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Cotacachi is in the northern Andes mountains, just 45 minutes north of the country’s capital, Quito. Visitors enjoy magnificent mountain views while relishing spring-like weather year-round because of its proximity to the equator.
After five years of living in Cuenca, Ecuador, I’m still in-love with this UNESCO heritage site. The town is stunningly beautiful with its 15th-century Spanish colonial and 16th-century French republican architecture. I can easily live off of $1,700 a month, and I don’t have to work...
When I was around 10 years old, I used to walk to a nearby clover-filled field, lay down, look up at the blue sky, and dream about my future as a writer living in some exotic location. It only took me 54 years, but now I am doing just that...
Is Cuenca safe? In a word, sí. I haven’t had problems here in Cuenca. I have four dogs, including a shepherd—and pretty much no one (even gringos) want to come in my house. Not sure if that’s a tip or a warning.
With a pastor father who used music to inspire, an actress mother who was a stand-in for Joanne Woodward and sang in the theater, and a brother who founded folk-punk favorite Violent Femmes, Glenn Gano’s DNA has music running through it...
The McNallys have come a long way from working long hours and risking their health, and have traded a busy, stressful life to take time to lead a healthy lifestyle. They credit their move to giving them a place where they can regain their health, have fun exploring...
If you’re looking for a small town with lots to offer, Cotacachi is the place to be. Just ask any of the several hundred expats in town and they’ll tell you all about the great benefits of life in this little mountain village. The first wave of expats ventured to Cotacachi...
Let's start with the obvious here. Cuenca is awesomely stunning. Known for its 15th- and 16th-century Spanish-colonial architecture it's a historic gem. No wonder it's a UNESCO World Heritage city.
I am literally shivering, wishing I had on gloves and a heavier coat while staring up at the glacier on Chimborazo Mountain, Ecuador, and I’m not even out of the car yet. The temperature is a chilly 26 F at an elevation of 6,268 feet, but once I...
I grew up in St. Petersburg, Florida, where seniors flock to retire because they can lounge in the warm weather, drink pina coladas under the shade of palm trees, and not have to pay state income taxes. So why would I leave my seaside home by one of the best beaches in the U.S.? Well, Florida’s not so cheap anymore…and it’s hot. I have worked hard all of my life and had good jobs,