Trip to Yacuri National Park and Amaluza in Espíndola

Trip to Yacuri National Park and Amaluza in Espíndola

Not long before we were scheduled to leave Loja, I found a group on Facebook called “LojAventura”—a large group of adventurers who went on hiking trips around the province of Loja. They advertised an upcoming hiking trip to Amaluza and Yacuri National Park for the celebration of World Water Day—March 22nd, 2014. In order to…

Responsible Expatting: How to Be Welcomed

Responsible Expatting: How to Be Welcomed

These days, Ecuador receives a lot of attention for being a paradise for expatriates—or expats. The cost of living, the climate, the wonderful people, the beautiful scenery and the slower pace of life tantalize us as we endure the hectic pace, commercialism, extreme temperatures and other shortcomings of life up here in the North. But…

The Loja FAQ – Answers to Questions I’ve Received About Loja

The Loja FAQ – Answers to Questions I’ve Received About Loja

My posts about Loja, Ecuador are the most popular on my multi-themed blog, and I’ve received many notes and questions from various readers about Loja (keep them coming, by the way—I love hearing from my readers!). I thought I’d share the answers to some of them in this post, and hopefully more people will find…

7 Weird and Exotic Vegetables We Enjoyed in Loja, Ecuador

7 Weird and Exotic Vegetables We Enjoyed in Loja, Ecuador

Last week I wrote about 19 different weird and exotic fruits you can find in Loja, Ecuador.  This week I’d like to continue the trend by throwing a few weird veggies into the mix!  (By the way, if you want a ton of great info about Loja, Ecuador, check out the book I am writing!)…

Bailoterapia in Loja, Ecuador and Zumba in Dickinson, North Dakota

Bailoterapia in Loja, Ecuador and Zumba in Dickinson, North Dakota

We’ve recently moved to Dickinson, North Dakota for a few months of work.  While Keith puts in 70 or more work hours per week, I plug away on my books and business, cook our meals, keep the house motorhome in order and do my best to keep everything running smoothly. To prevent myself from completely losing my…

Why I Could Never Live in Vilcabamba

Why I Could Never Live in Vilcabamba

Nestled below the steep mountains of Southern Ecuador, a winding one-hour bus ride south of Loja, lies Vilcabamba, in the Sacred Valley of Longevity–that place made famous for its high percentage of centenarians (people over 100 years old).  Researchers eventually found that this was a myth–Vilcabamba doesn’t actually have a higher percentage of centenarians–but overall…

Finding an Apartment in Loja, Ecuador

James Michener famously said, “If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home.” We loved living in Ecuador and highly recommend it to people who love the Spanish language (or are interested in learning) and love other cultures–particularly Latin American culture.  Ecuador has so…