AHHH CUENCA!!

Hi D&L....

Well, that list will be hard to meet in any one given area.

Regarding Salinas, look back in my blog around August/Sept, 2011. I wrote quite a bit about it and the coastal area around it. Might give you some insight. Plenty of photos.

You will find other english-speaking folks in Salinas, Manta, Quito, and Cuenca.

Culturally, Salinas is dead, dead, dead. However, Cuenca has a nice mix of museums, restaurants, symphony and other performances, shopping, etc. But, you find CUE a bit cool for you given the fact you're from Houston. We have Dallas folks here. So, maybe you can get your ocean beach warm sun fix by going to the coast every so often (Salinas is about a 5-6 hour drive from CUE). But, the coast is humid which I can't stand, but you are prolly used to.

The only international airports are Guayaquil and Quito. Cuenca is national only. To fly between Quito and Cuenca is about $70 and takes 45 mins.

Tennis..plenty of it in CUE. Golf..there is one 9-hole course here in CUE. Apparently much more in Quito. But, QUITO is a HUGE city and VERRRRY congested. Hiking...there is in the Cajas mountains just outside CUE, though you're at high altitude. Lots of hiking and adventures and thrill seeking activities in Banos....6 hour drive from CUE.

Cultural activites are next to nil all along the coast. You'll only find those in Quito, Cuenca, Loja, and Guayaquil (but GYE is butt-ugly).

I have to fly all the way from Seattle, so my connections don't get me into EC until late, at which time I can't get a connect flight to CUE, so I have to overnight it. But, depending on the amount of time you have, I suggest flying into Quito and spendig a few days there checking out their sites, then maybe get a rental car and do a big loop trip (which I've done)...Quito to Banos to Cuenca to Guayaquil to Salinas to Montanita, to other places along the coast and back to Quito.

Dano
www.danoinec.blogspot.com

I live in the U.S. in Virginia for the next few months then off to Tampa, Fl (Dec. 2012). I am in the Air Force and I will retire in 2017 and I want to live abroad. My spanish is decent... I will get $2000-1600 net a month forever from retirement and I want to leave this "rat-race" here in the USA. So its only me no wife, no bills, and no kids. I need advise from the experts please! :) terrellmorris1@gmail.com -thx guys :) Happy and safe travels!

I can speak English - Decent Spanish

Hi. Hope you see my reply here. No, I wouldn't change my mind about relocating to Cuenca. The incidents were a few bumps in the overall scale of things. I really do like it here. Quito is far larger, more congested, and has its own crime problems...though there are some very nice things about Quito. There are also other alternatives such as Loja and the beach areas. Like everyone says, the best thing to do is come here and explore and get your own feel first, before making the big leap. Dano

We will be in Salinas for 1 month end of June/July. We've heard Cuenca is really nice, and we may go for a weekend. What would you recommend seeing and doing? We like music, art, local culture, fishing, water, shopping, walking, exploring. How far is it from Salinas by car? bus?
Is getting around easy?
Is property still relatively cheap there?
Thanks. Look forward to your reply.

If I understand right, you started your blog in 2/11, so it's 9 months and not one comment? Are you still there?

Hi, thanks for the great blog and all the very useful info. Hubby coming down 2nd or 3rd week of May. Might come up your way as he is interested in the area. Can you recommend a good place to stay? Also one in Salinas?
Keep the great writing and photos coming! Great fireplace!
All the best,
Tom and Ardyth
Vancouver, WA USA