From Boquete to Cuenca (and back) this morning at BCP

[Fundacion Pro-Integracion]

Tuesday September 27 – After living in Boquete for 5 years, Penny Ripple decided to move to Cuenca, Ecuador. Good thing she didn’t sell her house in Boquete because, after a year, she moved back to Boquete and will never leave again. Find out why. Her presentation will include a slide show and will also update her experience with current information about Cuenca.

[Boquete Community Players]

This talk had been advertised for weeks.
If you want to get the schedule plus emails telling you everything that is happening in Boquete you might want to send your name to [e-mail] to get on the email distribution list.

[Leroy Johnson]

Thanks and I certainly understand about schedules, etc, however we had an emergency and we had to go to David unexpectedly that morning. Are there any options for those such as us?

[Alan Bollinger]

Any chance of being able to communicate directly with Penny and find out what is was about Cuenca and Ecuador which made her come back to Boquete? My email is [e-mail]

[HollandAmerica]

We live in Quito, Ecuador and we love it. Certain thing are more expensive especially imports and vehicles. Most everything else is cheaper. Two or three course lunch costs between $1.50 and $3.50 or you can eat any kind of cuisine you want. Immigration is easy. Health insurance for a couple is $100 per month with a copay of $3.50 for anything including surgery, doctor visit, dentist visit, prescriptions. No pre existing conditions, etc.

Now unlike in Boquete you do need to speak Spanish here or you will become very isolated.

[Alan Bollinger]

Has this presentation already happened?  I would be interested to hear it/see it......as I was thinking about bailing this noisy, reggaeton trashy culture for Ecuador myself.....In fact, if I would have sold my finca/casa a few years ago, I would have been set up on the beach in Canoa right smack in the impact zone of the big 7.8 quake.......So needless to say, that was a blessing in disguise.........but sooo much cleaner, and the music is soooo much better, and the culture is more service oriented......I cant wait to find out what Penny found wrong with it besides high taxes........and not tourist friendly int he sense that you can only stay for 3 months without purchasing an extension visa for $450........which is not conducive to encouraging immigration........

[HollandAmerica]

Not conducive to encouraging immigration? They actually make the immigration system so easy so you don't need an attorney in Ecuador. Every immigration office has posters saying you can file the paperwork without an attorney.

I guess Ecuador does not want a bunch of foreigners staying on a tourist visa forever. Common sense to me, but it does not mean that it is difficult to immigrate.

[Leroy Johnson]

Panama wants $2000 for the friendly nations visa though. Otherwise it's back to border hopping every 3-6 months. Unfortunately border run aren't so cheap anymore, and those costs are really starting to add up...

[Robert Berding]

So just for your info. If you are a European you cannot get any visa for retirement with a pension of $ 5000 p.m. or more or less. No green cards or whatever. Just shut up and do not complaine about Panamá. Just stop your complaints Gringos.

[Leroy Johnson]

Seriously Robert van Eikel, you're calling me a gringo after I, too, have "travelled a lot and lived in various countries"?? I'll bet I speak better Spanish and English than your sorry @$$. So just for your info. You moved to a place the locals call "Gringolandia." It takes some nerve to do that and then complain about the gringos. Classy!!!

[HollandAmerica]

Wow, where are you manners? You are Dutch? Doe nou effe normaal joh!