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2021 Year 8

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YIKES: What to wear in Cotacachi, Ecuador

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Everyday clothes in Cotacachi are comfortable and casual.  It is recommended to dress in layers. Generally, I wear blue jeans, a shirt,  socks, and walking shoes.  Good walking shoes are a must since you will be doing a lot of walking on uneven sidewalks or hiking. I always say there are land mines (potholes) so you have to always watch where you are walking. The grassy area has little black noseeum biting bugs which I referred to as #!&%. The bite is worse than a flea bite and you will scratch and itch all day. The solution is to not have your skin exposed. Some people try to wear shorts and flip-flops but believe me it is not worth the risk if you are going to be around any gardens or lawns. These little bugs are active during daytime hours. If you do receive bites you can try tea tree oil and crazy as it sounds toothpaste always helps me. The itch is so bad you will not be able to sleep. After a few years, you will build up immunity.

The mornings are crisp but by noon it starts to warm up, and you will be taking off your jacket layer. But by 3 pm you will be putting your jacket back on as the weather starts to cool down. By 7 pm it will be time to light the fireplace. In Cotacachi the wet season is overcast, the dry season partly cloudy and it is comfortable all year. The temperatures vary from 53F -72F and it is rare that the temperature drops below 45 F or above 75 F. But the sun can be intense so you should wear a hat! The elevation is just a little over 7959 feet. Whereas Quito’s elevation is 9,350 and cooler compared to Cuenca’s elevation of 8,517 and is still cooler than Cotacachi. The coast is a whole different matter since of course, it is at sea level and very warm and you will want to wear summer shorts and beach attire.

There are times you will want to dress up a bit especially if you are going to the five-star La Mirage bouquet garden restaurant and spa. You can never go wrong with business casual attire but then it is fun to dress up sometimes! During lunch, I have worn blue jeans and a nice shirt.

 
Seasons in Cotacachi
 
The wetter season lasts 6.2 months, from November 17 to May 24, with a greater than 41% chance of a given day being a wet day. The month with the wettest days in Cotacachi is April, with an average of 20.8 days with at least 0.04 inches of precipitation. The drier season lasts 5.8 months, from May 24 to November 17.
 
However, this year is usual with lots of rain ahead of the rainy season.
The drier season lasts 5.8 months, from May 24 to November 17. The month with the fewest wet days in Cotacachi is August, with an average of 3.8 days with at least 0.04 inches of precipitation. … The month with the most days of rain alone in Cotacachi is April, with an average of 20.8 days.
 
Based on the tourism score, the best time of year to visit Cotacachi for warm-weather activities is from early June to late September.
 

I stumbled upon this video blog that provides valuable information concerning Ecuador from an ex-pat perspective. They also have blogs about the cost of living, moving to Ecuador as well as locations on the coast. So you might want to check out their info.

Texas Annie Ecuador

 

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Welcome Change to Ex-Pat Driver’s Licence Requirement in Ecuador

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So I have been wanting and slowly studying to obtain my Ecuadorian driver’s license. Of course, the written exam is in Spanish.   In the middle of August a set of at least 65 changes included in the reforms of the Organic Law on Traffic, Land Transportation, and Road Safety (LOTTSV), came into effect. But the one that is important for many ex-pats including me is that  Ecuadorians residing abroad and foreigners may drive within the national territory using their driver’s licenses or driving permits issued in their country of residence. All I can think to say is whew and yippee!

I do not think Bill is thrilled with the aspect of me driving. But it will be nice to know if I need to drive I can do so legally.  So what if I have trouble parallel parking which is the norm in Cotacachi and most of Ecuador? Our car is a stick shift which the Ecuadorians favor versus an automatic. Well, I drove my little red Volkswagen turbo stick shift for 5 years in Texas!  The Ecuadorians drive either very aggressively or pass other cars without regard to what is in the oncoming lane. Or they drive like “Miss Daisy” all the while other drivers are honking their horns. You actually have to learn how to drive like an Ecuadorian which Billy Boy has mastered.  But for me, it will be nice to just drive in town without always asking Bill to take me places.

Watch for my next blog which will answer the question of travelers about what to bring to wear in Ecuador.

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Yes, Karen! San Miguel Homes & Gardens, Cotacachi: Legit HOA

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Yes, Karen some folks living in San Miguel Homes & Gardens in little Cotacachi, Ecuador might tell prospective property buyers that it is not a legit HOA. However, the city has declared in writing that we are indeed recognized as an HOA and required to follow the Ecuadorian Horizontal Property Law. Makes sense to me if you live inside the walls of a gated community that you are responsible for paying your fair share to keep the community safe and beautiful. When in doubt you should check out the facts with the Cotacachi City Attorney, not just a private local attorney.

I never understood the term Ugly American until my experience in Ecuador. So you might think to live in Ecuador you might worry about the Ecuadorians, Columbians, or Venezuelans. So far the only folks we have had to worry with are the Ugly Americans that are rude and bring their US attitude of entitlement packed in their luggage. We moved to Ecuador primarily because it is a county where we could actually live well on our retirement plus the wonderful weather and Andean’s Mountain beauty. What we did not count on was that other folks did the same but from a different class of people. Now that sounds snobby doesn’t it but I think people have a civic responsibility to treat others with kindness, and respect and pay their bills. I am no longer the President of San Miguel Homes & Gardens  HOA simply because I could not take the abuse from the terrible emails sent to me by my neighbors. Society has lost the art of verbal communication and only can respond to others in a one-sided email devoid of body language and tone.  I worked too many years in healthcare with bosses from “hell” to put up hateful nonsense.  We are simply guests in this beautiful county.  Enough said since I make an effort to keep my blogs upbeat so thank you for indulging me in this simple rant about my fellow Americans.