Short Timer!
Sunday and I'm thinking about packing. I don't hit the tarmac till Wednesday, but hey, I'm ready. We all know it's nice to travel and see new lands and meet new people and cultures, but I know there's a pillow just over there on the side of a beautiful volcano that still holds the impression of my tired head. I long for my own bed, my shower, my kitchen, my lousy cooking my Recliner! It is time to be home.
I'm in Ecuador with the thought of possibly moving here. There are lots of considerations before a decision like that can be made. I've been through the process before when deciding to move to Costa Rica or not. Needless to say that decision was made and I have never regretted it for a moment. Why do it again?
Here are the things I have to consider and compare to Costa Rica my home.
* Cost of Living: A couple can live a comfortable lifestyle in Cotacachi for $1,500 a month including rent payments. It's pretty much impossible in Costa Rica now unless one chooses to live a stoic lifestyle.
* Climate: Cotacachi is cooler than I am used to. Daily temps are consistently 60 to 70 degrees and can go lower once in a while. All my comparisons to Costa Rica are based on where I live in San Isidro de Grecia at about 4,000 feet altitude. There temps run 68 to 78 pretty much every day all year. Both have rainy seasons that last seven months or so.
* Altitude: Cotacachi is in the Andes mountains at about 8,000 feet. I was not affected by the altitude. My home in CR is at 4,000 feet.
* Infrastructure: Both Ecuador and Costa Rica are developing countries. Not third world by a long shot. Cotacachi's infrastructure seems somewhat better than Grecia. The roads are well maintained, electrical improvements are continuing including an effort to put all electric lines under ground. Water is not as good by a long shot as in Grecia and I'm a victim of it.
* Availability: First world conveniences are about forty minutes away by bus. Cotacachi has the bare essentials other than their specialty trade in leather.
* Other Expats: Some of us need contact with the familiar even if we choose to live in the midst of a different culture. Over the past five years or so the expat community has grown from a dozen to hundreds. Some live in gated communities others choose to live amongst the Ecuadoreans either owning a home near the residents or renting a home or apartment near or in town. New western style housing is under construction in and around the town in anticipation of many more expats arriving.
* Accessibility: Cotacachi is connected to the capitol of Quito by a well maintained highway and is 1 1/2 hours away by taxi. A taxi to the airport is about $40.
* Health Care: Besides the nationally run socialized medical program that costs about $80 a month per person and covers everything at no extra cost including prescriptions, glasses and dental care, there are a number of private insurance options that differ in cost and coverage depending on the individuals preferences. Cotacach has a government operated hospital that is clean and efficient, but any major issue would be referred to the modern facilities in major cities like Quito and Cuenca.
* Crime: Cotacachi is a small town, smaller than Grecia, and has little crime compared to the bigger cities like Quito and San Jose. However, both towns of Cotacachi and Grecia have a poor population and the crimes of burglary and theft are increasing with the increase of an expat population.
I just returned from having lunch at my favorite little hole in the wall restaurant that really doesn't have a name. It's run by a very friendly lady that has been in Ecuador since 1975. Besides being an encyclopedia of this little country and knowing all the shades of Cotacachi she's a wonderful cook. Her very eclectic place has about five tables, a resident dog named "Gringo" and an atmosphere of being in someones kitchen. Today I had eggplant parmigiana and chicken cachitorre. Half of it came home with me for later. Having been ill for a week, I didn't get to eat at all the places in town, but many have great reputations and a couple are very upscale. Grecia is so needing of good restaurants I don't want to think about it.
This has been a good experience filled with enough looking around and getting to know to be able to make a good decision about moving here. No, I have not made that decision yet. I have other friends in Grecia that are planning a visit to Ecuador in the next few month and others that recently visited here. I think after my friends visit to come, we'll all get together and talk about the pros and cons and maybe then I'll decide. As of now I'm headed home to visit that dent in my pillow, renew my friendships that I have been greatly missing and maybe head to the clear waters of the Caribbean coast to recover from this vacation.
This blog has been fun for me and it has helped me focus on what I am actually doing here. I'm sorry for the dearth of pictures but I just cannot get them to upload. There are great videos on Youtube and tons of pictures on the web of Cotacachi and Ecuador in general. Thanks for visiting my blog and if and when I do make a decision, you'll know as well. Love you all.
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Well I guess it's one form of research...
Note: If you are not interested in hearing about my hospital visit, skip to the bottom for the Cost of Living section.
I have not eaten one thing in four days. No it's not because of lent and no I'm not on some fad diet, I just lost my appetite and had a couple of other symptoms I will not describe because it even makes me queasy to write them.
Yesterday I decided to go to the hospital rather than doctor myself with my own ideas and the suggestions of everyone else in the b and b. Took a dollar cab ride to the local Cotacachi Hospital, a socialized medicine establishment and walked in the front door. There, sitting and standing in line had to be sixty to seventy people, all standing about waist high to me, and all waiting for their respective specialist. Of course having had experience with this in Costa Rica I was not surprised and gave my little Kindle a loving squeeze.
I walked over to the info both to ask where to register and the nice lady asked what was wrong. I gave her a brief description and she said I belonged in the emergency room. Ok, off I go. I walked in and a young nurse greeted me and asked the same question. After giving her a better description she immediately led me into one of the many exam rooms. Within five minutes a doctor, a very pretty, young doctor came in. She spoke perfect English which made things much easier for me. It took her no time to diagnose "Traveler's Diarrhea".
Within the next ten minutes I was hooked to an IV, covered with a nice sheet and told to rest for a half hour.
My doctor explained that this is a very common occurrence for gringos and it's a result of bad water. She stated that Ecuador has bad water and tourists have not produced the antibodies to combat it. I explained that I had not had any water other than bottled having read about the bad water. She stated that even one ice cube or a glass of juice made with bad water would do me in. Yup, ice and juice had passed my lips.
Along with the IV I had to drink lots of water containing all those things the body needs that I had not received in four days. When done I was sent home with some meds and a couple of more pack of the electrolytes mix to be used for the next few days. They took my passport info and said my visit and supplies were free. Even after eight years of almost cost free care by my clinics and hospitals in Costa Rica it startled me because I am a tourist expecting to pay.
I'm far from feeling back to my usual eater status, but I have had a couple of bananas today that have decided to stay with me for a while. All this in the name of research. I'm sure my friends appreciate me sacrificing my body to the cause.
Now some really good stuff... Cost of living is a major consideration for moving anywhere. There are so many variables and things change so quickly it's hard to get a handle on them. Costa Rica's has increased considerably since I moved there and all of my friends are also feeling the pinch. A major goal here was to get a true handle on costs rather than count on or believe the Internet sites and the various blogs about Ecuador. So here's a synopsis of costs averaged from lots of gringos living in Cotacachi, Otavallo, Ibarra and Cuenca. Cuenca is actually a little cheaper than elsewhere, but I've averaged for the sake of ease. All amounts are for one month's expenses. ( sorry, but I couldn't get the columns to cooperate)
Rent: Three and four bedrooms, furnished and nearby town $600
Water: 7
Electricity: 45
Gas (propane) 8
Telephone: 10
Direct TV: 75
Internet: 33 Groceries: 400
Transportation: (buses and taxis) 40
Entertainment: 250
Health Plan: (Caja per person) 80
Miscellaneous: 250
MONTHLY TOTAL: $1,798
As you are well aware, every one's lifestyle is different and the total could fluctuate considerably. Buying or building your own home and buying and maintaining a car and having private health insurance are examples that would skew the total. Living near town or away from town would also affect these costs, especially rent.
Ok, just a week left in the big adventure in little Ecuador. I am ready to be home in the warmth of my own place and wrapped in the hugs of all my friends.
Note: If you are not interested in hearing about my hospital visit, skip to the bottom for the Cost of Living section.
I have not eaten one thing in four days. No it's not because of lent and no I'm not on some fad diet, I just lost my appetite and had a couple of other symptoms I will not describe because it even makes me queasy to write them.
Yesterday I decided to go to the hospital rather than doctor myself with my own ideas and the suggestions of everyone else in the b and b. Took a dollar cab ride to the local Cotacachi Hospital, a socialized medicine establishment and walked in the front door. There, sitting and standing in line had to be sixty to seventy people, all standing about waist high to me, and all waiting for their respective specialist. Of course having had experience with this in Costa Rica I was not surprised and gave my little Kindle a loving squeeze.
I walked over to the info both to ask where to register and the nice lady asked what was wrong. I gave her a brief description and she said I belonged in the emergency room. Ok, off I go. I walked in and a young nurse greeted me and asked the same question. After giving her a better description she immediately led me into one of the many exam rooms. Within five minutes a doctor, a very pretty, young doctor came in. She spoke perfect English which made things much easier for me. It took her no time to diagnose "Traveler's Diarrhea".
Within the next ten minutes I was hooked to an IV, covered with a nice sheet and told to rest for a half hour.
My doctor explained that this is a very common occurrence for gringos and it's a result of bad water. She stated that Ecuador has bad water and tourists have not produced the antibodies to combat it. I explained that I had not had any water other than bottled having read about the bad water. She stated that even one ice cube or a glass of juice made with bad water would do me in. Yup, ice and juice had passed my lips.
Along with the IV I had to drink lots of water containing all those things the body needs that I had not received in four days. When done I was sent home with some meds and a couple of more pack of the electrolytes mix to be used for the next few days. They took my passport info and said my visit and supplies were free. Even after eight years of almost cost free care by my clinics and hospitals in Costa Rica it startled me because I am a tourist expecting to pay.
I'm far from feeling back to my usual eater status, but I have had a couple of bananas today that have decided to stay with me for a while. All this in the name of research. I'm sure my friends appreciate me sacrificing my body to the cause.
Now some really good stuff... Cost of living is a major consideration for moving anywhere. There are so many variables and things change so quickly it's hard to get a handle on them. Costa Rica's has increased considerably since I moved there and all of my friends are also feeling the pinch. A major goal here was to get a true handle on costs rather than count on or believe the Internet sites and the various blogs about Ecuador. So here's a synopsis of costs averaged from lots of gringos living in Cotacachi, Otavallo, Ibarra and Cuenca. Cuenca is actually a little cheaper than elsewhere, but I've averaged for the sake of ease. All amounts are for one month's expenses. ( sorry, but I couldn't get the columns to cooperate)
Rent: Three and four bedrooms, furnished and nearby town $600
Water: 7
Electricity: 45
Gas (propane) 8
Telephone: 10
Direct TV: 75
Internet: 33 Groceries: 400
Transportation: (buses and taxis) 40
Entertainment: 250
Health Plan: (Caja per person) 80
Miscellaneous: 250
MONTHLY TOTAL: $1,798
As you are well aware, every one's lifestyle is different and the total could fluctuate considerably. Buying or building your own home and buying and maintaining a car and having private health insurance are examples that would skew the total. Living near town or away from town would also affect these costs, especially rent.
Ok, just a week left in the big adventure in little Ecuador. I am ready to be home in the warmth of my own place and wrapped in the hugs of all my friends.
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