Life In Cuenca First Edition Table of Contents
Introduction 1
Who Are We to Write This Book? 3
PART ONE: ATTRACTIONS AND DOWNSIDES
CHAPTER ONE: Why Expatriate To Cuenca?
Why Expatriate? 6
Why Cuenca? 6
The Rush to Cuenca 8
The Nature of Duality 11
CHAPTER TWO: Climate
Why Can’t I Get a Reliable Weather Forecast? 14
Here Comes the Sun? 15
For the Record 16
To Freeze or Not to Freeze 16
Walking on Sunshine 18
Out for the Afternoon 19
Cuenca’s Too-High Life 21
Attraction or Downside? 23
CHAPTER THREE: Cost of Living
The Cuenca High-Life Budget 25
The Cuenca Low-Life Budget 31
Attraction or Downside? 33
CHAPTER FOUR: Money Issues
Cash or Credit? 36
Gringo Prices 37
Tipping or Overtipping 44
The Destiny of the US Dollar in Ecuador 48
More on Inflation 51
Attraction or Downside? 53
CHAPTER FIVE: Infrastructure
Water 54
Electricity 54
Gas 55
Landline Phones 57
Cell Phones 57
Internet 59
Cable TV 60
Health and Medical Care 61
Health Insurance 62
Cuenca Means Good Health 63
Attraction or Downside? 63
CHAPTER SIX: Transportation
Walking 65
Required Equipment, Hazards, and Do’s and Don’ts 68
Local Buses 69
Taxis 73
Having Your Own Car 78
Long-Distance Buses 78
Air Travel and Airlines 81
Attraction or Downside? 82
CHAPTER SEVEN: The Low Impact of Gringos
Large Enough to Be Small Enough 84
Plenty to Do 85
Opportunities to Learn Spanish 86
What the Ecuadorians Say About Expats 87
Attraction or Downside? 89
CHAPTER EIGHT: Civil Law Versus Common Law
Personal Responsibility 90
Crossing the Street 92
Who’s Backwards? 94
Danger! Popular Tourist Attraction Ahead! 94
“Prescription” Drugs 96
Attraction or Downside? 97
CHAPTER NINE: Cross-Cultural Conundrums
Punctuality 99
Efficiency 103
Honesty 105
“Let Me Tell You How We Do It Back Home” 106
Couples That Move Away Together Might Not Stay Together 107
Attraction or Downside? 110
CHAPTER TEN: Definite Downsides
Crime and Security 112
Noise 113
Pollution 114
Attraction or Downside? 115
PART TWO: PRACTICALITIES
CHAPTER ELEVEN: How Many Gringos Live in Cuenca?
The Information Rumor Highway 117
2,200 to 2,400 Permanent Residents, 2,500 Maybe 118
Cuenca College for Expats 122
CHAPTER TWELVE: Visas and Immigration
T-3 Tourist Stamp 125
12-IX Tourist Visa 125
9-I Pensioner’s Visa 125
9-II Investor’s Visa 126
Ecuadorian Citizenship 126
New Cuenca Immigration Office 126
CHAPTER THIRTEEN: Government Matters
Limited Interaction with Authorities 128
If You Start Your Business 128
Why the Prez is Good for Expats 129
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: Cuenca’s Real Estate and Rental Markets
Renting 133
Buying135
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: Gringo Haunts
Bananas 137
DiBacco 138
Eucalyptus Café 138
Fabiano’s 139
Inca Lounge and Bistro 139
La Viña 139
Windhorse Café 140
Colón Restaurant and Bar 140
Café San Sebas and California Kitchen 140
Carolina Bookstore 140
Gringo Nights 141
CHAPTER SIXTEEN: Expat Resources
International Living 142
Live and Invest Overseas 142
GringoTree 143
CuencaHighLife 144
Books on Expatriating 144
Expat Internet Forums 144
Expat Blogs 147
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: The Final Word
Exploratory Trips 149
Your First Few Months 150
Stay in Touch 151
About the Authors 158