Good morning,

Has anyone not been receiving replies to their emails sent to the English speaking JEP staff during the last 10 days?

Many thanks,

Christine

I am flying out of Guayaquil on June 1 and will need van service from Cuenca to Guayaquil on May 31st. There are many van services on Remigio Crespo. Can you recommend one (or more)? My email is bobettejane@yahoo.com

Bobette Jones

I have been using theweathernetwork. I have noticed that they are frequently wrong. Does anyone have a better source?

Mike

Hello GP community:

One of the documents required is an apostilled marriage certificate (or is it?), then translated by a certified translator. Don´t know where the original is located, and trying to get through to NYC City Clerk to obtain a copy has been almost impossible. If anyone has been through this recently, please advise. Maybe there is an easier way.

Thank you all in advance.

Andre Alban

Hello, I won’t name who is handling my insurance now, but somehow my prescriptions are a difficulty and I did not even go in to the appointment with all my meds because I had so many come with me from the US. There are more to add to the list, but at this point, I do not expect it to go right. So, how much is the minimum requirement we are supposed to have?

Considering going out of pocket for the rest of my needs. Or, who are you using and what is the cost and how do you like it? For what it is worth, I only took in 5 meds that I was already prescribed from the US. Fortunately the blood pressure meds and the gout med are being handled fine, but the prostrate med can’t get straight. I like being able to pee. Wonder if the fact that the prostrate med is by far the most expensive one is a contributing factor?

Frustrated and looking for suggestions,

Randy Church

I heard of this courier today and wondered if others may have; and if so, what their experience is. I googled it and got https://www.clickboxec.com/ where I found a long list of services including courier to EC.

Do others have experience with ClickCourier as a courier?

Jon

I’ll be traveling to Canada in June and need my Ecuador vax cert translated by someone who can give me:

A certified translation which must include the stamp or membership number of a professional translation association.

Can anyone recommend such a person?

Bobette Jones

This is Agnetha, a very polite and sweet dachshund needing a home immediately. The people who abandoned her threw her out of a moving car in a garbage bag. My name is Deni and I brought her to my studio. The owner does not allow pets and I don’t have the economic resources to take care of her either. This is because I am trying to regain custody of my 7 and 8-year old daughters. For this reason, emotionally I can’t be responsible for Agnetha either. She urgently needs a home.

Please help for Agnetha 099 509 5380

Denny

Hello. I’m planning to enter a country which requires test results in English only – they’re very clear on this. Does anyone know of a testing site which can provide results in English? Antigen or PCR are accepted. Thanks.

Paul

I would like to find out when Millenium Plaza movie theater will show the Jurassic Park new movie. Can I see this movie in English or with subtitles? I think it comes out in June.

Thank you so much.

Richard Potter

I need a second Pfizer vaccination but do not know which health facility in Cuenca has Pfizer. If anyone knows for certain — or has had a Pfizer vaccination within the past few weeks — can you post the name and location of the facility.

This would save me wasted trips only to learn the facility does not have the vaccine.

Thank you for taking the time to share this information,

Donna

How and where do I renew a US passport here in Cuenca?

Patrika Vaughn

City: Cuenca

Anybody got any tips on legally bringing a limited amount of gold or silver bullion coins into Ecuador on a commercial flight from the United States?

David Naccari

What is the renewal process for a permanent resident with an investment visa: needed documents, fee, use assistance to do it or on my own (can manage decently in Spanish)?

Understand that they are backlogged; any recent experience with it?

Thanks,

Erik

I currently have a 1-year CD at JEP. I’m looking for advice from anyone who recently opened a CD (last 4 months).

Amount would be between $10k to $50k; maybe more, if needed. Would like 9% rate from a safe, reliable financial institution.

Looking for simple advice/guidance from a fellow expat who only has a US Passport. I appreciate your time.

Dan P

Hello community. Any information how many Jews live in Cuenca? Is there a synagogue?

Thank you.

Ahuva

Hello all. The rules change every day. Can anyone share the latest rules for a fully vaccinated person to re-enter Ecuador? Or possibly a link to read the latest rules?

Thanks so much,

Ellen

I have stuff from the States that I would like to have shipped from the US to Cuenca. It will consist of my stereo and speaker which are 3 feet tall, a nice guitar, my desktop computer and personal pictures. I am guessing the weight to be around 300 pounds. I am aware that the this will cost quite a bit but the stereo speakers alone cost $2,500 and of course the pictures are priceless.

Thank you for any advice you may be able to give.

Bryan

I haven’t seen this topic discussed for a while. Perhaps it will help future expats.

I wanted to buy the cheapest multifunction pressure cooker AKA Instant Pot, primarily for its Yogurt function. I bought the Brentwood Easy Pot at Juan Eljuri for $111. What I failed to do is to look at its reviews on Amazon, which were few and 4-years old, but documented exactly the problems I encountered. This unit wasn’t defective, the product was defective, particularly the Yogurt function, and Brentwood couldn’t care less. A big complication was the yogurt making detailed instructions were only in the English section, not the Spanish or French section.

(more…)

Our personal air purifying necklaces can help keep you safe from icky exhalations. (For the other side – they possibly even protect from airborne spike proteins.)

But seriously, they are also always great for repelling pollen and other pollutants.
Simple, light, quiet, effective, and rechargeable. Now that this new technology is available, everyone should have an air purifying necklace.

2 Styles to choose from:
https://cosasprep.com/product/negative-ion-air-purifying-necklace/
https://cosasprep.com/product/donut-air-purifier-necklace/

$29 to $35 each

Visit our easy-to-find store just 5 blocks west of Parque Calderon or online.
Simón Bolívar 13-49 y Estévez de Toral
(Comments welcome)

Kent Mills

My bank in Australia is threatening to close my account because I am permanently in Cuenca. They can tell because of all of the ATM withdrawals here. I want to change to transferring money to my brother in Oz and him sending it to me in a transfer to a bank (?). What would the best and cheapest option be? I think Zelle doesn’t work from Oz. It would involve maybe $1500 USD/month.

Thanks

Denis Cruickshank

Unfortunately, I dropped my glasses in the case and they were run over. The prescription is new from the US this year. I am looking for a recommendation from an optician that can get me new glasses. Recommendations? I am in the Puertas Del Sol area. Thanks,

David Nichols

Hi, I’m Charles Castleberry, I’m a retired software engineer, and I’ve been living in Cuenca a couple of years now (since the pandemic hit and put the brakes on my world traveling).

I’ve recently started feeling a bit itchy to see more of people than my just remote friends over the internet and, as I’m a lifelong sci-fi nerd, I thought I’d see if anyone was interested in some kind of geek-interest reading/discussion group. Subjects could involve sci-fi/fantasy fiction and movies, anime, video games, etc. We could meet up at coffee shop or lunch place every couple of weeks or so, read a book-of-the-month or something, or argue over whether Star Trek or Star Wars are better, and why movies almost never get time travel right.

If there are any fellow nerds around who’d be up for that, just speak up in the comments and we can set something up.

Optimistically Yours,

Charles Castleberry

Looking for a responsible new family for a beautiful rescue dog. Last week I found a beautiful and playful dog in Parque de la Madre. I’ve been taking care of him for now, but I cannot keep him as I don’t have the space needed for him to have the happy life he deserves (he’s kind of big). I’m looking for a responsible and loving person or family to adopt him and give him a happy, healthy life. I’m sure he will make his new family happy and he will give back all the love he gets.

If you would like to give this doggie a loving home, please contact,

Daniela Torres: 096 977 5010. Call after: 7 AM.

I will not be getting a return from the IRS. However, I would like to know when they receive/process my forms. Is there any way to determine this electronically?

Mike L

I am told that there is a place to register the home rental contract in Cuenca. This will be needed, with a certificate, for the naturalization (citizenship) process.

Does anyone know the name of this office and the location?

Genie

Hello, I am interested on Pilates classes, Zumba, stretch, cardio. Also
I am in Cuenca for about 3 weeks. Is there someone who knows it? Thank you very much,

Vera Schnapp

Can anybody advise a good company in Cuenca to install a satellite TV/Internet system? Mostly for sport, English football and F1, movies, etc.

Many thanks,

Peter Tierney

I need to take a plane from Guayaquil, can you recommend a driver with a reasonable price, one way from Cuenca to Guayaquil?

Maria Jose

What is the going rate for an hour of massage therapy?

Mike L

Please, your recommendations needed for a daily home meals delivery.

Barbara: batia13@rogers.com .

City: Cuenca

I have read many posts about the wonderful Juana’s Vivero up near Control Sur. I drove up there yesterday and got utterly lost. Came home with no plants at all.

Can someone tell me definitively where Juana’s nursery is? Someone posted that it is across from the last Tranvia stop. Is this true? Thank you community. I appreciate it.

Matthew Blau

We prefer to trust the content we read here as coming from our fellow expats that we’ve never met in person but we’d like to think of as “honest folks”. However, newcomer expats hear from the old timers the stories about a very sketchy Canadian expat who founded a Cuenca charity that is still operating after he fled the country, along with other tales of expats being perp-walked out of a Gringolandia highrise (“X was nice, quiet and kept to himself”). Unfortunately, my 30 years in a technology career have taught me to have the right amount of wariness and employ best practices for safety online.

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Lizza, are you still in Real Estate? I need your help.

Gracias,

Phil

Good afternoon, I am looking for a job. I am a nursing assistant and social communicator. with experience in patient care at home, accompaniment at home. and I also have experience as a television assistant.

WhatsApp: 096 315 7207

Esther Villafuerte

Does anyone have the email address for Liz, the administration manager at Condominio Terrazas on 3 de Novimbre?

Thanks,

Phil

I have been trying for seven weeks to buy a Tranvia, and bus pass at the Feria Libre Tranvia stop, and at the airport. I have made seven efforts, with no success. The attendant cannot say why they are not selling them, or when they would. Has anyone had success in the past week, or know anyone who has? Knowledge shared is good! Thanks!

Aaron

Is it possible to go to Azogues and get a few questions answered without an appointment?
If now, how to get an appointment?
Still need vax papers to go in?

Genie

Not everyone can read Spanish, but I have a useful app on my phone that can take a photograph of something and instantly translate into English. Here is an example. This might be useful if you have friends visiting.

Jonathan Mason

Greetings and well wishes.

My EC cedula expires in a few months. I do not like to procrastinate; do not want to wait until then to renew it. I found information on the Registro Civil and Gob.ec websites, but there is contradictory info.

1- Has anyone gone thru the process of renewing it recently in the Cuenca area?
2- Are we allowed to do it early?

Any input/info will be greatly appreciated.

MK

Is Joe’s Secret Garden open?

Phil

Can I change my permanent residence visa to an investment visa? I read with an investment there is no restriction on the length of time you can spend out of Ecuador

Bill

Can anyone make a recommendation for stem cell therapy in Cuenca?

Gracias

William

ENT referred to prior to surgery offered 5 PM Monday. We could not make due to other urgent appt. No response upon explanation.

Anyone have another such one available this holiday week? (Please, no nasty, unhelpful remarks.)

Jon

I have had all 3 Covid shots, but only have a card from the facility that administered the shots and it has no QR code. How/where can you get the QR coded card?

Bill

Recommendation for stem cell therapy in Cuenca?

Bill

Hi, We have been in the US since 3/17 for a wedding, returning on Tuesday 4/19. It appears on the Consulate website that at the end of March the COVID entry requirements to Ecuador were changed? The website now says that fully vaccinated travelers can present their vaccination card or a negative PCR within 72 hours. Can anyone verify this? We are both fully vaccinated, it would be great to be able to avoid getting the testing done before our return. Thank you,

Terri Nichols

Has anybody with the new electronic version of the visa (you have a PDF of it) done this after renewing your passport and receiving a new number? This is not moving the sticker version of the permanent visa from the old to the renewed book. It’s updating the visa with the new passport number. Can you just show up to the Azogues office with both the old and new passport or is it a process that requires a facilitator?

Gary Maurer

Does Cuenca have a guitar circle for practicing guitar? I’d love to join.

Thanks,

098 303 9681

jerebelreardon@msn.com

Jeremiah

If anyone has brought dogs into Ecuador, I really need some advice. There are two requirements that I need clarification on. First of all, a “tick and tapeworm test” is required 21 days prior to arrival. Do they mean a heartworm test? Even my USDA certified vet is confused about this one.

Secondly, I am supposed to send an email to Guayaquil Airport prior to arriving letting them know that I am bringing my dogs into the country. The paperwork even gives me the exact format the email should be in, in Spanish. However, it doesn’t state a time frame. Is it to be sent the day prior, a week before, etc.? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Sharyn Bergholt

What are the gotchas one need watch out for. I mean in the way of paperwork. I used to wrench so mechanical ability is not where I lack. Just haven’t purchased here and I see a lot of ads where claiming no fines or… ? Any advice welcomed.

Randy Church

I have wide feet. 2E US size. I know that one can have shoes made, but does anyone know where one can buy wide tennis or other informal shoes?

Thanks,

Jonathan Haas

I recently received an email from Google Fi telling me my international data roaming was suspended. I’m actually not sure what that means since I can still receive calls and texts (for now).

I use Nord VPN, but that apparently didn’t work. Google figured it out and now I’m on some sort of list.

What phone services do people use here in Ecuador to maintain a US number? If using Google Fi, have you had your international data roaming suspended? What exactly does that mean and is there any way around it?

Thanks,

Aaron W

Hello. I’ll be in Ambato with a friend for a few days later this April. We’d like to do a day trip to Cotopaxi Volcano. Does anyone know the best way to do this? Any good tours that start in Ambato? I haven’t had much luck online as they seem to all start in Quito. Thank you!

Greg

Hi, wondering what happens if you are late with property taxes. We tried to pay online but could not.log in.

We are in Canada and will not be back in Cuenca before Nov. So our 2022 taxes are not paid.

What are the penalty’s and is there any danger in them seizing the property for unpaid taxes?

Also our car is in storage. The same thing applies to it. it was due to renew in Feb.

Rob

Good morning,

Can electric fences be circumvented, by shorting them or by other means?

Can dogs easily be taught not to eat food from strangers?

How foolproof is a motion detection system that alerts a home security company to immediately dispatch security personnel?

Thank you,

Cristina

I need to renew my passport and want to meet the US consulate representative when he visits Cuenca. What is the best way to contact the consulate to set up an appointment? Appointments are required for a meeting.

Martin P Doherty

City: Cuenca

When I access the sign-in page I get this message: “Oops! We ran into an issue. Please try again later.” I receive the same message even when using different browsers. Thanks for your input.

David Naccari: dnaccari1@gmail.com .

City: Cuenca

I need to renew my passport and want to know the dates the person from the U.S. consulate will visit Cuenca?

Martin P Doherty: .

City: Cuenca

Hi, I am relocating to Cuenca in April, 2022, with my dog and needed some information. I am flying out of Miami, Florida into Guayaquil , after getting several quotes from transportation companies that I thought were pretty high, I contacted Avianca cargo myself and wanted to know if anyone else has recently transported their large animal and crate with Avianca cargo to Ecuador. Any tips, suggestions on how they handled this would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Sean Doherty: WhatsApp 1 941 232 8046 seancgi@aol.com

I rent an unfurnished house far from the prime neighborhoods in Cuenca. Recently I asked my abogado to inform the homeowner, who bought the house as rental income, that I wish to renew a lease for another year at the same rent. When I moved in, the owner was reluctant to repair inexpensive cosmetic damage done by the family of the previous owner, repairs we expect as part of preparing the property for its first tenant. I took that as his stance that he was not going to put money into this property beyond unavoidable repairs. I accepted a security system that no longer worked and he claimed he could not afford to replace. I spent my own money doing low-cost upgrades to things like ceiling lights. I deposit my rent into his bank account.

(more…)

Have heard JEP no longer works with appointments; you must take a number and wait. Is this true? And for disabled?

Jon

I have a Samsung S10+ phone and thinking ahead – should I get the battery replaced in the States or will I be fine waiting to have the battery replaced in Cuenca? BTW, battery replacement is not simple or routine – a negative for this phone.

Does anyone have any idea if batteries are easy to find at a reasonable price in Cuenca? I can get replacement batteries for less than $20 on Amazon for example.

Thanks!

Chip

Does anyone know if the clinics/hospitals are offering 4th round boosters. If so, where?

Reid Tanner

If I enter Ecuador on Jan. 1, my tourist visa allows me to stay 90 days until Mar 31. If I am granted a 90-day extension, I can continue to stay until Jun 29. Assuming I then leave Ecuador on Jun 29, when can I reenter Ecuador after that using just the tourist visa? Thank you,

Ryan

Looking to buy a car in Quito, and wondering if you have any recommendations. We could also buy in Guayaquil – any thoughts on which city would be better?

Thanks,

Paul Huckans

When I received my permanent residency visa, in 2016 the law was you could be out of the country five years. The new law is two years. Am I grandfathered under the old law or subject to the new law?

Gracias Bill

Bill

Does anyone know where I can get/purchase Ecuador vs Argentina tickets for upcoming game?

Paz

Hi all. I am currently visiting Cuenca for the first time after doing years of research about this place. I will admit up front that my Spanish is limited. I guess I am hoping that you all might be able to help me understand your approach to living here. So, I have met and interacted with very many simply lovely Ecuadorians in the week that I have been visiting. But I also feel like I have a gringo target on my back everywhere I go. Also I see every house with bars on the windows and fenced and walled houses with broken glass on top and barbed wire.

I have been approached every day that I’ve been here by people asking me for money. There are armed security guards with pistols everywhere. So, again, I have met so many truly kind and generous and helpful people here, but I feel like there is this other side of the coin. Do you just kind of get used to it and not register after a while? Do you just have to accept as an expat that there are trade-offs to living in a county that’s not your own? I keep wondering if I should anticipate the other shoe dropping. How do you feel about this? Am I overreacting? Any words of advice? Thank you,

Karl: .

City: Cuenca

I am looking for contact information — preferably email — for Abogada Elizabeth — I believe her full name is: Karina Elizabeth Sanmartin Alvarado. We have a friend who had to return to the US, got stuck there, and has had to replace her phone, which meant she lost her Ecuador contacts. Thank you for your kind assistance. Please WhatsApp if you can help with info —
097 925-4877.

Carol Huntington

If you have a problem with your vaccine records not showing up on the computer so that you cannot print out a certificate (which you might need to go to the Galapagos, for example), perhaps because you did not have a cedula at the time of the first vaccination, or they made an error entering your passport or cedula number, you can get this fixed.

Go to the office of Vigilancia (=surveillance/monitoring) at the health ministry just a hundred yards down the hill from the Pumapungo museum building (same building as the Centro de Salud (health center), and they can sort it out for you.

Take any necessary documents with you, i.e. passport if at all relevant, cedula, and all vaccination cards in your possession.

Jonathan Mason

I was diagnosed with Covid-19 a month ago. I sequestered mostly. I developed a cough and really stayed home. Friends did my grocery shopping for me. After steadily getting worse I decided I needed to see a doctor. As luck would have it my symptoms came to a head on a Sunday evening. The ambulance showed up and the tech did a few quick tests and said “Put your shoes on”. We started looking for an ICU room. They contacted my agent Mady Gonzales. She began making calls to find me an ICU room. It took over an hour. She finally did find one and the ambulance literally took off. I now know why they strap in their patients. We went to Hospital Del Rio. The doctor that tended me said I may have one of the last few such rooms in a city of 400,000. He also said that if I had waited a few more days the outcome would have been different.

Did I mention that all of this happened on a Sunday evening? I was admitted at 10 PM. Mady was hard at work until I was safely in the hospital. When it comes to her people she has no “hours”. Mady does not have clients. Mady does not have customers. Mady makes friends. Although she denies it, I credit her with saving my life.

Mady@MadyInsurance.com

George Houghton

Let me preface this by saying, I’m no legal expert. I’m simply just another expat caught up in the process of making sure I stay ‘legal’ in this wonderful country. When I first came here, I have to admit I had no idea of what the immigration laws were here other than what my attorney told me. I was only concerned with obtaining my TempRes visa, which I did. Later this year I will apply for permanency. During that time, I’ve noticed many, many posts regarding the subject of visas here and on other sites. It seems at times as though those processes are veiled in a shroud of secrecy. So, my suggestion is two-fold:

First, know the immigration law basics. It’s really not rocket science.

Two sources I would highly suggest reading/knowing are:

1. The Organic Laws On Human Mobility – they cover a lot of the immigration process. The link below has the most recent revisions (Feb 2021), my browser (MS Edge) auto-translates into English.
https://vlex.ec/vid/ley-organica-movilidad-humana-847395482

2. A recent executive decree which clarifies and refines some of those laws. It was recently published in Ecuador’s ‘Official Registry’, in doing so makes the decree in full force. Here is a link to it, in English:

https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn%3Aaaid%3Ascds%3AUS%3Aca8fd29c-4064-3397-9a5f-6910ba271f1f&fbclid=IwAR105z2xzTxQq94wQI6ijmNcXfsu8lOVIRiw-0PUePYDJ–1iThcpmW8wDw#pageNum=1

The second part of my suggestion is, get a professional, and more than just a rubber-stamp professional. Not just someone who is familiar with the law, but can actually go to court for you. In the States every governmental office is run by strict procedure, so if they say something it really is ‘the law’. But, here, the local immigration offices have either been given or taken a lot of liberties in how they do things. They were recently taken to court over a misapplication of the law (they lost, appealed, lost again). If your ‘professional’ can go no further than what the local office says, and your visa app gets rejected, was it worth the lower price?

Hope this helps, now it’s time for more coffee.

Cindy G: .

City: Cuenca

Could someone please tell me where I can purchase a Transvia card. I went to the Etapa office on Gran Columbia and was told I could no longer purchase a Transvia card at that location.
Thank you in advance for your kind assistance.

Patricia

City: Cuenca

I have lost the texting number. for the raw goat milk source I had for delivery to Ordones Lasso. Does anyone else have a phone number.for this good source? Thanks much.

Jon

I’m in need of a refrigerator/freezer thermometer (ours fell and broke). They are usually about 2.5 inches diameter. Has anyone seen something like that in any Cuenca store? Needed to monitor the temp we keep our medicine which needs to be between 35-45 degrees F. Thanks in advance,

Nelly Vital

Is there somewhere I can get Rimadyl over the counter?

Randy Church

Anyone interested in finding out the background about the Ukraine conflict can go to http://ukrainerevealed.com and view two documentary’s done by Oliver Stone. Very informative.

Dan Joseph

I am researching mail services and would love some input! Does anyone use one? Any recommendation? I am thinking about Traveling Mailbox. Thanks in advance for any help.

Sharyn Bergholt

I want to bring about 5 boxes of books from the UK to Ecuador. Someone mentioned you don’t pay import tax on books. Could this be true? Also, if anyone knows of a company that can help me with shipping logistics. This would be great. All the best.

Larry

Hi,

We’re looking to buy a vehicle here, and I’ve read that it’s not uncommon to hire a facilitator to take care of the buying and registration process. Anyone know any trusted facilitators? Or have other relevant wisdom you might care to impart? Do we need to wait until we have our visas or cedulas?

Thanks!

Paul Huckans

We are leaving this Sunday (Quito flight early Monday AM) for the US and are required to have the antigen test no more than one day prior to travel, which means we have to get the test done on Sunday. Does anyone know of a lab that’s open on Sundays that can provide the results?

Steve

I am looking for a self-storage near Unidad National and Gran Columbia, any suggestion is appreciated.

Barrie

Considering dropping IESS due to increasingly poor service. Looking for Insurance coverage at best rate. Being offered coverage by Humana and BMI through E&A Broker’s.

Humana covers the first $10,000 and BMI up to $500,000, including all pre-existing conditions. Costs $798 per year for a 69-year old. Would appreciate opinions and recommendations. Thank you,

Haydee Rodriguez

I have a JEP CD which expires on May 23. I know if I don’t want it renewed, I have to notify them like 5 days before the expiration. But do I need to let them know between May 18th to May 23rd or it has to be before May 18th? How do I notify them? Do I need to show up in person or I can send them an email? I am in the States right now.

I have emailed 2 JEP English speaking representatives. None of them replied. I guess when I told them I may not want to renew my CD, there is a ‘conflict of interest’ to provide me this information. So much about that friendly service I got when I opened the CD, haha.

If someone has this information and would like to share, I would really appreciate.

Shawn Hua

City: Cuenca

Do any of Banco Pichincha branches have “New Account” employees who speak English for those of us who aren’t functional enough in Spanish to open an account without feeling lost?

GB Restin

Hi All,

I am looking for a tour (in English) to Cajas with a short hike (up to 2 hours). Any suggestions for tour operators to contact?

Kathy Bartilotta

Is Etapa no longer (or reluctantly?) providing phone and internet service if one doesn’t have fiber optics?

Richard

Hi, We are in the process of relocating to Ecuador from the US, and from what we’ve seen, it’s really expensive to ship things. Are there work-arounds you all are aware of? Do expats ever go in on a shipping container together to lower costs? Or is it easier to just forget those things and re-buy what’s needed here?

Thanks,

Paul Huckans

I will be going to the USA this May 1st till June 28th.

Will I have enough time to process and renew my passport in the US? or will I be better here in Cuenca going through an Embassy?

Is there an agent that helps with this?
I look forward to your suggestions and answers.

Thank you in advance.

David

I would like to send Guayusa to the United States and it seems I need a permit to do it. Does anyone know someone who has expertise in these matters? I would appreciate any leads.

Send information to: matthewblau@gmail.com

Thank you,

Matthew Blau

Are there city laws respecting condominiums here, especially as regards safety of residents? If so, does anyone have contact info for this?

Jon

Is it only me, or is everyone now required to key in their phone number for Banco Pichincha ATM withdrawals?

Last Sunday it wasn’t required, but Wednesday (2 days ago) it was required.

Thanks,

John

Good morning,

What’s the dollar limit for personal check deposits at Banco Pichincha regarding checks from US bank accounts?

Is there also a monthly limit?

What’s the hold time?

Do they ask for “source of funds” documents?

Thank you,

Cristina

I just got my temporary residency. Now, it looks like I would have to leave the country in 2 years b/c I’m under the new income requirement.

It does not seem, since no one mentioned it here, that anyone else is worried. Why? Am I right to worry about this?

Please respond to this newbie. Thank you.

Kevin OKane

Does anyone have experience with the Tipti merchandise ordering website here in Cuenca? I am finding it a real challenge.

Ron Wooten Green

Seeking quality cotton bedsheets … or a seamstress to make them.

Dana Koch

The Carmen del Guzho church wants to inaugurate a dining room and food program for 40 poor, elderly people who will be served lunch from Monday to Friday, for which they need tables, chairs and a refrigerator. The church, led by Father Enzo Amato, has been working for more than 100 years helping families of the Turi parish.

Any donation and help we will be very grateful.

Karla Vicuna: karlavv13@hotmail.com 099 866 0612. Call after: 7 AM.

City: Cuenca

Good morning all, I am looking to update my kitchen cabinets and I am looking for gel stain. I have looked in Kywi, Pintulac and Coral but they seem to only have the water-based version and that isn’t going to work for me.

Does anyone know where I can find it?

Thank you in advance

Antonio G