Thanks for the shoutout boys! Absolutely loved the interview, had to stop what I was doing and learn from you both. I think this was a very fair and honest comparison of two cities! I will end my beach hiatus and come visit you Don! It’s just hard to leave my precious Cuenca ❤️ so glad you guys finally met and made this brilliant video
Thanks so much Joseph. I'll be looking forward to your visit. When you come, I'll arrange a tour for you and we'll explore Manta together. It's a whole different world than our paradise, Cuenca.
@@DonShader I’ll try to come soon! It’s whale watching season on the coast so that gives me another reason to pay you a visit. We can make some content for the adoring fans too!
We really enjoyed the interview. I had just reached out to YapaTree a couple days ago as we gather info on Cuenca. Jason emailed me back within a couple hours. He's already been super helpful.
Another great interview. YapaTree is a great resource. The wide variety of articles and the real estate section are my favorites. I always enjoy your varied TH-cam videos and benefit greatly from them. Thank you!
Indeed I agree, I lived there for 6 years returned to Florida hate it, but unfortunately can’t move back to Seattle it’s to expensive now and that sucks.
I agree, keeps things clean and fresh. I am from Vancouver Canada rain and clouds don't bother me. The chill factor at night in Cuenca did. Otherwise I'd fully expect myself to live there in spite of the drag on me due to altitude
Great interview and lots of info on both Cuenca and Manta. Both cities seem wonderful - of course, I still love my Panama as a permanent resident under the 'pensionado' visa but being able to visit Ecuador is always an option.
We have not yet been to either but Manta would not be for us as cool weather lovers. We hope to look at Cuenca, Quito, maybe Cotacotchi and Loja ??? Pretty sure Cuenca will be our speed.
Great interview, Don you are doing a excellent job showing a little bit of my little country, after living more than 3 decades here in NYC when I go there I don’t know much about
Don, Cameron and I really liked the conversation you two had. Very informative and enjoyable to watch. Cameron and I are back in Colorado, counting down the days until we move there! It was great to meet you. Keep on vlogging!
Highly informative interview! Thank you Don and Jason. I love the new links of Yapatree and Expats Ecuador to add to my research (for Cuenca). Nowhere can be as rainy as Seattle in my humble opinion. I live in Seattle and I know 20 straight days of rain bookended by 10 straight days of overcast weather.
Excellent interview Don with a knowledgeable interviewee. It all depends on where you think that you would be happier. You probably have a small support group in Manta that you would have to start over in Cuenca but it seems like you know people in Cuenca too. Me personally I would say Cuenca, not based on any personal knowledge because I have never been there, but based on what you say is important to you. Good Luck with your decision.
Very informative video Don. Thank you. You are going to be a TH-cam Expat Rock Star --- if you are not already one ! Plus, you get to meet and to know A LOT of people. And that is SO IMPORTANT in old age when single. I am divorced and have lost many family members and friends. You have created a good life for yourself.
@@DonShader My comment was somewhat tongue in cheek with the Rock Star reference. Your TH-cam channel is a great retirement endeavor for you and a great resource for us. It is a Win-Win. Your channel is showing very good growth. 5K soon already. Congrats. Keep going Don !
@@jayleon2080 Thanks Jay, I appreciate it. I try not to bring too much attention to myself as I'm really rather shy about it. I just hope I can help others get through this transition with as little hassle as possible. This channel continues to grow even though I expect it to crash and burn any day now,. It continues to surprise me. Take care and thanks for watching. -ds
Don! Great to see you! What an interesting conversation and comparison. One of our biggest questions for moving is Cuenca/Cotacachi /Loja or Manta/Salinas/Olon? This video and its topic is really helpful to us making a more informed decision. Thank you, to you and Jason both!
Hi Don, I had Cuy when I first arrived in Quito last May, To me it reminded me of Turkey leg, both in texture and flavor. I'm sure it could be greasy but what I had was roasted and rather dry with crispy skin. Do enjoy your videos, keep up the good shows ;-)
Hi Don, very well thought out topic today...you see both sides of what could be issues for some folks and paradise for others...the good and not so good in different areas.....enjoy your day
Great interview Don!! Would you consider visiting Quito and doing a similar video? It would be great to see the differences from the capital to Cuenca to Manta.
Don, great video. I'm in Colombia with my Visa expiring in Feb 2024 and asked myself "Cuenca or Manta" and your video answered most of my questions. Thank you. Is Manta's weather more like coastal California or hot, carib?
Great interview! Don your interview skills are great. Very interesting subjects. I love how all of you are networking. By the way cat fish is called bagre. Caldo de bagre is very good!
Don thank you for very informative interview. My husband and I are planning to visit Manta first time for one week, and looking to rent hotel or Airbnb apartment. I will be appreciate you advise best area for rent most comfortable to we walk and explore the city. Thank you
Great interview, Don! I think Cuenca would be my choice, just b/c it's cooler there, though if it's rainy and humid too, maybe not. The views in Manta are beautiful, and it would be a difficult choice.
Cuenca is rainy but not humid. Usually it rains in the afternoon for a few hours but the air is dry. My husband has bad nosebleeds because of it. So we move to the coast. First in Ballenita for 18 months and now in Manta
Hi Don good to see this kind of comparison videos! When could you make one about Quito vs Cuenca(although I know you are not living both of them, you know pretty much of people who living there.)
@@nala3038 Why d'you say that? I'm sure there are lots of TH-cam creators that do videos on Quito. I can't do one because I've never been there and don't really have any intention on going there. So I can't really help with truthful experiences and information that would be of value to you. I hope you understand.
I don't really know enough about Costa Rica to say anything about it. I know that it was in my sights in my early stage of investigation retirement abroad, but the Americanization of the country scared me away.
@@nala3038 Please don't tell me how to do my videos. I don't need your help. It's people like you that give me cause for having a bad attitude. People like you don't have a clue what it takes to run a TH-cam channel. I do all of this for NOTHING. Do you understand that? Most of my subscribers have a deep appreciation for what I do for them. If you don't like the fact that I have nothing to offer you, please go away. As a matter of fact, I'll help you and just go ahead and block you.
Cuy is more oily in the same way that duck is. Not everyone's cup of tea, but I recommend that folks try everything once. The Ecuadorean trucha is an amazing fish, with a flavour and texture much more like salmon than American lake or rainbow trout. Drug crime never worried me, because I don't go looking for drugs, and it seems to me that if you are not involved, you will be fine. Ultimately, you can rent 6 months in each city and see for yourself. Cuenca is cooler, which suits me, and I found the coast to be louder, for sure.
@@Techglobal I don't know anyone that lives there. The beach and ocean views are to close to live in a place like Montecristi. It's a little more polluted there and hotter in the summer months. I wouldn't live there.
Hello Don, Thank-you for you website. I have an extremely painful medical condition called Trigeminal neuralgia, How are the availability of anti-epileptic drugs and oxyneo (opiate) medications. I have been taking these for 15 yrs.
HI Don, are you really happy there in my Country? Because I am ecuadorian and live in USA for many years and I know how "Americans" feeling like superior.
Thanks for the shoutout boys! Absolutely loved the interview, had to stop what I was doing and learn from you both. I think this was a very fair and honest comparison of two cities!
I will end my beach hiatus and come visit you Don! It’s just hard to leave my precious Cuenca ❤️ so glad you guys finally met and made this brilliant video
Thanks so much Joseph. I'll be looking forward to your visit. When you come, I'll arrange a tour for you and we'll explore Manta together. It's a whole different world than our paradise, Cuenca.
@@DonShader I’ll try to come soon! It’s whale watching season on the coast so that gives me another reason to pay you a visit. We can make some content for the adoring fans too!
This is my 3rd video. I really like your style 👍🏾
Thanks
We really enjoyed the interview. I had just reached out to YapaTree a couple days ago as we gather info on Cuenca. Jason emailed me back within a couple hours. He's already been super helpful.
Another great interview. YapaTree is a great resource. The wide variety of articles and the real estate section are my favorites. I always enjoy your varied TH-cam videos and benefit greatly from them. Thank you!
Great to hear!
I lived 14 years in Seattle. Rain is a good thing that becomes part of your identity.
Indeed I agree, I lived there for 6 years returned to Florida hate it, but unfortunately can’t move back to Seattle it’s to expensive now and that sucks.
I agree, keeps things clean and fresh. I am from Vancouver Canada rain and clouds don't bother me. The chill factor at night in Cuenca did. Otherwise I'd fully expect myself to live there in spite of the drag on me due to altitude
Dreary identity?
Great interview and lots of info on both Cuenca and Manta. Both cities seem wonderful - of course, I still love my Panama as a permanent resident under the 'pensionado' visa but being able to visit Ecuador is always an option.
We have not yet been to either but Manta would not be for us as cool weather lovers. We hope to look at Cuenca, Quito, maybe Cotacotchi and Loja ??? Pretty sure Cuenca will be our speed.
Great interview, Don you are doing a excellent job showing a little bit of my little country, after living more than 3 decades here in NYC when I go there I don’t know much about
Don, Cameron and I really liked the conversation you two had. Very informative and enjoyable to watch. Cameron and I are back in Colorado, counting down the days until we move there! It was great to meet you. Keep on vlogging!
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks so much.
Highly informative interview! Thank you Don and Jason. I love the new links of Yapatree and Expats Ecuador to add to my research (for Cuenca). Nowhere can be as rainy as Seattle in my humble opinion. I live in Seattle and I know 20 straight days of rain bookended by 10 straight days of overcast weather.
I lived in Seattle for 17 years and I'm planning to move to Cuenca - I'm slightly worried it will be too cloudy for me.
Excellent interview Don with a knowledgeable interviewee. It all depends on where you think that you would be happier. You probably have a small support group in Manta that you would have to start over in Cuenca but it seems like you know people in Cuenca too. Me personally I would say Cuenca, not based on any personal knowledge because I have never been there, but based on what you say is important to you. Good Luck with your decision.
Great interview!
Ámbato is a great option!! Good weather!!
Very informative video Don. Thank you.
You are going to be a TH-cam Expat Rock Star --- if you are not already one !
Plus, you get to meet and to know A LOT of people. And that is SO IMPORTANT in old age when single.
I am divorced and have lost many family members and friends. You have created a good life for yourself.
I don't know if I agree with all of that but thanks for your feedback anyway.
@@DonShader My comment was somewhat tongue in cheek with the Rock Star reference.
Your TH-cam channel is a great retirement endeavor for you and a great resource for us.
It is a Win-Win.
Your channel is showing very good growth. 5K soon already. Congrats. Keep going Don !
@@jayleon2080 Thanks Jay, I appreciate it. I try not to bring too much attention to myself as I'm really rather shy about it. I just hope I can help others get through this transition with as little hassle as possible. This channel continues to grow even though I expect it to crash and burn any day now,. It continues to surprise me.
Take care and thanks for watching.
-ds
The hornado (pork) in Cuenca is delicious, very moist. You can get a plate of it at any of the markets.
Agreed
Chancho a la barbosa is an equivalent option to the hornado on the coast 😉
Don! Great to see you! What an interesting conversation and comparison. One of our biggest questions for moving is Cuenca/Cotacachi /Loja or Manta/Salinas/Olon? This video and its topic is really helpful to us making a more informed decision. Thank you, to you and Jason both!
Thanks so much my friend. If you can acclimate the climate, I would definitely pick the higher altitudes.
-ds
Hi Don, I had Cuy when I first arrived in Quito last May, To me it reminded me of Turkey leg, both in texture and flavor. I'm sure it could be greasy but what I had was roasted and rather dry with crispy skin.
Do enjoy your videos, keep up the good shows ;-)
Thanks for sharing!
Hi Don, very well thought out topic today...you see both sides of what could be issues for some folks and paradise for others...the good and not so good in different areas.....enjoy your day
Thank you kindly
Great interview Don!! Would you consider visiting Quito and doing a similar video? It would be great to see the differences from the capital to Cuenca to Manta.
Thanks JR but no, I don't think I'll ever have that opportunity.
-ds
Hi Don..always excited to view your videos...hope you are well.safe and healthy
Pick the one with fewer gunfights in the streets.
One of the most enjoyable videos...great job. Can not wait to visit Cuenca in a few months..
Glad you enjoyed it!
Don, great video. I'm in Colombia with my Visa expiring in Feb 2024 and asked myself "Cuenca or Manta" and your video answered most of my questions. Thank you. Is Manta's weather more like coastal California or hot, carib?
Hot and humid furing the "summer" months and cooler the rest of the year. I'm certainly NOT here for the weather.
Nice interview, I’ve been to both places in 2019….prefer the beaches personally…
For me personally, the only coastal area in Latin America that isn't too hot, and humid is the Baja California peninsula.
Excellent interview Thanks 😊
Our pleasure!
Wow really really good video Don! Thanks again!
Glad you liked it!
Good video! I think you were thinking about the word luthier, and Bartolomé among others in the Cuenca area have made it famous for their quality.
Good call!
About my own people and country, so you been very helpful to me, thank you!
Happy to help!
great interview, Don. I joined Yapatree(!). A lot of great information in this one. Enjoyed it!
Glad you enjoyed it!
What an informative video Don...this mate is making Ecuador greater ,just like you Don....you forgot to ask him ,how he managed with Covid 19....
I don't talk about Covid or Covid related topics. It's not allowed on this channel.
Thanks for understanding.
-ds
Great interview! Don your interview skills are great. Very interesting subjects. I love how all of you are networking. By the way cat fish is called bagre. Caldo de bagre is very good!
Thanks Kellie,
I'll see if I can find some. I love catfish.
-ds
Don thank you for very informative interview.
My husband and I are planning to visit Manta first time for one week, and looking to rent hotel or Airbnb apartment.
I will be appreciate you advise best area for rent most comfortable to we walk and explore the city. Thank you
Best of luck!
Great interview, Don! I think Cuenca would be my choice, just b/c it's cooler there, though if it's rainy and humid too, maybe not. The views in Manta are beautiful, and it would be a difficult choice.
Cuenca is rainy but not humid. Usually it rains in the afternoon for a few hours but the air is dry. My husband has bad nosebleeds because of it. So we move to the coast. First in Ballenita for 18 months and now in Manta
@@themaminomadsvivreenequate2277 Thanks for that personal testimony! Best wishes!
You won't find a lot of humidity there.
-ds
Hi Don good to see this kind of comparison videos! When could you make one about Quito vs Cuenca(although I know you are not living both of them, you know pretty much of people who living there.)
Hi Joey,
Unfortunately, I don't have any interest in Quito or making any comparisons to it. My experiences are only with Manta and Cuenca.
-ds
@@nala3038 Why d'you say that? I'm sure there are lots of TH-cam creators that do videos on Quito. I can't do one because I've never been there and don't really have any intention on going there. So I can't really help with truthful experiences and information that would be of value to you. I hope you understand.
Any thoughts as to comparing Ecuador to Costa Rica? Does it all boil down to a straightforward financial evaluation??
I don't really know enough about Costa Rica to say anything about it. I know that it was in my sights in my early stage of investigation retirement abroad, but the Americanization of the country scared me away.
@@DonShader That's en interesting observation considering we're both from the US! Maybe you can elaborate on that in a video!
Recommendation for Visa Processing, please.
There are a lot of videos covering this topic. Please don't ask me to rehash the process. My fingers are 70 years old and get tired.
@@nala3038 Please don't tell me how to do my videos. I don't need your help. It's people like you that give me cause for having a bad attitude. People like you don't have a clue what it takes to run a TH-cam channel. I do all of this for NOTHING. Do you understand that? Most of my subscribers have a deep appreciation for what I do for them. If you don't like the fact that I have nothing to offer you, please go away. As a matter of fact, I'll help you and just go ahead and block you.
Cuy is more oily in the same way that duck is. Not everyone's cup of tea, but I recommend that folks try everything once.
The Ecuadorean trucha is an amazing fish, with a flavour and texture much more like salmon than American lake or rainbow trout.
Drug crime never worried me, because I don't go looking for drugs, and it seems to me that if you are not involved, you will be fine.
Ultimately, you can rent 6 months in each city and see for yourself. Cuenca is cooler, which suits me, and I found the coast to be louder, for sure.
Why Santo Domingo in Ecuador is never marketed as a city to visit or retire in
That's a good question. I never heard of Santo Domingo. Where is it located?
I believe its an hour northwest from Quito@@DonShader
Hi Don, what do you think about Montecristi Golf, is it a good place to live?
I wouldn't want to live there and I'm not a golfer so I can't really speak much to the topic. Sorry.
-ds
@@DonShader thanks Don, I would like to know if Montecristi is good for retirement also I’m not a golfer but I’m looking for a safe a beautiful place
@@Techglobal I don't know anyone that lives there. The beach and ocean views are to close to live in a place like Montecristi. It's a little more polluted there and hotter in the summer months. I wouldn't live there.
Excelente 👏
Thanks Nellie.
-ds
Guinea pig is not in the pork family😅
Heat, humidity, and mosquitoes on the coast.
No mosquitoes.
Yep, haven't seen one mosquito. Love that!
Hello Don, Thank-you for you website. I have an extremely painful medical condition called Trigeminal neuralgia, How are the availability of anti-epileptic drugs and oxyneo (opiate) medications. I have been taking these for 15 yrs.
I don't have a web site. Wrong guy.
HI Don, are you really happy there in my Country? Because I am ecuadorian and live in USA for many years and I know how "Americans" feeling like superior.
No