelievable! Somehow I don't see firefighters from US (or Russia) doing this.

I talked to them afterwards, they didn't charge her, didn't reprimand her, their visit was free, calm and friendly.

Rental in Quito, for tourists and expats.

We have a 2 bedroom, 1 bath totally remodeled

Colonial Quito, furnished apartment for rent.

Anti-noise windows in both bedrooms
For booking, pictures and more info

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Anti-noise window

Difference in price and quality of smoothies. Minneapolis USA VS Quito Ecuador. June 2015.

Mango Carrot Smoothie bought in April 2015 at one of the Starbucks in Minneapolis

cost $6.50

preparation: liquid from the jar (processed carrots and/or mango?)

scoop of nonfat Greek yogurt

Carrot Orange Juice bought in May 2015 at one of the small tiendas in Centro Historico Quito

Cost $1

preparation: peeled carrots squeezed in front of you

oranges squeezed in front of you

served mixed

Cost of juice and smoothies in one of the Quito's shopping malls - between $2 and $3.50

Monthly rental in Quito, for tourists and expats.

We have a 2 bedroom, 1 bath totally remodeled

Colonial Quito, furnished apartment for rent.

For booking, pictures and more info

http://quitorental.blogspot.com

Rental in Quito, for tourists and expats.

3 bedroom, 1 bath remodeled

Colonial Quito, furnished apartment for rent.

For booking, pictures and more info

http://quitorental2.blogspot.com 

Elementary and High school Education in Ecuador. March 2015.

In US, quality of K12 education depends where you live, if you live in a good neighborhood, the schools will be good as well. However, no matter, if school is good or bad, K12 education in US is free. 

Not so in Ecuador. Children from poor families have chance to get to free (for parents), government sponsored (fiscal) school. My hairdresser's son goes to fiscal school, children of our apartment building concierge also attend fiscal school. However, my once-per-month maid pays $45 per month for her daughter elementary school (from first to six grade) and $65 per month for her son's high school(seventh - 12th grade).

 

Middle class families has to pay anywhere between $150 and $400 per month per child for K12 education. My neighbor pays $250 per month for her daughter elementary school.

Upper middle class spend in between $500 and $1000(or more) per month per child, just to attend classes in the good school.

And there is Academia Cotopaxi where education cost up to $2000 per month.

In Ecuador kids wear uniform to school, cost of uniform (clothing to attend classes and clothing for sport) is in between $150 and $300 per child per year.

School bus cost is in between $20 and $100 per child per month.

If you are moving to Ecuador with your children, you better have money for their education, lots of money. Their future depends on how much money you pay for their schooling and who (most likely) they became as adults: poor, middle or upper class.

Rental in Quito, for tourists and expats.

We have a 2 bedroom, 1 bath totally remodeled

Colonial Quito, furnished apartment for rent.

Anti-noise windows in both bedrooms
For booking, pictures and more info

http://quitorental.blogspot.com

Anti-noise window

Crime in Ecuador VS crime in other countries. Quito,Ecuador. August 2014.

On Tuesday, August 12 2014, an American expat couple experienced a home invasion, robbery and the wife was kidnapped and taken from Vilcabamba to Cuenca.

Both of them suffered multiple bruises and swelling from being bound as well as struggling with the kidnappers.  She suffered bruises and mild contusions on her face, in addition to bruises on her arms, wrists, and legs and a broken foot.  

source: http://gringosabroad.com/ecuador/vilcabamba-ecuador-robbery-kidnapping/

It's a matter of comparison, there were similar case in the beginning of 2000s in Quito. Some Russian guy befriended Russian family who just arrived to Ecuador. He got an impression that the family had money and killed them to get access to the money. At least "Vilcabamba couple" is alive. They are lucky that their "good friends" weren't some criminal Russians.

When I reported Vilcabamba story to my daughter who lives in Minneapolis, she mentioned accident that recently happened there.

"Two 21-year-old men are in critical condition after allegedly being lured by women to a location in Fridley, Minn.

Police say the two were at Two Stooges Sports Bar in Fridley until 2 a.m. Saturday morning. They met two women who asked them for a ride to the area of University Avenue and Mississippi Street. When they arrived, two men ambushed McCollum and Yani and stabbed them multiple times before taking off with the women.

McCollum was only able to provide a limited description of the suspects due to his injuries. The victims were taken to the intensive care unit at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, where they both remain in critical condition."

Source http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2014/08/23/police-2-men-lured-by-women-to-brutal-ambush-attack/

As far as I understand, Vilcabamba couple not in intensive care and not in critical condition, they are lucky that their aggressors were not from certain "hoods" of Minneapolis MN.

Ecuadorians are not as aggressive as some people of other countries. Even in a crime scene Ecuadorian criminals would give their victims a break. Just compare these three stories.   

more on a subject here

http://dayinquito.blogspot.com/2014/08/benefits-of-living-in-ecuador.html

Monthly rental in Quito, for tourists and expats.
We have a 2 bedroom, 1 bath totally remodeled
Colonial Quito, furnished apartment for rent. 
For booking, pictures and more info 
http://quitorental.blogspot.com  

Rental in Quito, for tourists and expats.
3 bedroom, 1 bath remodeled
Colonial Quito, furnished apartment for rent.
For booking, pictures and more info
http://quitorental2.blogspot.com

Ecuadorians and their government. Quito, Ecuador. August 2014.

* Ecuadorians are not aggressive. Their government and the police are not aggressive.

I was born in a republic where every forth citizen has perished in the World War II, on top of that, the government of the country where I was born, killed millions of its own subjects. The government of my second country is in 214 years of war-making, including last 50 years of endless proxy wars.

The population of both countries where I used to live, AS A CROWD, are aggressive, brainwashed and busybodies.  

Ecuadorians are, as a crowd, polite and not threatening, they live and let live. 
Of course, they have their own disadvantages and crime is a problem in Ecuador, nevertheless, non-aggression (of the general population and the government) is an attraction for me.

       

* There are few plum Quiteños, however most of people look aesthetically pleasant, they are not obese en masse, and majority of them are dressed neat.

* Ecuadorians have stronger family values and their youth are mostly well-behaved and polite.

* Rarely in Quito you will see visible mentally damaged people, in Minneapolis, for example, if you ride a bus in the middle of the day - you can see that lots of passengers have mental problems and act accordingly. 

More on a subject
http://dayinquito.blogspot.com/2014/06/ecuador-vs-other-countries-june-2014.html

http://dayinquito.blogspot.com/2014/01/trip-to-thermas-papallacta-with-my_2.html

http://dayinquito.blogspot.com/2014/01/trip-to-thermas-papallacta-with-my_9.html

Monthly rental in Quito, for tourists and expats.

We have a 2 bedroom, 1 bath totally remodeled

Colonial Quito, furnished apartment for rent.

For booking, pictures and more info

http://quitorental.blogspot.com

Rental in Quito, for tourists and expats.

3 bedroom, 1 bath remodeled

Colonial Quito, furnished apartment for rent.

For booking, pictures and more info

http://quitorental2.blogspot.com

Pet ownership in Ecuador VS other countries. Quito, Ecuador. July 2014.

My neighbor's daughter, Leslie, adores Sashka, my westie terrier. However being 10 years old she plays rough with him sometimes. During the course of three years Sashka bit her few times, he has never broken skin but still. Her mother, Grace, lectures Leslie about treating the dog more gently, treats the "wound" and the play continue.

When I mentioned this to my daughter, who is living in US, she remarked that for this "crime of biting the children" Sashka would be put to sleep in US. My neighbors were terrified when I told them about these potential harsh measures.

I started to think about pet ownership difference: Ecuador VS USA.

Veterinarian services are much cheaper.
http://dayinquito.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-cost-of-veterinary-care-in-quito.html
Pet owner here in Ecuador doesn't have to pay any license to the city hall and there are no regulations for number of pets allowed per household.

Lots of associations allow pet ownership in Ecuador VS USA where in most apartment buildings pets not permitted. In Quito dogs are everywhere, on the roofs, in the windows, behind the fences.

Grass around most apartment buildings (or on the streets) is not chemically treated, so it is less health hazard for pets.

May be it sounds strange or funny, but pets have more personal freedom in Ecuador. When I lived in Centro Historico I saw dogs roam the streets and at night going home, the same here in North Quito.

Sometimes in little tienda cats or dogs "work" along with the owner and apparently it is not a problem for anyone. In a CafeLibro 
http://www.cafelibro.com/  where I have tango lessons there are few cats and sometimes they observe what is going on during lunch time or tango sessions.

Life for pets and their owners is easier and cheaper in Ecuador than in so-called "First World" countries.

Rental in Quito, for tourists and expats.

We have a 2 bedroom, 1 bath totally remodeled

Colonial Quito, furnished apartment for rent.

For booking, pictures and more info

http://quitorental.blogspot.com

Rental in Quito, for tourists and expats.

3 bedroom, 1 bath remodeled

Colonial Quito, furnished apartment for rent.

For booking, pictures and more info

http://quitorental2.blogspot.com

Ecuador VS other countries.Small business not oppressed by Ecuadorian police and "concern citizens". June 2014

If you follow Ecuadorian job market you probably know that employers here want person with "buena presencia" - whatever it means, college educated, 10 years of experience and 25 - 40 years old. Well, what to do if you are more than 40 years old, with questionable "presencia" and your work experience not up to par?

Luckily in Ecuador one can create job for yourself, which is near impossible now in so called "first world countries" where bureaucracy regulates their subjects to the choking point. Regulations are lethal there, but the most danger are the police force and "concern citizens".

Police is used to shut down small "lemonade stand" type of business and your friendly neighbor would gladly and promptly call the authority to notify them that you are making money outside of their regulations with your "lemonade stand".   

 

Granted, Ecuador does a lot to oppress the business now days, it successfully almost killed maid profession during last few years with its good intentions, but still they are not so fast as "corporate fascism" of the "first world" countries.

They won't succeed in killing small "food stands" or underground service business, hopefully, because people here are easy going and police, here in Ecuador, is not militarized, very friendly, helpful and not used against small business.

In Quito thousands upon thousands of food cards and parilladas (grills) appear every night at the streets. Most of the time the seller's "presencia" and age are not up to standard, they won't give you receipts and apparently they don't have licenses, but who cares? The food is hot, tasty and cheap. If you only have one dollar or even 50 cents in your packet, you won't be hungry for the night. For $2 it's a feast, add $1 for the beer and we have a party - Viva Ecuador! 

Monthly rental in Quito, for tourists and expats.

We have a 2 bedroom, 1 bath totally remodeled

Colonial Quito, furnished apartment for rent.

For booking, pictures and more info

http://quitorental.blogspot.com

Rental in Quito, for tourists and expats.

3 bedroom, 1 bath remodeled

Colonial Quito, furnished apartment for rent.

For booking, pictures and more info

http://quitorental2.blogspot.com

Colors of my neighborhood. Quito, Ecuador. June 2014.

In Quito almost every site has a fence. Apartment buildings, churches, houses, office buildings, etc. are almost all fenced/walled. Sometimes there are electric fences, broken glass, metal spikes and other serious anti-climb measures on top of the fences. But Quiteños do have fun with the color of the walls, roofs and buildings.

Recently one of the walls in our barrio was painted in dark-ish blue. When me and my westie Sashka are out for a walk, we have very colorful choice:  turning left we go along the blue wall of the textile factory, turning right bring us to the sunny yellow color of the fence of neighboring apartment complex.

Roof of the next door building is faded turquoise color, there are some buildings painted in different shades of yellow and orange, red-beige combination, pinkish - greenish combination and what have you. It's mood lifting to look at. 

Big difference from the "50 shades of beige and grey" landscape of Minneapolis.

Monthly rental in Quito, for tourists and expats.

We have a 2 bedroom, 1 bath totally remodeled

Colonial Quito, furnished apartment for rent.

For booking, pictures and more info

http://quitorental.blogspot.com

Rental in Quito, for tourists and expats.

3 bedroom, 1 bath remodeled

Colonial Quito, furnished apartment for rent.

For booking, pictures and more info

http://quitorental2.blogspot.com

Economic Freedom Rating for Ecuador. Quito, Ecuador. May 2014

I don't know how "they" determine "Economic Freedom Ratings" - http://www.freetheworld.com/2013/EFW2013-complete.pdf

First of all, there is no economic freedom, it doesn't exist.  Government of every country works very hard to suppress it.
At least in Ecuador there are much more small businesses than anywhere in the "first world" or whatever they call themselves now. 

To compare SA and the rest of the world, it's like in a story "Some Things Are Best Done Badly "   

Source: Bill Bonner, author and founder of "Agora", one of the largest independent financial publishers in the world.
Quote

Two guys die. A German and an Argentine. Both of them go to hell. But after they've been there for a couple of weeks, the German guy is in a gutter... all bruised... with sores and burns all over his body.

The Argentine still looks pretty good. When the German sees him, he says, 'Hey... how come you're still in good shape? They get us up at 5 a.m.... and the little devils start to torture us by beating us with iron rods. Then, at 8 a.m., they turn us over to the real devils. They whip us with barbed wire and then put cattle prods to our private parts. Then they throw buckets of sh*t on us... and water-board us all afternoon. Aren't you getting the same treatment?

Well, yes,' says the Argentine, 'but you're in the German section of hell. We're in the Argentine section. The rules are the same. But they're not applied in the same way.

The little devils are supposed to get us up at 5 a.m. so they can begin torturing us. But they don't get up that early. And they don't come to work very often. They're all unionized. So they go on strike all the time. And then the real devils are meant to whip us with barbed wire. But there's a shortage of metal... so they don't have any whips.

They put the cattle prods on us sometimes too... but the power doesn't work. Or the cattle prods are missing. Nobody seems to know why. And they're also supposed to throw buckets of sh*t on us too. But sometimes they're out of sh*t... and other times they can't find the buckets.

As for water-boarding, the plumbing isn't working. So they strap us to the rack and pretend to dunk us... and warn us that when they get the plumbing working, we're not going to like it very much.

But so far, it isn't bad. 

End of quote

Rental in Quito, for tourists and expats.

We have a 2 bedroom, 1 bath totally remodeled

Colonial Quito, furnished apartment for rent.

For booking, pictures and more info

http://quitorental.blogspot.com

Rental in Quito, for tourists and expats.

3 bedroom, 1 bath remodeled

Colonial Quito, furnished apartment for rent.

For booking, pictures and more info

http://quitorental2.blogspot.com

Trip to Termas Papallacta with my neighbor and her friends. Part two. Life in Ecuador VS other countries. January 2014.

Neighbors. I was traveling with my neighbor, Ecuadorian middle class woman. My neighbor has my apartment's keys, I have hers. We have close enough relationship to get together once in a while for cup of tea or glass of wine and "venting session". Our relationship is civilized and mutually beneficial.

In my 15 years in Minneapolis I lived in three different places, all white middle class neighborhoods. The best I had with my neighbors were neutral "hi-bye" relationship. Once my neighbors called a management company on my than ten years old son for climbing the tree at the apartment complex compound. My son was banned from going outside.  Another time they called police at 10:05 p.m. for me having party on Friday night.

Timing. Timing of our departure from Quito was Ecuadorian. Initially we had agreement to take off at 7:30 a.m., it got moved to 8:30 a.m. and we ended up leaving at 9:30 a.m. Few years ago it would drive me crazy, now I just go with the flow. Somehow it all work out.

Coworkers. We had party of four adults and two kids. It was soap opera on the wheels. My neighbor, her amiga(bff), novio (boyfriend) of amiga - all work for the same company. Novio of my neighbor works at the same company as well but he didn't go with us.

They all meet, became friends and couples right at their workplace. Where else you can get to know people so well? But try this at US corporation and you can lose your job faster than it takes you to say "sexual harassment".

Property management companies in US exist to prohibit pretty much every activity regarding pets and kids, and they charge arm and leg for this oppression.

Here in Quito, I gave our concierge my apartment's keys and she let out Sashka, my dog, to the roof terrace. I paid her $1.50, everyone was happy. 

and finally, the destination- Termas Papallacta SPA/pools:
http://www.papallacta.com.ec/
Entrance to the thermal pools - $19.

I had one hour relaxation massage that cost me $52 including tips. "Turkish cave" sauna, 15 min - $11.

Part one

http://dayinquito.blogspot.com/2014/01/trip-to-thermas-papallacta-with-my_2.html

Monthly rental in Quito, for tourists and expats.

We have a 2 bedroom, 1 bath totally remodeled

Colonial Quito, furnished apartment for rent.

For booking, pictures and more info

http://quitorental.blogspot.com

Rental in Quito, for tourists and expats.

3 bedroom, 1 bath remodeled

Colonial Quito, furnished apartment for rent.

For booking, pictures and more info

http://quitorental2.blogspot.com

Trip to Termas Papallacta with my neighbor and her friends. Part one. Life in Ecuador VS other countries. January 2014.

I live in Ecuador since 2008 and still, I cannot stop comparing life here in Quito versus life in Minneapolis Minnesota where I used to live for 15 years. Recently I went along with my neighbor and her friends to spend a day at the Termas Papallacta SPA/pools.
http://www.papallacta.com.ec/
Here are the differences.

I'll start with the weather. I wore jeans, t-shirt and sport jacket. It was nice sunny day in Quito when we took off. Freezing cold in Minneapolis at the end of December.

Price of gas. Although I didn't pay for the gas, neverless,  the gallon of regular gasoline cost $1.49 in Quito. The price of gas in Ecuador didn't move since 2006. It was $1.49 in 2006, it is $1.49 now. What is the price of regular gasoline in MN?    

"On the road" food. We stopped at the supermarket and bought wine. Next to the Termas Papallacta there is little pop-n-mom restaurant where we had lunch. I had whole trucha (trout) with potatoes and salad, $5, glass of fresh squeezed orange juice, $2. While we were waiting for our food to be prepared we ordered appetizers. Plate with boiled ear of corn (not GMO, because it didn't look perfect), chunk of fresh soft farmer cheese and beans, I think they call them avas, but I am not sure. These beans are bigger than regular beans and their color is olive. Plate of appetizer (corn, cheese and beans) $2. We opened our wine and had it with the lunch. Try this in Minneapolis!  

On a way back we stopped at another little no-name cafe and I had big bowl of chicken soup, $3, and empanada with cheese $1. Not many chain restaurants on the road from Quito to Papallacta, food was healthy and relatively cheap.

To Be Continued

Monthly rental in Quito, for tourists and expats.

We have a 2 bedroom, 1 bath totally remodeled

Colonial Quito, furnished apartment for rent.

For booking, pictures and more info

http://quitorental.blogspot.com

 

Rental in Quito, for tourists and expats.

3 bedroom, 1 bath remodeled

Colonial Quito, furnished apartment for rent.

For booking, pictures and more info

http://quitorental2.blogspot.com

Ecuador, people and government, VS other countries. December 2013

I think Ecuador is an unique country and people here are the best I ever saw in my life.

They are not as aggressive and rude as lots of people from the country where I was born, not as passive-aggressive, arrogant and entitled as lots of people from the country where I used to live before moving to Ecuador.

Ecuadorians are very family oriented. In general, they are more mentally stable than people in other "first" world countries - it's my opinion based on observing people in different countries. Some of them steal, if you are not alert, and you have to get used to Ecuadorian "mañana" concept. They have different noise attitude and sometimes they party hard.

The "first" world’s governments killed hundreds of millions of their own subjects in the twentieth century. Ecuador had a few minor military skirmishes, initiated by its neighbors. No juntas, no bloody revolutions, no violent "regime change" in Ecuador for at least last 100 years.

Nowadays, the "first" world governments becoming totalitarian, enforcing cyclone of laws, rules and regulations on its subjects. Ecuador, although going to this direction, still have some break for its people, mostly because implementing and reinforcing the rules takes some effort and, in case of Ecuador, "mañana" and lack of oxygen (in the mountain) help to slow down the process. One can't be too prompt and efficient when there is not not enough oxygen.

 Ecuador has less government control over people's daily life and Ecuadorians are not so quick to report their neighbors to the authorities, whatever reason. I live in association here in Quito, in an apartment, and I have a westie, cute little white dog. I wanted to have a dog, so I did my research and bought my westie. Sounds simple, right? Not so fast and simple in Minneapolis.
In my Minneapolis condo association it's prohibited to have dogs. Even if I would find place where I could keep the dog, in Minneapolis, I would have to buy license for my dog and renew this license every year. It’s the Law. Minneapolis requires dogs, cats, ferrets, and rabbits to be licensed (Minneapolis Ordinance 64.10 and 65.10). 
If you are not obedient, your neighbors (in US) will call police, city hall, management company, animal control office, whatnot and will make sure that you'll get busted.  

With every passing year, every day, I find more and more reasons to love and cherish Ecuador and Ecuadorians. Frankly, I think, they don't even know how lucky they are.

Monthly rental in Quito, for tourists and expats.

We have a 2 bedroom, 1 bath totally remodeled

Colonial Quito, furnished apartment for rent.

For booking, pictures and more info

http://quitorental.blogspot.com


Rental in Quito, for tourists and expats.

3 bedroom, 1 bath remodeled

Colonial Quito, furnished apartment for rent.

For booking, pictures and more info

http://quitorental2.blogspot.com

 

 

 

It is less dangerous to be a kid, teenager, young man in Ecuador than in "over-civilized" countries. December 2013.

While ago I was at the party in Quito. Party took place in the public place, but not at the bar or restaurant. 10 - 12 years old boy, the maid's son, was serving drinks, including wine and beer. He seems enjoying what he was doing and his customers were happy campers as well. I didn't think twice about it until I started small talk with one of the guests, recent arrival from US, she was astonished with this "child labor" fact.

To think about it, US kids, especially middle class kids, are "protected" from any kind of work, even American classic - the lemonade stand is almost prohibited now days. Lots of them diagnosed and drugged for profit, boyhood itself seeing as a disorder. Add to this mix their deadly junk food diet and the end result is sad, really sad.

It is less dangerous to be a kid, teenager, young man in Ecuador than in "over-civilized" country. Ecuadorian policemen wouldn't stop them walking on the streets, don't intimidate or shut students, teenagers for offence like speeding or walking with a toy gun. They can play outside, in US it is almost outlawed - association of my Minneapolis condo prohibits children 12 y o and less to play outside without parents present. Ecuadorian kids, teenagers have much less chance to be drugged, also, healthier food they consume translates to healthier mind. 
In general Ecuador has more forgiving environment for being a kid and for making mistakes as kids and teenagers always do.   

Monthly rental in Quito, for tourists and expats.

We have a 2 bedroom, 1 bath totally remodeled

Colonial Quito, furnished apartment for rent.

For booking, pictures and more info

http://quitorental.blogspot.com

Rental in Quito, for tourists and expats.

3 bedroom, 1 bath remodeled

Colonial Quito, furnished apartment for rent.

For booking, pictures and more info

http://quitorental2.blogspot.com

Thanksgiving thanks in Quito, Ecuador. November 2013.

Thanks that I live in Ecuador. I love Ecuador and Ecuadorians.

Thanks that it is sunny right now (and almost every morning) in Quito.

Thanks for Skype that enable me to connect with my family and friends outside of Ecuador.

Thanks for my Russian and Ecuadorian friends in Quito.

Thanks for InterNations Get Togethers and for SAE Clubhouse parties.

Thanks that I can pay $20 for visit to the doctor and that I don't have to buy stupid enforced medical insurance.

Thanks that I can take bus for 25 cents or taxi for $8-10 per hour and go where I need to go without necessity of having car.

Thanks for the food that is cheaper, abundant and not so chemicalized.

Thanks for that my property tax is less than $100 per year(for two apartments in Quito), not thousand per year(for one apartment in US).

Thanks that I don't need heating and air-conditioning in my apartment.

and thanks for much more.

  

Monthly rental in Quito, for tourists and expats.
We have a 2 bedroom, 1 bath totally remodeled
Colonial Quito, furnished apartment for rent.
For booking, pictures and more info
http://quitorental.blogspot.com

 

Rental in Quito, for tourists and expats.

3 bedroom, 1 bath remodeled

Colonial Quito, furnished apartment for rent.

For booking, pictures and more info

http://quitorental2.blogspot.com