The unofficial web page of the greater Cuenca expat community

I hear you Neil. My morning routine has become coffee and email. Every morning. I would be totally lost without the internet.
I became dependant on it about 12 years ago when I was ill and not able to get out of the house alone for about a year.. The internet was my life line. I obviously havent let that life libe go yet.

ZenSPIKE wrote:

I find it alarming how dependent I've become to the internet.

I considered not retiring because the computer and internet in my office is so much better than at home.  Decided to retire and buy a new computer and internet service, only problems here are weather related.  It is great for expat info, and now I am using Cruise Critic to meet people who are taking the same cruise as we are to take on shore excursions together and have a first day meet and greet on the ship.

Janet,
You'll find you are much more dependent here on the internet. I do my stateside banking on the internet, and manage some investments, and just a myriad of things as far as how to navigate this wonderful city, it's restaurants, parks, and just points of interest.

Tip: If you do not have a Magic Jack Plus as yet, buy one in Canada. Much cheaper there. Also, if you are not on Skype, download it. I am in contact daily with friends back in the states with no cost what so ever. Very valuable.
Be Well,
Neil

With Internet, I almost don´t need any kind of TV reception, since I can watch some local and national Ecuadorian newscasts with some success.

However, I am going to try and least put an antenna on my rooftop. The rabbit ears don´t work due to my proximity to a mountain.

As you know, I have no television connection at my place at all.
But, with the HDMI connected to my television, I get that free program for sports , television, movies, I've also got Netflix, and USTVNOW. So, I don't think I'll ever connect to a provider. Netflix is like 8 bucks a month, and all the rest are free.
San Sabas tonight.

A couple of University of Cuenca students majoring in Marketing rang my doorbell and wanted to complete a questionnaire.

It was mostly about my purchasing habits with respect to fruits and food. Since there were a lot of Coopera questions thrown in, I think their project relates to improving sales at Coopera.

I was a little embarrassed to tell them about my buying habits, since my diet mostly consists of either the Grinder special at Fabianos or a 12 inch Sandwich from Subway.

I have netflix and watch tvonline.cc for regular shows. I do watch TV, but it is the one thing I can live without.

I was hoping that my move to Ecuador would give me more things to focus on to get AWAY from my computer.  I've spent so many hours on this blasted thing that I'm practically BEGGING for an intervention!  lol      Time to tap back into the artsy, crafty side of me.  Did I say, "crafty"?   heehee

Nards Barley wrote:

I was a little embarrassed to tell them about my buying habits, since my diet mostly consists of either the Grinder special at Fabianos or a 12 inch Sandwich from Subway.

And yet it seems most everyone loses weight when they first start living in Ecuador.  Why is that?  Healthier food, more exercise (walking a lot)?  Does altitude make a difference?

mugtech wrote:

Nards Barley wrote:

I was a little embarrassed to tell them about my buying habits, since my diet mostly consists of either the Grinder special at Fabianos or a 12 inch Sandwich from Subway.

And yet it seems most everyone loses weight when they first start living in Ecuador.  Why is that?  Healthier food, more exercise (walking a lot)?  Does altitude make a difference?

I walked back in the states, and it didn't seem to have much affect on my weight. I walk more here, but I think it's the altitude, along with a better diet. I lost 53 pounds in my first 3 months here. It seems that your body is not as oxygenated, so it is actually working harder to do the basic tasks. Plus, in my case, my appetite has really diminished.
I'm back to my high school weight. Never woulda thought that possible.

ZenSPIKE wrote:

Tip: If you do not have a Magic Jack Plus as yet, buy one in Canada. Much cheaper there. Also, if you are not on Skype, download it. I am in contact daily with friends back in the states with no cost what so ever. Very valuable.

Neil: Why Magic Jack and Skype? I used Skype in the Philippines and it worked OK, and I expect it to work much better in Ecuador, where internet connections are better (the problems I had were related to slow/inconsistent connections).

Should I invest in MJ as well? Do you use one as back-up to the other?

Bob

Bob,
Yeah, it may seem redundant, but I know a lot of people that don't have Skype, and it also allows me to call family members and friends when they are not available on their computers. My Mom is in an assisted living building, and she is not computer savvy, so I can call her directly. It's just a pretty cheap way to have double coverage.
Stay Well,
Neil

I already have/use Skype. I will be arriving in Cuenca with a MJ. Some people just are not comfy with video chat. I mean...yu have to brush your hair and be presentable for Skype..LOL

j

BobH wrote:

ZenSPIKE wrote:

Tip: If you do not have a Magic Jack Plus as yet, buy one in Canada. Much cheaper there. Also, if you are not on Skype, download it. I am in contact daily with friends back in the states with no cost what so ever. Very valuable.

Neil: Why Magic Jack and Skype? I used Skype in the Philippines and it worked OK, and I expect it to work much better in Ecuador, where internet connections are better (the problems I had were related to slow/inconsistent connections).

Should I invest in MJ as well? Do you use one as back-up to the other?

Bob

I am no expert on any of these services, but here are my two cents.

Google Talk and/or Google+ also allows you to make free calls to the United States, although I have only used it a couple times.

If I want to call a landline or Cell phone in the United States using Skype (like Neil to his mother), you can use Skype, but you pay for the calls, using either a calling plan or by adding money to your account. I think with Google Talk or Google +, you can either make that same call for free, or you have to pay like with Skype.

With Magic Jack, I think the calls are free to the United States.  Also with the Magic Jack you can plug the phone directly to the router and bypass using the computer, so there may be added convenience.

P.S.
There is a magic jack application and others that you can use with either your tablet, which probably allows you make calls for free to landlines in the United State. They may work in conjunction with Google Voice, so you may first have to install the Google Talk application on the device.

P.P.S.

There are all kinds of options. I think the decision whether to buy a Magic Jack all comes down to whether you are high volume caller to the United States.

Also, I don´t think the magic jacks allows you to do video calls, and many people like to make video calls.

mugtech wrote:

Nards Barley wrote:

I was a little embarrassed to tell them about my buying habits, since my diet mostly consists of either the Grinder special at Fabianos or a 12 inch Sandwich from Subway.

And yet it seems most everyone loses weight when they first start living in Ecuador.  Why is that?  Healthier food, more exercise (walking a lot)?  Does altitude make a difference?

I agree altitude and walking makes a difference. Also, the lack of TV dinners in the frozen food aisle has affected my calorie intake I think.

Two big firsts for me yesterday:

I saw the Frugals at Supermaxi for the first time since I have arrived in Cuenca. < no photographic proof, but yours was shaky at best >

I also saw my first hot air balloon here. There were  2 actually. They were floating due South of my joint, in the Turi Hill area. I was amazed at the altitude they rose to. Early in the morning of course, to take advantage of the cooler air.

Skype-to-skype is free. Skype-to-phone is not.
I believe with a MJ depending on the number you chose  people can call you as if it is a local call. MJ also works in Canada. MJ goes over WIFI I think.

I am looking forward to there being a little less of me be it from the altitude or the food (I already walk tons everyday).

Hot air balloon ride is on my bucket list!

janet119 wrote:

Skype-to-skype is free. Skype-to-phone is not.
I believe with a MJ depending on the number you chose  people can call you as if it is a local call. MJ also works in Canada. MJ goes over WIFI I think.

I am looking forward to there being a little less of me be it from the altitude or the food (I already walk tons everyday).

Good Point. With Skype, for people to call you using a landline you need to buy a phone number which costs $60 a year.

With Google Talk, I have a phone number assigned to me. If I have the application I use loaded into memory on my tablet or PC, people with a U.S. phone number can call me. For instance, I think Neil could call me directly using his Magic Jack since my Google phone is U.S. based. Of course, I don´t always have these apps loaded or devices turned on. If I had a magic jack, it would always be turned on regardless of my computer or tablet being on.

ZenSPIKE wrote:

Two big firsts for me yesterday:

I saw the Frugals at Supermaxi for the first time since I have arrived in Cuenca. < no photographic proof, but yours was shaky at best >

I also saw my first hot air balloon here. There were  2 actually. They were floating due South of my joint, in the Turi Hill area. I was amazed at the altitude they rose to. Early in the morning of course, to take advantage of the cooler air.

Wow. Another Frugal sighting at SuperMaxi no less. I can´t recall seeing a hot air balloon here.

ZenSPIKE wrote:

Yeah, it may seem redundant, but I know a lot of people that don't have Skype, and it also allows me to call family members and friends when they are not available on their computers.

Good point. It would help me staying in touch with my sisters, neither of whom is very much into technology. I will check into Magic Jack before leaving.

Nards Barley wrote:

mugtech wrote:

Nards Barley wrote:

I was a little embarrassed to tell them about my buying habits, since my diet mostly consists of either the Grinder special at Fabianos or a 12 inch Sandwich from Subway.

And yet it seems most everyone loses weight when they first start living in Ecuador.  Why is that?  Healthier food, more exercise (walking a lot)?  Does altitude make a difference?

I agree altitude and walking makes a difference. Also, the lack of TV dinners in the frozen food aisle has affected my calorie intake I think.

Think probably the biggest reason for weight loss, is that generally speaking, would imagine there is a lot less processed food choices in Ecuador. A lot healthier, and more natural foods to choose from which your body is able to absorb, and digest properly.

This was an interesting article, partly because I am in the market for a new mattress.  The fact they have these specialty frames is also quite interesting.

However, they did not address an important question:

Does the Chaide store sell their mattresses for less than the re-sellers in town?

If you have an iPhone, another option for phone calls is Face Time.
A guy I work with calls his girlfriend in Viet Nam every morning and there is no charge. But then again, like Skype, you have to brush your hair!

ZenSPIKE wrote:

mugtech wrote:

Nards Barley wrote:

I was a little embarrassed to tell them about my buying habits, since my diet mostly consists of either the Grinder special at Fabianos or a 12 inch Sandwich from Subway.

And yet it seems most everyone loses weight when they first start living in Ecuador.  Why is that?  Healthier food, more exercise (walking a lot)?  Does altitude make a difference?

I walked back in the states, and it didn't seem to have much affect on my weight. I walk more here, but I think it's the altitude, along with a better diet. I lost 53 pounds in my first 3 months here. It seems that your body is not as oxygenated, so it is actually working harder to do the basic tasks. Plus, in my case, my appetite has really diminished.
I'm back to my high school weight. Never woulda thought that possible.

It all makes sense to me, I am surprised those of you who are trying to get more gringos to move to Ecuador to inflate the real estate values have not pushed this great advantage of weight loss.  There are plenty of boomers who would benefit from said weight loss.  I found when living for weeks at a time in the province in the Philippines I ate less and felt better because of all the natural rather than processed foods, plus the heat and humidity had me drinking more water rather than eating snacks.  Perhaps that process kicks in at the coast in Ecuador.

mugtech wrote:

I found when living for weeks at a time in the province in the Philippines I ate less and felt better because of all the natural rather than processed foods, plus the heat and humidity had me drinking more water rather than eating snacks.  Perhaps that process kicks in at the coast in Ecuador.

I lost ten-fifteen pounds in the first several months I lived in Cebu City, mostly because I didn't like the food.

I wasn't happy about it because I'm not overweight (I weigh about 160). I ended up eating more Big Macs in my year there than I had in the twenty years prior.

Bob,
2 new McDonalds in Cuenca. ( only one operational now )  I haven't tried one as yet, but, I can tell you I hit a KFC in GYE. and it ain't what I recall it as being. Totally different. Maybe Mickey D will be closer to what we are used to? I do want to check it out, not that I was a big customer back in the states, but sometimes you just want a touch stone.

I looked on McD's website and saw that there are several in Quito, so I will probably be eating there occasionally (I hope less often than I did in the Philippines, but I'm sure I'll be there sometimes).

I wrote on my blog a few weeks ago (after eating in the McD in the Tokyo airport) why I think it's perfectly OK to indulge in Big Macs when travelling overseas. Some people think it's some kind of mortal sin.

http://adventuresbob.blogspot.com/2013/ … rseas.html

I continue to cover the breakfast scene because Cuenca´s bloggers won´t.

I was thinking about going to McDonalds this morning for that much anticipated Egg McMuffin, but my ex neighbors unexpectedly took me to Cafe Austria on Benigno Malo and Sucre(?), and I am one to never to turn down a free meal.

Here is it is from the outside, photo courtesy of Dom.



Breakfast menu:





I went with the panqueques at $4.50 which included juice and coffee. The piece of toast on my plate was given to me by ex-neighbor. I expected traditional pancakes, but these were better, because they were stuffed with banana, but still quite light.

Bob,
Thanks for the link to your blog. I hadn't seen it before. I'm sure I'll enjoy your writing. I did a quicky of your McD's thoughts, and quite agree with your observations.
Now... if they could build a White Castle for those late night forays I'd be in 7th heaven!
Nuthin' like a sack of sliders with vinyl and a box of nails.
Stay Well,
Neil

BobH wrote:

I lost ten-fifteen pounds in the first several months I lived in Cebu City, mostly because I didn't like the food.

I wasn't happy about it because I'm not overweight (I weigh about 160). I ended up eating more Big Macs in my year there than I had in the twenty years prior.

Guess you never entered into any balut eating contests.  I understand the comfort food angle, but I pity people who don't even try the local food, even if its just a Jollie Bee.

mugtech wrote:

Guess you never entered into any balut eating contests.  I understand the comfort food angle, but I pity people who don't even try the local food, even if its just a Jollie Bee.

Oh, I tried it -- that's how I know I don't like it. Everyone's taste differs, but I had three objections to the local cuisine: 1) It's greasy; 2) It's sweet (they put sugar in everything, even spaghetti and pizza sauces); 3) It's bland (I like more heat, e.g., Mexican).

That said, my bro-in-law in Manila is a great cook (he agrees with me that spaghetti sauce should not be sugary).

Definitely not entering any contests -- I tried balut once, just to be able to say I had done it (same with eating dog) -- but that's enough for me.

Neil: I'm glad you enjoy the blog.

I don´t know how I missed the building of this at the Mall del Rio, but they must have done it rather quickly.

You have dessert on one side of it.



And on the other side, the burgers and frys.



Of course what I will be curious about is whether they will serve breakfast.  The mall opens at 10:00 a.m. so I will need to check that out.

Did you get the Gringo Tree email today? It sure the Hell looked like it was open to me:

Another McDonald's On the Way

Less than two weeks after Cuenca's first McDonald's fast food restaurant opened near Parque de la Madre, the franchise owner has announced plans for a second location in the Mall del Rio food court. According to a press release, the mall McDonald's should be open early next year.

Nards Barley wrote:

Did you get the Gringo Tree email today? It sure the Hell looked like it was open to me:

I agree

Are those folks actually gonna stand in line for a year?   
It wasn't open last week when I went to the InterNational food hoop-de-do, so they must have completed it fast. I'll be interested to see if a Mac tastes the same as stateside.

If they sold White Castle, they would have to add a kiosk for antacids and gall bladder surgeries!  Tried the local cuisine (sliders) once when I first moved to St. Louis----never again!!
glad you enjoy,
cb

I love White Castle, but there's a lot of the US where it's not available yet (none here in Phoenix), so I suppose it will be a long while before there are any in Ecuador.

Bob,
So you had them in Chi-Town. They are one of those things that I get a craving for. Usually had them about twice a year.
Don't ever make the mistake of leaving an bag with the empty boxes in your car overnight. I thought I was going to have to fumigate my car back in high school when I made that mistake.
I often wondered why they never went national. Every unit they have seems to do a booming business. Kinda like Waffle House, only regional.
And no, I'm sure we'll never see a Whitey's in Ecuador.
Stay Well,
Neil

I guess I had the Frugals on my mind, because while checking to see the latest blog posts here at expat-blogs.com, it dawned on me the Frugals blog posts were no longer appearing here. 

And then I had an epiphany.

The Frugals some weeks back said in one of their posts that this would be their last post promoting a rental property on their DiscoverCuenca blog, and that all subsequent properties would only appear on their other website $300rentals(?). A few days later they were promoting another rental and I said to myself "what the hell is going on" Frugals.

Now for the rampant speculation:

I think the Expat.coms told them they couldn´t be using blog posts to promote their business and at the same have their blog appear here. As my pal Mike up in Quito of the Middleoftheworld said in a comment, "no shameless self-promotion".

In any case, I think the Frugals got the boot from Expat-blogs and I am chuckling over it considering they have given many of my comments on their blog the boot.

P.S.
The Baby Boomer Reception committee is now accepting new clients. Please p.m. me for an appointment. (Hopefully the moderators are not reading our private messages).