Reding - Keys to Cuenca, Ecuador: The Essential Guide To Cuenca in Words and Pictures

A few months after moving to Cuenca from Florida, where I lived for 22 years, like many before me, I became enmeshed in the process of becoming a legal resident in a totally foreign land where the citizens spoke a language I did not understand.

Shortly after arriving in 2011, I met Angelo Parapy, a Cuencano who lived in New York City for 12 years, so he was bilingual and he helped me find an apartment to rent.

Thus I began the process to make Cuenca my home. That took more 3 trips to and from Florida taking empty suitcases, returning will full ones, along with my two small dogs Toby and Betsy.

The process of bringing my dogs was my first exposure to much of the mis-information that existed both then and now. After I scoured online blogs and websites for accurate, current information about Ecuador and Cuenca in particular, I discovered much of the advice or opinions were from people who had never been to Ecuador but had set themselves up as experts. Like many before me, and those who came after, my primary interest was finding accurate, up to date information about dealing with the various government ministries in order to establish my residency.

Moving to Ecuador was relatively easy, adapting to the culture and way of life was and is still a challenge. Just the process of finding and renting property is a minefield that you have to experience. Then there is the process of learning where, what and from whom do you obtain things and services to make life passable.

Being a businessman for over 40 years, I was also interested in the opportunities and pitfalls of starting a business. As I meandered through the swamp of facts, fiction and opinions, I began to keep a log and to write about what I found and shared it with others.

Several weeks ago at the suggestion of a guest in our home, I began to consider writing this book. Having published several books in the past, I was not in the mood for the ink on paper method because of the logistics and cost. So I decided that a Kindle edition was just the ticket. I had some previous positive experience with Amazon when I had books I had published listed for sale on their website.

My plan, from the beginning was to produce a simple resource guide to Cuenca and Ecuador that would be easy to update as needed. As a former publisher of photography books and a lifelong amateur shutterbug, I was acutely aware that one picture is worth at least a thousand words. As a result my plan for this project has evolved from merely words to words and pictures.

I have to admit I did not take many of the photos you will see, but most were manipulated to be useful in this digital format. Many thanks go to Adobe for inventing Photoshop, which I have used for over 20 years. I also have to confess I did not write every word in this book. Rather than reinvent the wheel, I looked to sources like Wikipedia for things like climate, population facts and a description of the government. Furthermore, President Correa did not pose for the photo used in that chapter

I am also guilty of making a few value judgments and venturing more than a few opinions based on personal experience. I am open to criticism and contributions from readers. I am certain there will be more than one edition. I hope you enjoy the fruits of my labor and please keep the cards and letters coming.

Before I bore you too much, as I stated above, I did not write every word in this book. I am not all knowing and I intensely dislike re-inventing the wheel. So, I willingly give credit to the following individuals for their unknowing contributions:

Rob Cox, a Reuters columnist, for his well-written opinion piece on Ecuadors economic miracle

Hector Quintana, for his excellent treatise on Money & Banking

Cuenca High Life &Wendy Jane Carrel, for the valuable piece on Choosing A Healthy Environment.

Wikipedia, for some facts and figures.

Finally, I want to thank the nameless people whose photos grace these pages, you know who you are.