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Falling In Love In Ecuador

On my first trip to Ecuador I discovered that the official currency of is the U.S. Dollar. A nice surprize, since I thought I’d have to find a place to exchange money at midnight in Quito. Not only could I use the dollar bills in my pocket, but just one of them would buy a three-course lunch at a clean restaurant. I fell in love with Ecuador immediately. I fell in love with my wife Ana a few days later.

Quito, Ecuador

I loved Quito, the capital of Ecuador. Centro Del Mundo, the hostel where I stayed the first few days, cost $4 per night, including breakfast. The walls had maps and all the information I needed on them. There were travelers from fourteen countries there during my stay.

I took a tour to the volcano Cotapaxi, and hiked up to the glaciers with three others, from Israel, France and England. I danced (Free Rum in the hostel on Friday nights), wandered the city streets, and took spanish lessons from a beautiful tutor. Ana was not only a great teacher, but soon became my tour guide and, eventually, my wife.

Riobamba, Ecuador

Riobamba is another beautiful mountain city. My hotel was $3 per night, this time in a private room with a TV. The manager had connections, and information on anything I wanted. He arranged for a guide to take me up Mount Chimborazo, which at 20,600 feet is the furthest point from the center of the Earth (due to the bulge at the equator). After climbing 4,000 feet of glaciers, I made it to the summit.

Banos, Ecuador

Back in Quito, I called Ana, and we made plans to go to Banos De Santa Agua, a town in central Ecuador, famous for its hotsprings. The bus was $3, a nice motel with cable T.V. cost $7 per night. The second day there, we ate out for breakfast, lunch and dinner, went to the hotsprings, bought souvenirs, went to a movie, went out drinking and dancing – and the entire day, including motel, cost $34!

In fact, the entire trip, including airfare, the fee for the guide on Chimborazo, and everything else, cost $1040. That was for four weeks. How I kept it so cheap is a subject for another article.

More Information on Ecuador

The mountain towns (Quito, Riobamba, Loja, Cuenca, Otavalo, Ibarra, Ambato, Latacunga) have wonderful climates. Highs are in the 60s to 70s fahrenheit year-round. Guayaquil and the coastal cities can be hot, but the temperature is moderated by the Humboldt Current, which brings cool water along the coast of South America.

If you like beaches, you have many options. In Salinas, for example, you can sit on a beautiful Pacific Ocean beach, while vendors bring you everything from beer to ice cream to chair rentals an music. For $20 you can rent a jet ski and have some fun in the waves.

The Galapagos Islands are part of Ecuador, and tour information is available in all major cities (It’s cheaper to wait until you’re in Ecuador to book a tour).

Good meals can still be had for under two dollars in most cities, if you eat where the locals do. Hotels in most cities start at around $12 (less for a bed in a hostel). Cross-country travel by bus is cheaper and more comfortable than bus travel in the U.S.

The people of Ecuador are almost universally friendly, and speak one of the clearest, easiest to understand dialects of Spanish (A great place to learn). Ecuador is a safe, democratic republic, with a legal system similar to that of the U.S.

About the Author

Steve Gillman hit the road at sixteen, and traveled the United States and Mexico alone at 17. Now 40, he travels with his wife Ana, whom he met in Ecuador. Read their stories, tips and travel information at: http://www.EverythingAboutTravel.com

Falling In Love In Ecuador by Steve Gillman

The Wonderful Wildlife of Southern Spain

 69, 70,71, 72. I am trying to count the Griffon Vulture’s as they glide effortlessly on their 2m. wingspan over the top of the mountains opposite my home.

Earlier I was checking the damage to our vegetable patch as the wild boar were here again last night and they seem to have taken a shine to my husband’s carrots!

I glance up as I hear the screech of a Booted Eagle letting his mate know she has nothing to fear from the carrion eating vultures as their constant circling takes them further and further down the valley searching no doubt for some unfortunate Ibex or goat who tried one leap too many.

The wildlife here is phenomenal nd the variety of birds seems never ending. Last night we could hear the hooting of the European Eagle owl at the valley bottom and at the sametime were lulled back to sleep by the beautiful singing of a nightingale perched somewhere outside our bedroom window.

After living here for over 14 years I am still amazed by the diversity of wildlife. I am still in awe at the glimpse of a yellow flash through the undergrowth as a Golden Oriele goes about it’s business love to watch the comic Hoopoe hopping frantically about chasing insects and the sound that I can only describe as gunfire as the many varieties of woodpeckers seek out grubs. I am especially intrigued by the vast array of birds of prey soaring effortlessly over our home, many of which I still can’t identify.

The setting is one of wooded valleys and majestic mountains with large swathes of wild flowers in the spring and many varieties of fruits and nuts in the summer, autumn and winter.

I find a net and remove an unwanted guest, ( a salamander) from the pool and then put on my bathers and have a dip.

Where is this paradise I hear you ask? Well it might surprise you to know that at the weekends I travel 20 minutes with my husband and all his Karaoke equipment to the bustling bars of the Costa del Sol where he works.

Yes, we live in Andalucia. the Real Spain. Less people, less traffic and over 70% of all European wildlife- a veritable paradise indeed.

About the Author

Article submitted by Ruth Polak the owner of www.costadelsol-vacationrentals.com A web site specializing in holiday villas and apartments on the Costa del Sol and in Rural Andalucia. You will also find lots of information about Spain and Andalucia, in particular.

The Wonderful Wildlife of Southern Spain by Ruth Polak

Securing the Best International Mortgage for Your Home in Spain

Are you one of a growing number of people planning on buying a holiday home in Spain?

Or have you decided to expatriate, buy a Spanish home and live in it permanently?

If so, you may be about to begin your hunt for an international mortgage to purchase real estate abroad…

The task of finding the best international mortgage can seem like quite a daunting one at first glance with many domestic, overseas and international providers vying for your business. But don’t panic! Tackle the task head on, ensure you secure yourself the best possible international mortgage or property finance deal today and you will save yourself tens of thousands in interest payments over the lifetime of your mortgage. You can begin your search for the best loans and repayment vehicles online which should help to make the whole process more convenient and time efficient for you, and this article will also help make the search for the most ideal and personally suitable finance method that much simpler.

There are five basic types of finance arrangement available internationally; to enable you to determine which one suits you and your circumstances best there follows a brief description of each: -

1) International Mortgages

Depending on the country you’re resident in and the country you’re considering buying property in some domestic lenders offer international mortgages for overseas real estate purchase.

An example is Lloyds TSB in the UK which offers resident Britons who already own a home in the UK an international mortgage scheme specifically for the purchase of real estate in Spain.

The types of mortgage and repayment vehicles are standard to the domestic country (e.g., UK or US) though there is often the added criterion that the purchaser is already a home owner in the local country and any mortgages available are only for up to 70% of the purchase price.

2) Local Spanish Mortgages

As Spain is largely geared to the foreign property buyer it’s often possible to raise a mortgage locally in Spain especially when you approach one of the larger international bank’s subsidiaries. It’s still important to make sure you understand the local terms and conditions of the loan and the repayment vehicle as well as checking and comparing the interest rates available to you with those available from an international lender ‘back home.’

3) Expatriate Mortgages

If you’re already an expatriate whether in Spain or another overseas country and you want to buy in Spain or you’re interested in buying a home in your originating country for investment purposes or as a base for you to return to at some point in the future, it can be tricky to secure a mortgage.

If you had a strong credit history before you expatriated and you’re now in receipt of income to support your mortgage application there are a number of lenders specifically interested in attracting expatriate business though. Some of the major high street lenders will charge you a bit of a premium for the ease of application and service they offer and it’s actually worth while shopping round on the internet to see who else is offering specific expatriate mortgages.

Usually you should be able to borrow up to 85% of the property’s value and when it comes to proof of income this can be made up of earned, pension, investment and rental income. 4) Equity Release and Second Mortgages

This is of course the simplest and most popular method being used currently for the purchase of holiday homes overseas by many buyers. In the UK especially, where the housing market has significantly strengthened over the last 5 – 7 years, many people have built up substantial equity in their homes and are now releasing this ‘extra money’ to purchase property in Spain in cash.

If you consider this method you must accept that the additional sum you add to your mortgage will incur interest, it will have to be repaid over the term or at the end of the term of your mortgage and that the whole loan is secured on your main property.

5) Installment Payments

You might like to consider purchasing property off plan as this can give you the option to pay for the real estate via a series of installments or stage payments that you can save up to fund during the build period.

After paying the securing deposit your installment dates and amounts will be written into your purchase contract enabling you to budget accordingly. Clearly this method would particularly suit those with a high level of disposable income.

Once you have determined the most suitable method to suit your requirements and circumstances you can begin your search for a lender if applicable. Consider searching the internet, using forums, expatriate and international property sites, examining lenders sites and you can also listen to personal recommendations from friends, family and colleagues who have already undertaken property purchases in Spain.

About the Author

Rhiannon Williamson is the publisher of http://www.shelteroffshore.com/ – the online resource for investment property abroad, offshore investing & living overseas. Click the following link for Spanish property and moving to Spain articles, guides & resources

Securing the Best International Mortgage for Your Home in Spain by Rhiannon Williamson