Ecuador is a whole lot different than Costa Rica or anywhere else we've been, and although I keep trying to stay positive as we've booked two months here - the jury's still out.
On the negative side, we haven't lived in an apartment or been without a car for 30-40 years. Although it's a modern and comfortable apartment, I don't think we're apartment people. Also it smells bad here. They say it's sewer gas as they don't use traps in the drains and they're trying to deal with it, but it's really not pleasant.
Also if we're not looking out at the Pacific or at the well-manicured gardens of the expensive gated community next door, the entire colour palette is beige and brown, which is a shock after the lush and vibrant colours of Costa Rica. It reminds me of late fall in Canada after all the vegetation dies and the leaves fall off the trees and everything looks dead. I'm finding that kind of depressing.
On the other hand ...
There are also many positives about Ecuador. It's easy to get around as taxis are plentiful and cheap. A cab ride to the mall - about the distance between our home in London and the airport (which would cost around $30) - is $2 here. The grocery store, beach and most restaurants, if not within walking distance, are a $1 cab ride. To catch a cab you just walk out your door and raise a hand - there are lots of them.
Food is cheap. The Almuerzo (lunch) which consists of soup, a main course, freshly squeezed or blended juice, and some sort of sweet or dessert is $2.50 - 4.00. Dinner at an upscale restaurant is around $7-8, at a regular restaurant $5-6. Restaurants are everywhere - at least 20 within walking distance of our apartment - and the food is good.
There is a very socially active "ex-pat" group here. We went to the weekly ex-pat dinner last night and met around 40 people. There is a lunch tomorrow and a breakfast on Sunday, so I imagine we'll meet a few more. I don't think it will be hard to make some friends during our stay. The ex-pats tend to be very passionate about this country, so their enthusiasm may be catchy. The Ecuadorians, while not quite as accommodating as the Ticos, are appreciative when we try to speak their language and they do try to help. There is not a lot of English spoken here, so Ken sees it as an opportunity to try to improve our Spanish.
There be whales here! When we sit out on the balcony and watch the fishing boats, we often see whales jumping and splashing out on the horizon. Wish we had our binoculars and that our camera with the zoom lens hadn't died.
An last - but certainly not least - on the negative side (and this is really a negative for me) - you can't drink the water here. I have to keep reminding myself to fill a glass with bottled water before brushing my teeth. But on the positive side (and this is really a positive for me) - no bugs. We have our balcony doors wide open all the time and other than one pesky little fly, we haven't seen one insect all week.
Also if we're not looking out at the Pacific or at the well-manicured gardens of the expensive gated community next door, the entire colour palette is beige and brown, which is a shock after the lush and vibrant colours of Costa Rica. It reminds me of late fall in Canada after all the vegetation dies and the leaves fall off the trees and everything looks dead. I'm finding that kind of depressing.
On the other hand ...
There are also many positives about Ecuador. It's easy to get around as taxis are plentiful and cheap. A cab ride to the mall - about the distance between our home in London and the airport (which would cost around $30) - is $2 here. The grocery store, beach and most restaurants, if not within walking distance, are a $1 cab ride. To catch a cab you just walk out your door and raise a hand - there are lots of them.
Food is cheap. The Almuerzo (lunch) which consists of soup, a main course, freshly squeezed or blended juice, and some sort of sweet or dessert is $2.50 - 4.00. Dinner at an upscale restaurant is around $7-8, at a regular restaurant $5-6. Restaurants are everywhere - at least 20 within walking distance of our apartment - and the food is good.
There be whales here! When we sit out on the balcony and watch the fishing boats, we often see whales jumping and splashing out on the horizon. Wish we had our binoculars and that our camera with the zoom lens hadn't died.
An last - but certainly not least - on the negative side (and this is really a negative for me) - you can't drink the water here. I have to keep reminding myself to fill a glass with bottled water before brushing my teeth. But on the positive side (and this is really a positive for me) - no bugs. We have our balcony doors wide open all the time and other than one pesky little fly, we haven't seen one insect all week.
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