I began to document my life soon after my move to Ecuador. I had not begun to discover making videos at that time. As I got more into the videos, my writing became more rare. I think many will find it interesting as I wrote these posts as things happened. it is a documented journey of my move, and the many discoveries I made. I have set it up to Start when I began writing, and end more recently. It is my hope you will find some good information to help you in your journey.
- A Big Decision! (first blog entry)
A Big Decision! (first blog entry) I had a big decision to make, and I didn’t know it. I had a series of odd and largely not understood health issues as age 60 grew closer. In my last job, it had an effect. I found myself short-tempered and a general feeling of overtired. I’ve never… Read more: A Big Decision! (first blog entry) - Paperwork!
Paperwork! As I began to realize that my choice was looking more and more like I would be going out of the country, I decided it was time to get my lost passport replaced. Now it had expired 4 years prior, and I had no idea how hard it was going to be! I filled… Read more: Paperwork! - Have we decided yet?Have we decided yet? It seemed like an endless battle just to get through all the medical stuff and the paperwork to leave. Not to mention what to keep, what to see and what to give away! All the while I was supposed to be in bed rest. But eventually, I got most of what… Read more: Have we decided yet?
- Decision MadeDecision Made I continued to deal with my day to day issues, as well as sell my possessions, move money around, and started to gather some cash to carry. I eventually got my passport. Looking at alternative locations pretty much stopped as I poured over youtube videos, watched documentaries, bought a book off Amazon… Read more: Decision Made
- Time for a Plane RideTime for a Plane Ride I planned for months. I have my special Samsonite bags. I have packed and repacked to try to bring what I can. I am allowed two large bags to check, no more than 50 lbs each. I can also carry on a bag as well as a personal bag such… Read more: Time for a Plane Ride
- Cuenca at Last!Cuenca at Last! The flight was less than an hour. The seats were intended for someone maybe 5 feet tall and 90 pounds. The isle was not intended to walk down. Tiny is the word for that flight. But it was the last hurdle after a year of preparation and anticipation. I couldn’t see out… Read more: Cuenca at Last!
- Apartment Hunting!Apartment Hunting! I had emailed a few people before I left the USA to ask about various properties I would see on the internet. You need to realize there are a couple of pricing tiers. There is the “live like a local” pricing that will get you a tiny (yes, tiny) apartment with an outdoor… Read more: Apartment Hunting!
- It has been a while!It has been a while! I have been so busy and lost my internet a while, I haven’t made any entries for a while. No possible way can I catch up at once so I’ll just start with what is top of mind! This will likely be more of a stream of consciousness thing. I… Read more: It has been a while!
- Sorting out the shopping!Sorting out the shopping! When I got here, got my place and was ready to start my new life, I needed a ton of stuff. All those things that accumulate in your life, I had left behind. I needed cleaning supplies. I needed soap. I needed toilet paper! And choosing those things on brands you… Read more: Sorting out the shopping!
- The SearchThe Search To my dismay, I discover that I now need an FBI crime report. Understand that before I came I checked several times with the attorney as to what I needed and the specific report needed. I was informed that the county I lived in the past 6 years or more was where to… Read more: The Search
- New Year’s In Cuenca 2016New Year’s In Cuenca 2016 This was the view from my balcony, facing away from the city. The area you see is a minor suburb. This to notice? Watch the bottom right corner. Observe those people. Around 25-sec mark they light a fire. It is custom here to have bodies in effigy. It could… Read more: New Year’s In Cuenca 2016
- Inca!Inca! One of the places I have really wanted to go see is the Pumapungo Museum. I finally got to that yesterday! The building is 4 stories, but it felt a bit sparse. I found the pottery quite interesting as it went way back in time, but most of it was in the 1400-1700 year… Read more: Inca!
- Where have I been??Where have I been?? There is too much to say about that in one sitting. Dead laptop for a few months, busy with traveling, finding a new place to live…. it has been crazy! In the next few posts, I will try to put up as many pictures as possible to give you a sense… Read more: Where have I been??
- Rapid Fire FebruaryRapid Fire February Downtown Valentine’s day, Shot from Turi, a town overlooking Cuenca, a few shots of Azogues (one of the very many trips to get my residency). Then dessert at Tutto Fredo, a few dinners, and a picture from Banos town looking down on my Apartment building. July 20, 2016 by lorendlowe Few more items… Read more: Rapid Fire February
- El Chorro and Giron! My new home! and FOOTBALL!!El Chorro and Giron! My new home! and FOOTBALL!! Giron is a little town just south of Cuenca. I felt really at home and when it came time to move, that is where I chose. More on that later. Stayed in a nice place, and enjoyed coffee in the morning as I watched dozens of… Read more: El Chorro and Giron! My new home! and FOOTBALL!!
- Finally movedFinally moved I have so much backlog! Maybe I can catch up in the next week. IN the meantime I have a few pictures and videos I can try to get up. The theme is my new house in Giron, just south of Cuenca.
- Settling InSettling In Making some runs back to Cuenca for some household items I need…
- Settling into GironSettling into Giron
- A Day in the LifeA Day in the Life I woke up to a beautiful day. Took the bus into Cuenca for lunch at a new place, called Simon, on the corner of Parque Calderon. Then I went back to Giron to wander around a bit. Simon Restaurant, corner of Parque Calderone
- Party TownParty Town PARTY PARTY PARTY!! Giron, the town I live in has been non-stop parties. This week is the last week for a few weeks before they start in on the holidays. This week makes week #6! Every night, no exception, for 6 weeks. Fireworks nightly. Dancing. Parades, drinking, food stands. Horses and traditional costumes.… Read more: Party Town
- What are Living Expenses?What are Living Expenses?
- Questions?Questions?
- Headed to Jail and Sunday Stroll!Headed to Jail and Sunday Stroll!
- 3 Part Video on Why/How I chose Cuenca Ecuador3 Part Video on Why/How I chose Cuenca Ecuador
- Follow up: local market video… Supermarket shoppingFollow up to local market video… Supermarket shopping Video of my last shopping trip to Supermaxi. Prices of some common items are shown. You may note a few differences from the video vs the prices on the shelf… This is sometimes due to a sale price, but also the check out price with Supermaxi card… Read more: Follow up: local market video… Supermarket shopping
- Travel Info Videos for Dec 10Travel Info Videos for Dec 10
- A Nice Afternoon Wandering in Giron with a Friend (3 Parts)A Nice Afternoon Wandering in Giron with a Friend (3 Parts)
- Socialism in Ecuador?Socialism in Ecuador?
- Christmas Parade 2016Christmas Parade 2016 The “Parade of the Child” goes on for 6 hours. There were perhaps 250,000 people involved. Not to be missed.
- Observations and Day to Day Life.Observations and Day to Day Life.
- Where have I been?Where have I been? RIP Beta It has been quite some time since I wrote anything here. I have been concentrating on the videos. As of today, I am up to 102 of them. Life here in Cuenca has settled down to a routine. I wake up around 7 AM each day. I putter around… Read more: Where have I been?
- Tues April 4Tues April 4 I just had my cup of coffee. Its a blend of beans from Loja that I grind fresh, use mostly skim milk, a spoonful of Nestles Quick ad 2 espresso shots. Delicious. A local friend’s mother lost her job a few months ago. She is deaf, and there are not many jobs… Read more: Tues April 4
- Off to CuencaOff to Cuenca I have an appointment today. Around noon I will be in Cuenca meeting with Maria. I have had quite a few requests to explain what a “Facilitator” is, and why anyone would want or need one. It has taken 2 weeks for our schedules to work out, but today is the day.… Read more: Off to Cuenca
- Another Appointment in CuencaAnother Appointment in Cuenca I have received some interesting emails as a result of the videos. Today I am going to meet at noon a Colombiana at the Cathedral by the candle seller. She messaged me she has been in Cuenca 20 days and would like to meet, as she is basically in a strange… Read more: Another Appointment in Cuenca
- Trapped!Trapped! I never made my meeting on Friday at the Cathedral where they sell the candles. I sure wish I had. I woke up early, looking forward to the day as I always do now. In the past, with all the stress and responsibility life brought, I would wake up sometimes looking forward to the… Read more: Trapped!
- Rain, Hail, and Fog, Oh My!Rain, Hail, and Fog, Oh My! For someone that is supposedly “retired” I sure seem to run out of time daily. It has been a hectic last few days. I will just hit some highlights. I was to meet someone from Colombia. Her name is Erika, and she contacted me because she has been in… Read more: Rain, Hail, and Fog, Oh My!
- Health and Well Being in EcuadorHealth and Well Being in Ecuador For about ten years in the USA, I had some issues. It seemed that every few weeks I would get sick. It was like the flu. It came with a fever. I hate fevers. I would rather have physical pain than a fever. I returned to the doctor many… Read more: Health and Well Being in Ecuador
- Happy EasterHappy Easter I hope everyone had a pleasant Easter Sunday. It was a nice day. I stayed home and edited some videos, made a big Thank You video, and lounged around. I was feeling a bit out of it. No chocolate bunny. No jelly beans, and no peeps to make fun of. Peeps. I kept… Read more: Happy Easter
- DrivingDriving I am asked over and over, “do I drive”, “why don’t I drive”, “will I drive”. No, No and No. Yes, I live outside Cuenca. But I’m not living on a farm or an isolated place. I have a short 5-minute walk down to the bus stops. I am a phone call away for… Read more: Driving
- ContemplationContemplation Yesterday I spent time with the people that came to Giron to do the “spay and neuter clinic”. I noticed I felt a bit antsy as I have around crowds for a few years. I went to lunch with a newly arrived in Ecuador person, Marilyn, and had a yummy Trucha Frita. We had… Read more: Contemplation
- May Day and My LifeMay Day and My Life Should I say Happy May Day? Isn’t that a communist holiday? I wonder if they celebrate that in Venezuela? Yes, I am well aware I have bad jokes. Dry as the desert. Corny as Choclo. I did a fast run to Cuenca today. My day started off a bit slow,… Read more: May Day and My Life
- Another Mundane Day!Another Mundane Day! I am really getting bored and restless. It has been months of record-breaking rainy weather. That equates to months of time spent home. While I enjoy that, I certainly don’t enjoy it all the time. A day or two a week in Cuenca isn’t enough. I am starting to see nicer… Read more: Another Mundane Day!
- Another Day in the CloudsAnother Day in the Clouds Another cool, drizzly day. It was suggested that I get out and go see some places. While I appreciate that, my recent posts are simply to demonstrate that no matter where you live, you have days that are mundane, that require chores like laundry, dishes, etc. Also, while… Read more: Another Day in the Clouds
- I Got in a FightI Got in a Fight I woke this morning and it was still dark out. Having gone to bed at 2 AM(the usual), I knew I would need more sleep so I put a pillow over my head and rolled to the other side (to this day I am still not sure if I sleep… Read more: I Got in a Fight
- To Trolls- With LoveTo Trolls- With Love How hard is it to remain positive in a negative world? At what point did people lose their minds? I sat down with a cup of coffee and looked for something on you-tube to watch. I saw the White House channel was just starting the commencement speech with Trump speaking at… Read more: To Trolls- With Love
- Will I Move?Will I Move? I am considering a move from Ecuador. I really like it here. The foremost word I can think of to describe my life here is “content”. So why would I consider a move? The government! You can’t escape an over intrusive government it seems. They passed a law that goes into effect… Read more: Will I Move?
- What is Giron Like?What is Giron Like? I was asked to tell about the town I live in. I hesitate to let the info out, as I don’t desire (for selfish reasons) to have newcomers flood the area. But after thinking about it overnight, I decided to open up. It’s about 20 miles south of Cuenca, and 1000… Read more: What is Giron Like?
- Trip to ColombiaTrip to Colombia I would like to clear up a few things. I am not moving to Colombia. At least at this time. I have been planning to visit Colombia for several years. When I was making my decision as a place to live, Colombia was a hair breath from being the first choice. It… Read more: Trip to Colombia
- Personal Safety (if you are alone)
Personal Safety (if you are alone) In the USA (or Canada/UK) we take certain things for granted, and as a result, we might get a bit careless. If anything bad happens, we can just call 911 (or 999, etc). Within minutes, help arrives. They pull up in a decked out ambulance with all you need… Read more: Personal Safety (if you are alone) - First report of my Colombia Trip (Part One)First report of my Colombia Trip (Part One) I will begin by explaining the state of the situation now. First, I have an unfortunate situation. Just as in my multi-town trip I made around Cuenca, I now have 100’s of interesting clips. I don’t have the skill or experience to quickly go through those to be… Read more: First report of my Colombia Trip (Part One)
- Second Installment of Colombia Trip (Part Two)Second Installment of Colombia Trip (Part Two) As I left the Immigration office and was welcomed by a number of people to Colombia, I looked for the promised buses. Perhaps due to the protest, or perhaps because they never were, the buses didn’t exist there. Ahead lay a fairly steep hill with a steady stream… Read more: Second Installment of Colombia Trip (Part Two)
- Third Installment of Colombia Trip (Part Three)Third Installment of Colombia Trip (Part Three) We drive away, saying good-bye to the family running alongside, and I settle in again. I was told the bus takes me to Cali, and from there I then find another bus to take me my destination of Armenia. I have lots of time to play out in… Read more: Third Installment of Colombia Trip (Part Three)
- Part Four- Colombian TripPart Four- Colombian Trip There I am standing outside a pitch black building after 3 AM. Will this trip just keep going downhill? I am a very optimistic person, but at this point, it sure crossed my mind that sitting on the steps for another 4 hours isn’t my idea of fun. I’m tired, frustrated… Read more: Part Four- Colombian Trip
- Part Five Colombian TripPart Five Colombian Trip One matter to clear up for those that emailed to ask. I am being asked, where are the details? Pictures? Rent cost, taxi fare food, etc etc. Patience Grasshopper! I have a number of videos coming with much of the detail and the neighborhoods as well as downtown. I have at… Read more: Part Five Colombian Trip
- Part Six-A Colombia- Armenia Info PostPart Six-A Colombia- Armenia Info Post I am getting a LOT of request for some specific info. I am doing this post as a sort of add-on to the series. The info I post below is based on what I am observing and questions I am asking of people here. Please VERIFY everything before you… Read more: Part Six-A Colombia- Armenia Info Post
- Wow…. it’s been a YEAR!Wow…. it’s been a YEAR! I get busy. Life happens. In a perfect world, I would do a blog entry every day. But I don’t live in that world. My life is very busy, and sometimes things must be set aside. However… there was a larger reason there have been no entries. I was hacked.… Read more: Wow…. it’s been a YEAR!
- Where have I been? Where am I now?Where have I been? Where am I now? I really suck at keeping up with writing. That’s sad because I actually enjoy it. I used to write constantly for a piece of mind. Songs, poetry or just stories. They never saw the light of day, however. That changed when I was asked to write an… Read more: Where have I been? Where am I now?
- IsolationIsolation You may recall if you follow this blog, that I had decided after living in Cuenca for one year, to isolate myself in a very tiny town for a time. I enjoyed my time in Giron, and made trips into Cuenca every few days for shopping. However, I really lived like a hermit for… Read more: Isolation
- I did it! Any Regrets?I have moved all my past blogs (except for a few I deleted). I canceled the old WordPress account. it was a pain to use and keep up with. This Google blog is not only free but is much easier to use. So possibly that will translate into more frequent postings. What is the point… Read more: I did it! Any Regrets?
- What do you do all day?
While they rarely know what a T-Shirt says, you can believe they understand this one! I am asked this quite a bit. It is tough to answer because my days vary so much. Much of my day revolves around doing the videos, so we will just assume that and talk about the other things. I… Read more: What do you do all day? - Is the Search coming to an end?
If you follow my blog and videos, you will know I have been searching for a partner… a girlfriend. I will share a bit of private info. During my illness of nearly 3 years, and bed-ridden for 2 1/2 of those years. During that time, I was alone. That was my choice. Up until then,… Read more: Is the Search coming to an end? - 1: A BIG Decision
This was the beginning of my new story, of the new life and adventure in Gran Colombia. First, In Ecuador, then in Colombia. This is a reading from my first written blog before I started making the video series. Find out more at grancolombia.live — Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cuenca-ecuador/support - 2: Paperwork, and Have We Decided Yet?
Today’s podcast covers efforts leading up to the decision of where to move in South America. Combined are two blog entries. You can find them all at grancolombia.live. Feel free to leave me a message on this podcast, and I may play it in a future recording. — Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cuenca-ecuador/support - 3: Decision Made/Time for a Plane Ride Season One Episode ThreeAfter all the effort leading up to the big event… after a year of planning, I take the plunge and the journey begins. I am off to Ecuador. — Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cuenca-ecuador/support
- Living in LimboAs is typical of me, it has been a very long time since I posted my last blog. Either I am too busy to take the time, or I am stuck doing nothing and have little to say. That has been the case these past three months. I have been stuck in a modern jail… Read more: Living in Limbo
- 1: Living in Limbo
I wrote this blog entry today, May 29, 2020. It is my perspective on the quarantine and the effects here in Armenia Colombia. You can read it at https://grancolombia.live/living-in-limbo/ . Your feedback is valuable. I sincerely hope you are having a good experience in 2020. — Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cuenca-ecuador/support - My Heartless Meme
I posted a Meme on Facebook. I was told how arrogant, privileged and heartless I was and that I should be ashamed. This is a story to show what will often lay behind the surface of people you may want to criticize. — Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cuenca-ecuador/support - Bio-diversity in Colombia
Taken from YouTube Video. This was the narration while slides were shown — This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cuenca-ecuador/support - This is leadership??What is this nonsense? I am very sorry about the sound. Ill fix it for next time. — This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cuenca-ecuador/support
- 1: 1999 Earthquake in Armenia, ColombiaThere is a lot of fear and misinformation about the “big” earthquake in Colombia. In this episode, I will explain why the earthquake was not what people think it was. — This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cuenca-ecuador/support
- 1: Growing Old in Another Land
In response to a question from a viewer on the Gran Colombia video channel, I decided to make this video and podcast. I think it is a topic many wonder about, and often dread. I address my feelings of age, but primarily of loss. — This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way… Read more: 1: Growing Old in Another Land - Coffee Time LIVE 1 August 2021Coffee Time LIVE 1 August 2021 with live interaction with viewers and Q&A — This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app — Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/cuenca-ecuador/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cuenca-ecuador/support
- Coffee Time LIVE with Alejandra 8 Aug 2021 8 Aug 2021Coffee Time LIVE from Armenia Colombia with Alejandra 8 Aug 2021 — This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app — Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/cuenca-ecuador/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cuenca-ecuador/support
- Opinion Time: Vaccine and MaskOpinion Time: Vaccine and Mask recorded live on 11 Aug 2021 — This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app — Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/cuenca-ecuador/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cuenca-ecuador/support
