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Ecuador Is Still On My Wish List

admin — Sun, 30 May 2010 02:01:29 +0000

I decided close to a year ago that Ecuador is where I want to move to. I am not rich, I am handicapped and single so those obstacles have to be carefully maneuvered around. I have all but abandoned my dream of moving to Ecuador and as such I have abandoned this website.

I have been studying my Spanish in the meantime. I have joined many ex-pat forums to continue my learning. I almost procured a very nice apt. that an internet friend of mine offered me. It didn’t pan out after he closely rethought the low interest rate I was offering (it was necessary to make it affordable for me). I offered more for the apt. than it was worth to offset that fact, but in the end he switched gears and offered it to me as a rental. It still is not a bad deal, but I will pass for now.

I have discovered that even on Craigslist you can find rentals. I have re-looked at Costa Rica and Uruguay as well. I really like Ecuador, I actually embrace their President Correa. I find his policies refreshing and innovative. That is not a negative in any way for me, despite my well-meaning relatives telling me it is a “Communist” country. LOL

My granddaughter found her 2nd grade backpack buried way back in my closet this weekend. In it were general words for them to study for spelling, etc. I have snatched them & am going to put the Spanish words on the back for small flashcards. I think that will be a big help for me. My pronunciation of Spanish is getting better.

So Ecuador is still on my wish list, but I am just getting there a little slower than I had wished. Oh well – slow & steady won the race didn’t it?

Ecuador’s Condors – A Dying Species?

admin — Sun, 30 May 2010 01:32:47 +0000

The Condor (Vultur gryphus) is the Ecuador’s national symbol, much like the Eagle in the US. Their numbers are quite small compared to the Eagle’s population. There are only 30 Andean Condors left in Ecuador and one active pair who only lay one egg every 2 years, (Augui & Causay), who reside in Quito’s zoo. Not very good odds for their return.

In Ecuador and Chile Condor means “gold coin”. And the Incas of Peru thought the Condor flew the sun into they sky every morning. They thought it was a messenger to the gods.

These birds are seen as a symbol of power and health. Unfortunately, the native villagers think that their bones and organs have special healing powers or that they give males high virility. Their ground bones are believed to alleviate rheumatism. Many natives eat the stomach of the Andean Condor because they believe it cures breast cancer. The eyes of the Condor are often roasted and eaten to sharpen one’s sight, and their feathers are often placed under sleeping blankets to ward off nightmares.

Reproduction of the Andean Condor

The male begins his courtship display by drawing himself erect, fully extending his wings, and clicking his tongue, while the reddish skin of his neck becomes bright yellow. The birds do not build a nest, but lay their eggs on bare ground on a ledge or in a cave. The female lays a single egg which both parents incubate for about 54 to 58 days. Fledging takes another 180 days, so that a pair breeds onlyevery other year under normal conditions. Parents continue to care for the fledgling for a full year.

Ecuador’s Four Unique Worlds

admin — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 06:00:38 +0000

Amazingly, Ecuador is not a very big area when compared to the entire United States

The entire country of Ecuador is around the size of the State of Nevada or Arizona. It is approximately 285,000 sq. kilometers or 177,091 miles and is home to close to 14 million people. Within these minuscule miles, or should I say kilometers as Ecuador is on the metric scale, there is diversity like nowhere else. Ecuador is home to the world’s longest mountain range and the world’s biggest and most impenetrable jungle, the Amazon.

Ecuador is home to the largest diversity of animals and plants per sq. kilometer in the world. It is proudly 3rd in the world for it’s variety of amphibians, and 5th for it’s butterflies. To give you an idea of how many species this is, it includes more than 25,000 plant species (10% of the world total) and 1,600 types of birds. It also has more varieties of mammals per sq. meter than any other country on Earth!

New species are being found all the time in Ecuador from both the plant and animal kingdoms. I have shown but a few recent additions to Ecuador’s menagerie of species below:

The country is divided into four unique worlds. They are:

The Pacific Coast (La Costa)
The Andes or Sierra (La Sierrra)
The Amazon Rainforest or El Oriente (Amazonia) and
The Galapagos Islands (Galapagos)

The first three areas above divide the mainland into three distinct regions. These regions pretty much divide the country in parallel strips. The westernmost portion of Ecuador is The Pacific Coast where the beaches are for the most part pristine and inviting. The center region, The Sierra, lies within the eastern and western chains of the Andes and adorned by close to 30 volcanoes. To the east lies El Oriente which is sparsely populated and contains only about 3% of the population. For the most part this region is a dense tropical rainforest and home to many indigenous groups.

The last region above is not on the mainland. It is the famous Galapagos Islands which of course is famous for it’s humongous ancient tortoises which live approximately 150 years, among many other species of colorful wildlife. These islands are located almost 620 miles from the Ecuadorian coast and are visited regularly by millions. It has 13 main islands and dozens of islets and minor volcanic islands. The Galapagos Islands are the only place on earth where animals, like birds and reptiles, show total lack of fear to humans.

These four divisions are quite different from one another in many ways. Some have regarded Ecuador to be a microcosm of South America itself. The fact that Ecuador is not very big but so diverse is quite a blessing. You don’t have to travel far to experience something totally different. Yet another huge advantage is Ecuador’s weather, meaning that due to the lack of extremes (either hot or cold) you can pretty much travel all year round.

I will attempt to outline each of these diverse contrasting areas giving each at least one page apiece. From time to time, as my knowledge of Ecuador progresses, I will write posts about the new things I have learned, and eventually, have seen firsthand.

Car rentals available in Ecuador (I checked each one)
or anywhere else for that matter.

Llapingachos – Ecuadorian Potato Patties

admin — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 02:25:45 +0000

Llapingachos (yah-peen-GAH-chos) or Ecuadorian Potato Patties

These potato patties or stuffed potato pancakes are a popular side dish in Ecuador. They are often served with fried eggs and a simple lettuce, tomato and avocado salad and pickled onion. Sausages and a side of rice are often added to make a full meal. Don’t forget the ever tasty peanut sauce and the hot sauce.

I personally adore potato patties/pancakes. Add the cheese and the chives/scallions and they are heaven.

Ingredients (patties):

5-6 Russet potatoes (or a potato that is very starchy)
2 Tbsp. Achiote molido (ground annatto seed) or paprika to color
2 Tbsp. sunflower oil (or your favorite cooking oil for browning)
2½ cup white onion or 6 Scallions (finely chopped) – I love both
1 cup queso blanco, Mozzarella, Monterey Jack or Fontina cheese (white cheese of your choice, shredded or grated)
pinch of salt — to taste

Ingredients (salsa de maní or peanut sauce):

Traditionally, the sauce is made with fresh roasted peanuts and not jar peanut butter, but this is the quick way.

1/3 cup peanut butter (unsweetened or natural)
1/4 cup white onion (thinly sliced)
1 1/2 cups milk
Salt and pepper — to taste

Directions:

1. Place the potatoes in a lg. saucepan, cover with water and bring to a boil, add salt as desired. Cook uncovered on med-hi heat until they are soft. Drain the potatoes and set them aside to cool off for a few minutes.

2. Mash the potatoes until smooth adding salt to season. When it is cool enough to work with form 1/3 cup portions of the mashed potatoes into balls and set on a cookie sheet. Chill for at least 30 minutes in the fridge. This step will save you some time and they won’t fall apart.

3. While the potatoes are chilling, start your maní sauce (go to step 4 if you are not using sauce). Simmer the milk (not to a boil) and onion slices in a sm. saucepan for about 10 minutes. Remove the onions from the sauce and toss out. Whisk the peanut butter into the milk and add salt to season. Now bring the sauce to a boil and reduce to simmer until sauce is thick (like heavy cream), approx. 4-5 minutes. If not thick enough add more peanut butter, if too thick add more milk. Set sauce aside until the patties are done.

4. Turn oven on warm to keep patties until you are done. Remove your potato balls from the fridge. Mix the cheese and onions or scallions together and stuff each ball with about 1 tablespoon of the mixture. Flatten the balls with your palms to form individual patties.

5. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté the patties, a few at a time, until browned on each side. Remove to a warm oven until all patties have been sautéed. Serve topped with the salsa de maní (peanut sauce).

Ecuador is Rationing Electricity

admin — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:34:57 +0000

The rationing of electricity in Ecuador is only temporary until next Saturday.

According to The Wall Street Journal: “Ecuador on Thursday started rationing electricity for between two and six hours a day until Saturday…”

After Saturday, the Ecuadorian government will decide whether to continue with the rationing mandate, depending on the gravity of the situation.

The use of rationing electricity started yesterday by the people of Ecuador. A drought in the southern Andes of Ecuador has led, in recent weeks, to a “drastic reduction” in the flow volume of water entering the reservoir of the hydroelectric plant of Paute.

These measures are seemingly only for a limited time, however, as they are scheduled only to be undergone up until next Saturday. The lack of water that is used to fuel the hydro electric plant is what is causing this major issue to take effect.

This is just another example of our depleting resources across the globe and ways we can counteract with some sort of solution. In Venezuela they had had a lower amount of water in their reservoirs also, and I had read that they were requested to take “3 minute” showers to help this situation out. The capital city of Caracas began rationing electricity and water in recent weeks. In Florida, where my mother lives, she can only water her grass on certain days of the week and at certain times of the day.

I have enacted a rule in my house for the use/abuse of water in the toilet to: “If it is yellow — let it mellow & if it is brown — flush it down.” Now, I know that may be a familiar term to some of you, I stole it from a movie, I think it was “Meet the Fockers.” I also watch myself washing the dishes, I turn the volume of water down. I also do my part with the washing machine & only do full loads and wash in cold when I can. When brushing my teeth I try to remember to turn the water off in-between my toothbrush rinsing.

If you have some other good ideas on how we can save water place a comment below for others to see.

Months in Spanish

admin — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:52:21 +0000

Most of the months in Spanish are similar in spelling to their English counterparts, therefore it makes it easier to learn. The main exception is January, enero. If you use a memory trigger it will make it easier to remember.

I saw one example of using Emperor Nero — hence e nero. So when you are trying to remember the first month remember that image of the Emperor & then carry on from there.

Here are the months in Spanish:

Months in English	Months in Spanish
January	enero
February	febrero
March	marzo
April	abril
May	mayo
June	junio
July	julio
August	agosto
September	septiembre
October	octubre
November	noviembre
December	diciembre

As with the days of the week in the previous post, these are also NOT capitalized and they are all masculine as well.

Visit Spanish Widgets and Learn Basic Spanish for more helpful tips.

Spanish Days of the Week

admin — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:33:50 +0000

Here are the days of the week in Spanish for the others learning Spanish like me. Note that the week starts on Monday and not Sunday. Also note that the days are NOT capitalized, only lowercase. Those are the two main differences.

Spanish Days of the Week	English Days of the Week
lunes	Monday
martes	Tuesday
miércoles	Wednesday
jueves	Thursday
viernes	Friday
sábado	Saturday
domingo	Sunday

Visit Spanish Widgets and Learn Basic Spanish for more helpful tips.

Learn to Count in Spanish

admin — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:49:12 +0000

Previously I worked on the Spanish alphabet, today I am working on Spanish numbers.

I am still brand new at learning Spanish, so again, please bear with me. I may, or may not, make a few mistakes. Please if you see one, let me know

Here is the run down on the basics of learning the Spanish numbering system.

Learn the basic 1-10
Then learn 11-15 as they don’t follow the rules
It gets a little easier from here as 16-19 are easy to follow – see below
Now learn 20 and the rest of the 20′s (this pattern continues through the 20′s)- see below
In the 30′s there is a new pattern and it continues throughout the number system untill 99
Now learn the 10′s and the 100′s and will be a snap
Lastly, learn the big guys – they also follow the rules

That is how I see learning the system. It actually is quite easy once you figure out who abides by the rules and who doesn’t. I hope this helps you out some, it helps me.

Learn Spanish Numbers Here:

Numbers 0 – 10	Spanish Translation
0	cero
1	uno
2	dos
3	tres
4	quatro
5	cinco
6	sies
7	siete
8	ocho
9	nueve
10	diez

Numbers 11-19	Spanish Translation
11	once
12	doce
13	trece
14	catorce
15	quince
16	dieciséis
17	diecisiete
18	dieciocho
19	diecinueve

The 20′s	Spanish Translation
20	veinte
21	veintiuno
22	veintidós
23	veintitrés
24	veinticuatro
25	veinticinco
26	veintiséis
27	veintisiete
28	veintiocho
29	veintinueve

The 30′s	Spanish Translation
30	treinta
31	treinta y uno
32	treinta y dos
33	treinta y tres

Count by 10′s	Spanish Translation
10	diez
20	veinte
30	treinta
40	cuarenta
50	cincuenta
60	sesenta
70	setenta
80	ochenta
90	noventa

Count by 100′s	Spanish Translation
100	cien
200	doscientos
300	trescientos
400	cuatrocientos
500	quinientos
600	seiscientos
700	setecientos
800	ochocientos
900	novecientos

1,000 and Larger	Spanish Translation
1,000	mil
10,000	diez mil
100,000	cien mil
1,000,000	un millón

Next project I will undertake on my quest for mastering the Spanish language is working on flash cards. I downloaded a huge batch of templates for making my own, but it is going to take some time to do. Once I have finished, just by compiling the words to put on each card, I should be half way there. Wishful thinking perhaps!

Be sure to check out the other pages on Spanish like the Spanish Widget page I just finished putting up. I love this new widget that speaks to me.

Aguacates Rellenos – Stuffed Avocados

admin — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:07:23 +0000

Avacado Halves

Stuffed Avocados or Aguacates Rellenos is a simple recipe using that healthy green vegetable. Ecuador grows wonderful avocados year round.

Ingredients:

3 large avocados
1 cup chopped, cooked ham (or chopped cold roast pork or chicken)
3 hard boiled eggs, chopped (or 1 cup cooked mixed vegetables)
salt & pepper to taste
1 cup mayonnaise, fat free if you prefer (tomato sauce or Béchamel sauce is often substituted in Ecuador)
romaine or iceberg lettuce, shredded

Directions:

Carefully peel the avocados, cut into half lengthwise making sure to remove the pits. In a bowl combine the ham and hard boiled eggs, season to taste with salt and pepper, and fold in the mayonnaise. Fill the hollows of the avocados with the mixture.

Make a bed of lettuce on six salad plates and put half an avocado on each. Serve as a first course or light luncheon dish. A vinaigrette sauce may be used instead of mayonnaise.

NOTE: Avocados discolor quickly, so if it is necessary to prepare this ahead of time, dip the avocados in lemon juice, or leave them unpeeled, though they will look less appetizing.

10 Health Benefits of Avocados states that avocados are good for:

Prostate Cancer Prevention

Oral Cancer Defense

Breast Cancer Protection

Eye Health

Lower Cholesterol

Heart Health

Stroke Prevention

Better Nutrient Absorption

Glutathione Source

Vitamin E Powerhouse

Albondigas en Cazuela or Meatball Soup

admin — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:54:01 +0000

Ecuador is home to many tantalizing dishes. Even though they have vast resources of organic and fresh vegetables, they still serve meat with most dishes. This is a recipe for a beef soup that is quite hardy and easy to make.

Albondigas en Cazuela – Meatball Soup

Ingredients:

1 pound of hamburger
2 Tsp. of breadcrumbs
salt & pepper (to taste)
1 egg
2 Tsp. of milk
2 Tsp. of flour
4 Tsp. of oil
1 ground garlic
1 slivered onion
3 carrots, cut in slivers
1 pound of chopped potatoes
1 pound of tomatoes
½ litre beef broth
parsley for garnish

DIRECTIONS:

Mix the meat, breadcrumbs, milk, salt, pepper and egg together in large bowl. Roll out 15 or so meatballs.

In a frying pan heat half the oil and brown the onion and garlic. Drain the oil off and put the vegetables and juice into a medium sized saucepan.

Coat the meatballs in the flour and fry them in the remaining oil for 10 minutes, until brown but not overcooked, as they will continue to cook in the soup.

Next add the carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, and the beef broth to the saucepan. Salt and pepper to taste. Add water to broth for consistency you wish.

Cook for an 1 1/2 hours on medium-low heat. Serve soup with sprinkle of parsley on top.