[MartinSE]

I was planning to come here next month to finish my Dental Implants which got delayed by COVID. But I cracked a tooth and needed to come early.

Here are a few snapshots from my front porch and the AirBnB's dog (who is waving to say hello to yall).

I love this country - its climate, friendly people, everything about it. Being on the equator, it has no seasons, and the sun's up and down times remain the same all year.

It is a very poor country, but the people don't sit around complaining - they are so happy and friendly and welcoming. Around 10,000 American ex-pats have migrated there so far.

NOTE: the Red Rose is about done, but I wanted to photograph it; it is over 4 inches in diameter!

Anyway, these are just some snapshots of my front porch - this is a 1 bedroom 1 bath with shower, kitchen, living room, patio, balcony - for $20/day. I had breakfast at a "fast food" stand in front of a shopping center this morning, where I went to get some groceries. I had a Ham and Chees panini with Avacado, I blueberry muffin, a bottle of Mondrian Orange soda, and a Capacino for $3,50. The taxi ride back to the apartment was $1.75. As a senior, you can go anywhere in Cuenca (the city I am in) for $0.25 on a new natural-gas-powered bus or take a taxi for $2.50.

[manaboutown]

Flowers are grown commercially in the area. Those in your photos are beautiful.

Do you enjoy eating the cuy and hornado?

A friend of mine spent some time in Quito and then two years in Asuncion, Paraguay while growing up. His father was stationed at the US embassies in those countries by LBJ. He enjoyed his time there, especially being chauffeured around in limousines. lol

Are you fluent in Spanish?

[jebartle]

Where is Equadog, he would love this post. My brother-in-law, after living there for year, rode the bus, 2 times too many, had wallet and camera stolen, beware.

[MartinSE]

Originally Posted by manaboutown

Flowers are grown commercially in the area. Those in your photos are beautiful.

Do you enjoy eating the cuy and hornado?

A friend of mine spent some time in Quito and then two years in Asuncion, Paraguay while growing up. His father was stationed at the US embassies in those countries by LBJ. He enjoyed his time there, especially being chauffeured around in limousines. lol

Are you fluent in Spanish?

I love Ecuadorian food. I have not ridden in a limo since I got here, and stay in the "low rent" districts and eat and mingle with the poor.


The US embassy was kicked out of Ecuador because we used them as staging areas for S. American CIA missions in violation of the agreements we signed to get permission to place the bases there.

[MartinSE]

Originally Posted by jebartle

Where is Equadog, he would love this post. My brother-in-law, after living there for year, rode the bus, 2 times too many, had wallet and camera stolen, beware.

Well, that is one case out of 10,000.

But, seriously, I don't claim this is heaven on earth. I don't claim there is no danger. People's homes have been broken into here in TV. Beware.

[manaboutown]

[QUOTE=MartinSE;2144449]I love Ecuadorian food. I have not ridden in a limo since I got here, and stay in the "low rent" districts and eat and mingle with the poor.

The US embassy was kicked out of Ecuador because we used them as staging areas for S. American CIA missions in violation of the agreements we signed to get permission to place the bases there.[/QUOTE

So you love eating cuy (guinea pig)?

The poor you find so "friendly" may not be as happy and carefree as you profess they are...They may not sit around complaining but they do "demonstrate".

"Country Summary: Crime is a widespread problem in Ecuador. Violent crime, such as murder, assault, express kidnapping, and armed robbery, is common. Transnational criminal organizations and gangs operate in Carchi, Sucumbíos, and the northern part of Esmeraldas provinces, as well as in Guayaquil, south of Portete de Tarquí Avenue.

Demonstrations occur regularly throughout the country. Public demonstrations can take place for a variety of political and economic issues. Demonstrations can cause the shutdown of local roads and major highways, often without prior notice or estimated reopening timelines. Road closures may significantly reduce access to public transportation and airports and may disrupt travel both within and between cities."

From: Ecuador Travel Advisory


My friend was there during the LBJ years. Are you referring to this in 2011? The Ecuadorian police force was exposed as corrupt so they kicked out the US ambassador.

"Ecuador has announced it is expelling the US ambassador in Quito.
The move follows the release on Monday by the whistle-blowing website Wikileaks of a US diplomatic cable alleging widespread corruption within the Ecuadorean police force."

From: Ecuador expels US ambassador over Wikileaks cable - BBC News

or this:

"QUITO, Feb 21 (Reuters) - The U.S. Embassy official Ecuador kicked out this week on charges of meddling in national affairs was the head of the CIA in the drug-smuggling route country, President Rafael Correa said on Saturday.

But a U.S. Embassy spokeswoman declined to comment on Correa’s account that the expelled official ran CIA operations in the Andean country, which is a crucial drug-smuggling route to drug gangs in neighboring Colombia and Peru.

Correa, a leftist ally of U.S. foe Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, expelled Mark Sullivan over charges he tried to handpick an officer heading a police unit partly financed by the United States."

From: Ecuador says expelled U.S. official was CIA operative | Reuters

[Ecuadog]

Originally Posted by jebartle

Where is Equadog, he would love this post. My brother-in-law, after living there for year, rode the bus, 2 times too many, had wallet and camera stolen, beware.

I'm here and this post does pique my interest. I hope your BIL is safely back here in the USA where petty crime is unheard-of.

I have been traveling to Ecuador regularly for over 40 years and have never felt unsafe, but I like to think that I am smart enough to avoid certain areas, no matter where I go in the world.

I have eaten cuy-stuffed ravioli. My favorite Ecuadorian dishes are Shrimp Ceviche, Puerco Hornado and Fanesca.

Today, the US Ambassador to Ecuador is Michael J. Fitzpatrick. I believe that Ecuador announced the expelling of the US ambassador back in 2011 when Rafael Correa was president. Correa, now living in Belgium, has since been sentenced in absentia to eight years in prison for bribery.

[DaleDivine]

Originally Posted by MartinSE

I was planning to come here next month to finish my Dental Implants which got delayed by COVID. But I cracked a tooth and needed to come early.

Here are a few snapshots from my front porch and the AirBnB's dog (who is waving to say hello to yall).

I love this country - its climate, friendly people, everything about it. Being on the equator, it has no seasons, and the sun's up and down times remain the same all year.

It is a very poor country, but the people don't sit around complaining - they are so happy and friendly and welcoming. Around 10,000 American ex-pats have migrated there so far.

NOTE: the Red Rose is about done, but I wanted to photograph it; it is over 4 inches in diameter!

Anyway, these are just some snapshots of my front porch - this is a 1 bedroom 1 bath with shower, kitchen, living room, patio, balcony - for $20/day. I had breakfast at a "fast food" stand in front of a shopping center this morning, where I went to get some groceries. I had a Ham and Chees panini with Avacado, I blueberry muffin, a bottle of Mondrian Orange soda, and a Capacino for $3,50. The taxi ride back to the apartment was $1.75. As a senior, you can go anywhere in Cuenca (the city I am in) for $0.25 on a new natural-gas-powered bus or take a taxi for $2.50.

Beautiful... Stay safe...

[airstreamingypsy]

Lucky you, I've been checking countries out....depending on how the 2024 election goes. I hadn't thought of Ecuador. Will add it to my list.

[JayBee]

So do tell us what is will cost for implants ? What were you quoted here in the states?

[MartinSE]

Originally Posted by JayBee

So do tell us what is will cost for implants ? What were you quoted here in the states?

Obviously, it depends on what you need.

My work involved sinus lifts on both sides, bone grafts to replace bone lost over the years, and the extraction of 4 teeth. I have had 3 implants on the upper left and two on the upper right. Various other detail work done while here, deep cleanings, cleanings, fillings, etc

I will be getting a bridge on the upper left to hold 4 or 5 crowns, and either two crowns or a bridge and two crowns on the upper right,

I was quoted, 4 years ago, $24,000 by my dentist here. My total costs, including flights, room, and board, for my wife and me, though she only came once, will be around $12,000 to $16,0000, depending. The cost to you will vary obviously,

The dental work, when you compare prices of individual parts, typically amounts to about 1/4 to 1/3 of the cost here. For example, my wife just had a crown here, it cost $1,500 for everything. In Ecuador, my dentist here charges $400 for the crown and another $100 or so for the prep., i.e., root canal or whoever you need. So, around $500 - or maybe $600. And the time to complete a single process, like if you want a crown, if faster, I don't recall now but I think it took a week to get into the dentist and another couple weeks to get the crown install - for my wife. Here in Cuenca I always cal ahead to make an appointment, and he always says, just walk in when you get here. I do, and he always gets me in. Typically a crown can be done the same day or in a day or two. He works with a lab that makes the crowns on demand. I have one crown he put in 3 years ago and have had no problems with it.

The flight cost has increased considerably since I started this process 3 years ago, before COVID. Then round trip on American Airlines was around $500 to $600 for a coach. On this trip, I flew Avianca, and it is about $1000 round trip. I always book a rate that allows rescheduling or canceling with no penalty, so I can reschedule the return if anything causes a delay. The cost will be much more if you fly first class or on other days of the week.

Room and board are personal. I always stay in lower-cost areas. They are typically where "Rich" Americans don't stay. If you stay in tourist areas or Expat areas, the cost is significantly higher.

As I said at the start, your cost will vary depending on what you have done, how you get here, where you stay, where you eat, etc.

[Carla B]

In the mid-sixties my husband was given a grant by the US Aid Dept. to spend six weeks in Guayaquil consulting with their university's Dept. of Business Administration. I had never been out of the country, except for a short trip or two to cosmopolitan Mexico City and had a lot of apprehension about being on our own in a 3rd World country.

However, after only one night in a small dismal hotel, my husband met an American colleague and wife (on leave from U. of Illinois) and they invited us to room and board in their large rented 2-story house in a nice neighborhood called Barrio Centenario. Two live-in maids handled all the cleaning, laundry, marketing and cooking at a cost to us of $12 per day, which left a good part of our daily stipend unspent.

We adjusted to living without air conditioning in the warmth and humidity of Guayaquil. The windows were always open. Every morning the orange juice vendor would wake us when he came to the neighborhood pushing his noisy wooden cart down the street, yelling "Naranja, Naranja."

Our hosts invited us on excursions in the new Chevrolet sedan they had brought in duty-free. He was an American of East Indian descent from Trinidad and fluent in Spanish, an enormous advantage for two naive tourists. We visited a Peace Corps town where buzzards flew over the funeral home and pigs and chickens roamed the dirt streets. But most of all, I'll never the forget the trip on the weekend we went to Quito. We drove from humid coastal Guayaquil, up the West side of the Andes, all green and verdant, and down the East side, where the climate suddenly gave way to cool and golden plains inhabited by numerous llamas and a mountainous volcano in the distance. On the way up we stopped to visit an Indian settlement and sampled our first Pisco sour.

We settled easily into the rhythm of daily life and enjoyed the cultural differences from life in the U.S., aside from the flies feasting on the raw meat hanging at the outside markets. The maids pre-washed all our food in a weak solution of nonpotable water and bleach and, thankfully, we never got sick.

The guys worked most week days but there were frequent strikes by various segments of the work force that would disrupt commercial or government services. One time a "general" strike disabled all services for a few days. Once my friend and I were locked in a super market for a short time due to a small riot. On the days of the strikes there was not much to do except stay home and play cards. We were warned of petty crime and I lost an item from my purse to a pick pocket.

The neighborhood was social and we became friends with a semi-retired doctor and his wife. There were many gatherings at our house or theirs and their extended families. Special were the pig roasts held in celebration of the return of somebody's son, nephew, cousin from schooling in the U.S. I noticed that the wives at these functions always prepared and served their husbands' plates before preparing their own and, in general, always deferred to the husband.

When the six--week assignment was nearly ended, my husband's boss, Prof. Nudd, arrived from Houston and that was cause for a going-away party hosted at our house on the night of our leaving. There were two hired bartenders and the maids had prepared a big spread. The time arrived for the three of us to leave for Guayaquil airport. So instead of shutting the party down, the bartenders simply picked up the portable bar and liquor and moved the entire party to the airport lobby for all to enjoy.

By then, I was comfortable with life in Ecuador; it was a bit of a culture shock when we returned. And flying was a lot different then!

[MartinSE]

Originally Posted by Carla B

In the mid-sixties my husband was given a grant by the US Aid Dept. to spend six weeks in Guayaquil consulting with their university's Dept. of Business Administration. I had never been out of the country, except for a short trip or two to cosmopolitan Mexico City and had a lot of apprehension about being on our own in a 3rd World country.

However, after only one night in a small dismal hotel, my husband met an American colleague and wife (on leave from U. of Illinois) and they invited us to room and board in their large rented 2-story house in a nice neighborhood called Barrio Centenario. Two live-in maids handled all the cleaning, laundry, marketing and cooking at a cost to us of $12 per day, which left a good part of our daily stipend unspent.

We adjusted to living without air conditioning in the warmth and humidity of Guayaquil. The windows were always open. Every morning the orange juice vendor would wake us when he came to the neighborhood pushing his noisy wooden cart down the street, yelling "Naranja, Naranja."

Our hosts invited us on excursions in the new Chevrolet sedan they had brought in duty-free. He was an American of East Indian descent from Trinidad and fluent in Spanish, an enormous advantage for two naive tourists. We visited a Peace Corps town where buzzards flew over the funeral home and pigs and chickens roamed the dirt streets. But most of all, I'll never the forget the trip on the weekend we went to Quito. We drove from humid coastal Guayaquil, up the West side of the Andes, all green and verdant, and down the East side, where the climate suddenly gave way to cool and golden plains inhabited by numerous llamas and a mountainous volcano in the distance. On the way up we stopped to visit an Indian settlement and sampled our first Pisco sour.

We settled easily into the rhythm of daily life and enjoyed the cultural differences from life in the U.S., aside from the flies feasting on the raw meat hanging at the outside markets. The maids pre-washed all our food in a weak solution of nonpotable water and bleach and, thankfully, we never got sick.

The guys worked most week days but there were frequent strikes by various segments of the work force that would disrupt commercial or government services. One time a "general" strike disabled all services for a few days. Once my friend and I were locked in a super market for a short time due to a small riot. On the days of the strikes there was not much to do except stay home and play cards. We were warned of petty crime and I lost an item from my purse to a pick pocket.

The neighborhood was social and we became friends with a semi-retired doctor and his wife. There were many gatherings at our house or theirs and their extended families. Special were the pig roasts held in celebration of the return of somebody's son, nephew, cousin from schooling in the U.S. I noticed that the wives at these functions always prepared and served their husbands' plates before preparing their own and, in general, always deferred to the husband.

When the six--week assignment was nearly ended, my husband's boss, Prof. Nudd, arrived from Houston and that was cause for a going-away party hosted at our house on the night of our leaving. There were two hired bartenders and the maids had prepared a big spread. The time arrived for the three of us to leave for Guayaquil airport. So instead of shutting the party down, the bartenders simply picked up the portable bar and liquor and moved the entire party to the airport lobby for all to enjoy.

By then, I was comfortable with life in Ecuador; it was a bit of a culture shock when we returned. And flying was a lot different then!

Excellent post. Thank you.

I have been to Guayaquil once (I lost my Passport and had to go there to get a new one). I think once is far more than enough in Guayaquil for me. I don't know what it was like back then, but recently it is a dirty industrial town with a very high crime rate and crowded everywhere. And "dismal" would be a kind way to describe the room I had there. Ugh...

Ecuador has a long history of socialism, the most recent Presidential election went to the Conservative Candidate, which here would be called a communist - LOL. But, it is all relative.

As with most (all?) S. American counties, the politics are turbulent. The politicians promise everything and mostly pad their own bank accounts. And, of course, the "OTHER" guy is the corrupt one, Very strong opinions on both sides, and it sometimes breaks out into violence. Glad it is not like that here. Ahem.

I have not spent any time in Quito other than flying into Ecuador. Most (all?) flights go through Quito and connect with domestic flights to other places.

I spend most of my time in Cuenca, which is a "larger" city. I have explored the countryside east of Cuenca, and your description rings very true, a very lovely country.

And yes, excellent choice of words, "culture shock". If you are looking for a suburb of a US town, you are going to be very disappointed. I refuse to participate in most of the ex-pat activities. Most of my experience with Expats in Ecuador is they sit around and bitch about how different it is from "back home" and how they want it to change to be more like where they come from. (Sounds a lot like some people here in TV - ahem.)

I guess if you love it here, don't move there.

[Aces4]

Originally Posted by MartinSE

Excellent post. Thank you.

I have been to Guayaquil once (I lost my Passport and had to go there to get a new one). I think once is far more than enough in Guayaquil for me. I don't know what it was like back then, but recently it is a dirty industrial town with a very high crime rate and crowded everywhere. And "dismal" would be a kind way to describe the room I had there. Ugh...

Ecuador has a long history of socialism, the most recent Presidential election went to the Conservative Candidate, which here would be called a communist - LOL. But, it is all relative.

As with most (all?) S. American counties, the politics are turbulent. The politicians promise everything and mostly pad their own bank accounts. And, of course, the "OTHER" guy is the corrupt one, Very strong opinions on both sides, and it sometimes breaks out into violence. Glad it is not like that here. Ahem.

I have not spent any time in Quito other than flying into Ecuador. Most (all?) flights go through Quito and connect with domestic flights to other places.

I spend most of my time in Cuenca, which is a "larger" city. I have explored the countryside east of Cuenca, and your description rings very true, a very lovely country.

And yes, excellent choice of words, "culture shock". If you are looking for a suburb of a US town, you are going to be very disappointed. I refuse to participate in most of the ex-pat activities. Most of my experience with Expats in Ecuador is they sit around and bitch about how different it is from "back home" and how they want it to change to be more like where they come from. (Sounds a lot like some people here in TV - ahem.)

I guess if you love it here, don't move there.

I’m okay with anyone who wants to fly into a third world or developing country for their health or dental care but I would not be interested in the least.

I have to ask, do you have a dentist in the USA who will clean up any emergency situations that may develop because of your Ecuadorian dental procedures. Emergencies such as an oral sepsis or low virulence infection, failed bone graft or improper crown fitting for example that require prompt and urgent attention.

It is a beautiful country but that wouldn’t be my guideline for dental or healthcare. I wonder how these citizens feel when moneyed Americans use those services but because of low income levels, many in Ecuador go without..

Upon retirement, we discovered dental insurance to be too expensive for the coverages provided so we self funded our dental care. We put the proposed monthly premium away and that is our dental fund which has sufficed for any work and routine cleanings. I think we would move to dentures before we’d go to Ecuador but that’s us.

Are you also aware most high caliber dental schools in the USA will provide dental care at a greatly reduced price for the low income? (That would include implants..)

[manaboutown]

Over many pre-pandemic years several people of limited income I have known who reside in New Mexico for extensive and expensive dental procedures went to dental clinics in Juarez, Mexico, across the border from El Paso, Texas. The way it works is they stay in hotels in El Paso and vans from the clinics pick them up and drive them to and from the clinics. The dentists and oral surgeons speak English, are well trained, many in the US, and the clinics are clean and up to date. Extensive procedures are done cheaply and quickly, much more so than in the US, and the patients are sent on their way. Of course patients can return if problems develop as they only live 100 - 200 miles away at most. The Top 10 Clinics in Juarez | Book Now - Dental Departures

Note how the article repeatedly stresses Juarez is now safe. lol

A couple weeks ago I was chatting with a long time Albuquerque friend who has a housekeeper who although born in the US was raised in Mexico as her parents are Mexicans. This lady grew up in Juarez so she knows it well and gets her dental care there. Her dentist along with other dentists have been forced to close their clinics due to cartel violence. They discreetly rent houses in which to practice in residential neighborhoods to avoid becoming cartel targets.