I'm a software programmer with my own business that (I hope) will allow me to continue traveling indefinitely.
I'm 36 years old, married to a beautiful lady, and we have 2 kids.
In 2005 I moved to Fiji but ended up coming back to marry the girl I left behind in Seattle after sailing to Australia. We next moved to Ecuador and returned to the USA after she got pregnant. Three years later, we're ready to return to Ecuador with our niños.
Our long term goals include sailing around the world, especially to return to the south Pacific and Mediterranean.
fijiaaron Well, there's a Brazilian steak house in Quito that's pretty good. It's somewhere between 10 de Agusto & Av. Amazones -- you walk down La Gasca and then -- ok, I don't know Quito.
There are a ton of international restaurants (including good Mongolian Grill) down by Los Alpes & I guess it's the old US Embassy. Find the McDonalds on Av. 6 de Deciembre and head east. A lot of language schools are in that area so if you're looking for the young hip international scene that's the place to be.
It turns out I don't really know Quito. I'm used to finding my way on foot and Google Maps is confusing me.
But in Cuenca, Ah!
El Mais has great food. Get the Locro de Papas (potato soup with Avacado) and laugh at their English translations on the menu (e.g. "To the fresh species"). You have to ask for mote but it's a great appetizer and their Aji is excellent. It's a big yellow house on the Calle Larga and run by a family. Nice older lady, a quiet formal younger waiter. I hear their cuy is good too.
El Jarin & El Jordan are two restaurants side by side on Calle Larga too with a sort of Mediterrenean twist. Great formal places with affordable, excellent steaks and a great view.
Everything else on Calle Larga is expat fare and overpriced drinks though. But if you're looking for the "scene" that's where it is in Cuenca.
La Parillada is an excellent Ecuadorian style grill in the newer downtown section.
fijiaaron Yeah. My wife is busting my chops about how I should be studying Spanish more now.
Ecuador does have some amazing travel spots (like the Galapagos) but one thing we like about it is how laid back the country is. We can have weekend hikes and surf trips, explore the mountains and jungles, and then take excursions to other countries to sample the cuisine and people (no we're not cannibals.)
But day to day we'll have good friends and culture, and an afternoon stroll with the kids to the park can include passing magnificent colonial architecture and 25 cent ice creams.
All in all it's a great place to settle down and get some work done on my business without retreating to the suburbs and getting saddled with a mortgage that would keep us from exploring further.
If you ever make it down to Ecuador Chris, please stop by.
Trivia: What is the main source of energy in France?
