Don, I like your advice. Simple answers and right on. I am wondering why you landed in Manta. But I am betting the opposite of why I landed on the side of a volcano in Cotacachi. I lived in Fort Lauderdale for 47 years. Ten years ago at 68, I moved to Cotacachi and never looked back. I do not want see sand or sea ever, as I have seen beaches and ocean all over the world. I intentionally moved into an all-Spanish neighborhood right in the center of the City. My Spanish is barely passable, but I have been here long enough that everyone knows I am here to stay, so they have adopted me. I am "home". I avoid expat places, as I left that behind. We have had very little of the virus problem here, as everyone wears masks. Like all places in the World, your life is as good as who you know. It helps to have your banker, landlord, Internet owner, driver, housekeeper and restaurant owners to be your best friends. Your advice is perfect and as I tell everyone, when you get off the plane in Ecuador, leave your past behind. This is all new and so much better.
Hi Marlene, I absolutely love your reply. I'm going to make a video out of this. Everything you just said to me aligns with my thoughts perfectly. You just saved my day. I'm going to leave this area, probably not real soon because I just renewed a six-month lease and I too have no desire for the beach. How I ended up in Manta is a long story so I'll put that in my video as well. The only thing that could keep me here is love. So when I start my outline for this video, may I have permission to quote you? I hope I get to meet you some day and just sit and chat, one on one. Don
@@DonShader Yep, Mr. Parker is pretty darn cute! I'll look for him as I watch more of your content. How fun and very helpful video. Thank you for taking the time to respond and making informative videos.
Not just Manta but all of Ecuador is perfect for vegetarians. We have the freshest fruits and vegies in all the world. The vegies in the tiendes, grocery stores, and sidewalk vendors are straight from the ground with no chemicals or preservatives. This is a perfect location for vegetarians.
They're must be some sun or all that produce wouldn't grow well. I garden so that would be a concern for me but if everytime grows and is abundant as I hear, its the place for me.
Lo I've your videos. We will arrive next week and need recommendations for a mid range hotel with bathroom in room but not luxury til we we find a long term rental. Also need transportation from guayaquille to vilca. Who can we trust? Thanks!
I would recommend AirBnB or The Oro Verde for your stay. Just be careful of the location, anything in the Barbosquille area will be noisy on the weekend. You might be too late to get a driver. Those private drivers need more advanced notice that this. I've done several videos on private drivers and their contact info is always in the description. Try Manta with Juan. Good luck.
Hi Don, me and my family are all thinking about moving to Ecuador and are looking at building a house on the coast. What realtor is good to buy land and build.
If you are disable, can you have access to transportation, and other things as sane ias US? Chicago is easy to move around as a blind person. Was born in Guayaquil but cane to US as a young kid.
FYI. When using Castellano, do not use Tu! Mistake using Tu! Use Usted. If not, people would not like it. I do not talk to people in the US in Spanish because they use Tu with me. It is only use with family and those who are your age and not parents or other family members who are older than you. Stranger using Tu, is offensive.
Driving in some of these bigger cities in Ecuador is like driving in Manhattan, New York in the middle of rush hour. And there are just as many taxis, too. So Don is right, renting a car just isn’t worth it especially because you can always work out a daily schedule with a cab driver that you feel might be reliable.
Steve, I honestly don't know but I'll do some research and see what I can find out. There is a very good Facebook page based here called "Expats and Amigos in Manta and Manabi" that you could join and this would be a great question for them. They have lots of members and information on all things living here is abundant. -ds
Not very many. I've been here going on six months and I've seen far fewer sunny days than cloudy. I'm actually compiling a spreadsheet of the weather pattern and will do a video on it by the end of Nov. The temps are very mild and I still love it here since I came from Arizona where you see LOTS of sun. -ds
Thanks Don. I would advise that if you don't want to learn Spanish you should stay the hell elsewhere. if you're not into the local culture, just stay away and stick with whatever is familiar.
Don, I like your advice. Simple answers and right on. I am wondering why you landed in Manta. But I am betting the opposite of why I landed on the side of a volcano in Cotacachi. I lived in Fort Lauderdale for 47 years. Ten years ago at 68, I moved to Cotacachi and never looked back. I do not want see sand or sea ever, as I have seen beaches and ocean all over the world. I intentionally moved into an all-Spanish neighborhood right in the center of the City. My Spanish is barely passable, but I have been here long enough that everyone knows I am here to stay, so they have adopted me. I am "home". I avoid expat places, as I left that behind. We have had very little of the virus problem here, as everyone wears masks. Like all places in the World, your life is as good as who you know. It helps to have your banker, landlord, Internet owner, driver, housekeeper and restaurant owners to be your best friends. Your advice is perfect and as I tell everyone, when you get off the plane in Ecuador, leave your past behind. This is all new and so much better.
Hi Marlene,
I absolutely love your reply. I'm going to make a video out of this. Everything you just said to me aligns with my thoughts perfectly. You just saved my day.
I'm going to leave this area, probably not real soon because I just renewed a six-month lease and I too have no desire for the beach. How I ended up in Manta is a long story so I'll put that in my video as well. The only thing that could keep me here is love.
So when I start my outline for this video, may I have permission to quote you?
I hope I get to meet you some day and just sit and chat, one on one.
Don
Love the advice and the tiny 🐯
Oh so you found Mr. Parker, eh? He hides in most of my indoor videos.
@@DonShader Yep, Mr. Parker is pretty darn cute! I'll look for him as I watch more of your content. How fun and very helpful video. Thank you for taking the time to respond and making informative videos.
I have to sy that's one of the most amusing intros I have yet to see on UA-cam.
Really good video and information
Glad you liked it!
Don is my spirit animal. Great work, Don.
lol
Don! So good to see you! Love your video; thank you for the information! Those were great questions. Don, you’re awesome!
great video!
Thanks for the visit
Another exciting video pal.
Mr. Parker must not be afraid of heights. Haha!
He's not. He's better than me.
:-)
Great video! Answered all our questions. Thank you! -Ami
What's Manta like for vegetarians?
Not just Manta but all of Ecuador is perfect for vegetarians. We have the freshest fruits and vegies in all the world. The vegies in the tiendes, grocery stores, and sidewalk vendors are straight from the ground with no chemicals or preservatives. This is a perfect location for vegetarians.
They're must be some sun or all that produce wouldn't grow well. I garden so that would be a concern for me but if everytime grows and is abundant as I hear, its the place for me.
Lo I've your videos. We will arrive next week and need recommendations for a mid range hotel with bathroom in room but not luxury til we we find a long term rental. Also need transportation from guayaquille to vilca. Who can we trust? Thanks!
I would recommend AirBnB or The Oro Verde for your stay. Just be careful of the location, anything in the Barbosquille area will be noisy on the weekend.
You might be too late to get a driver. Those private drivers need more advanced notice that this. I've done several videos on private drivers and their contact info is always in the description. Try Manta with Juan.
Good luck.
Is there a meetup spot for expat that are new to the area
There are a few. The best thing to do is join some of the Facebook groups in the area and start asking questions. You will find some to go to.
Thank you so much . Mi amigo . 🙏🙏🙏 God bless you.
Thank you too
Hi Don, me and my family are all thinking about moving to Ecuador and are looking at building a house on the coast. What realtor is good to buy land and build.
Start with Ryan at Ecuador Shores Realty in Manta.
3 months rental?
Is it feasible.
No need to be a high end condo
Tks
I would always ask a realtor about short term rentals but another option is always AirBnB.
@@DonShader thanks
Dulce is awesome...my spot! Pip Coffee too...all spot on Don! Stella is the best! She just fixed my water pump too...love Stella!!!
Don have you gone to Cuenca? Villa Cabamba ? Quito ? Loja ?
I'm going in Dec for the month to check it out.
nice!
If you are disable, can you have access to transportation, and other things as sane ias US? Chicago is easy to move around as a blind person. Was born in Guayaquil but cane to US as a young kid.
I really don't know the answer to that but I'll find out for you and reach out.
-ds
Wonder if there's any pain management there ? Legitimate pain medicine.
Manta is very safe
FYI. When using Castellano, do not use Tu! Mistake using Tu! Use Usted. If not, people would not like it. I do not talk to people in the US in Spanish because they use Tu with me. It is only use with family and those who are your age and not parents or other family members who are older than you. Stranger using Tu, is offensive.
Thank you.
De Rocca is not on google maps. Maybe a new restaurant?
If you zoom in on Google maps, it's located diagonally across from the Hotel Boutique Ma Isabel (now the Voyager) on the corner of Calle 24b and M3.
@@DonShader thanks, not yet on google maps. Same happened with the Indian restaurant. It took a while to appear on google maps
Driving in some of these bigger cities in Ecuador is like driving in Manhattan, New York in the middle of rush hour. And there are just as many taxis, too. So Don is right, renting a car just isn’t worth it especially because you can always work out a daily schedule with a cab driver that you feel might be reliable.
I had a plethora once.
I hope this is the right channel to ask this question: What is it like for LGBTQ people to live in Ecuador? Or more specifically, in Manta?
Steve, I honestly don't know but I'll do some research and see what I can find out. There is a very good Facebook page based here called "Expats and Amigos in Manta and Manabi" that you could join and this would be a great question for them. They have lots of members and information on all things living here is abundant.
-ds
@@DonShader Thanks. I joined that channel.
Hi: how many days a week does the sun shine in Monta? I am relocating to Ecuador. I like to find a sunny beach area without too much humidity.
Not very many. I've been here going on six months and I've seen far fewer sunny days than cloudy. I'm actually compiling a spreadsheet of the weather pattern and will do a video on it by the end of Nov. The temps are very mild and I still love it here since I came from Arizona where you see LOTS of sun.
-ds
Thanks Don. I would advise that if you don't want to learn Spanish you should stay the hell elsewhere. if you're not into the local culture, just stay away and stick with whatever is familiar.
Sounds good to me. Don't know exactly who you're talking to but it sounds like good advice for someone.
-ds