Haha, you sound so much like me. My wife likes to go out with a group of Ecuadorian couples. We are all 50s to 70s in age. I'm 69. They party till after midnight. Music super loud. I normally go to bed about 10:30. I really don't enjoy it much. The people are really nice. My wife (Ecuadorian) rarely even drinks. I like to drink. But the late hour and loud music don't work for me. So last night for example, I stayed home and she went out.
Yup I totally understand lol. I am glad Kris has made lots of friends where she can hang out with if I don't feel it. No issues with our independence. Cheers my friend. Have a great 2025.
Best wishes for a great 2025 to you both! 🎉. The fireworks are amazing. How are the dogs with them? I worry about when I snowbird and bring my two girls as one of mine is so scared of fireworks and thunder too. She trembles terribly. I made a “Thunder box” in my closet for her with a blanket draped over and her stuffie and she hides in there in the dark. Poor girl. When I was a kid New Years Day was a family day of aunts and uncles and cousins. We had a huge ham dinner and did the pull crackers at dinner and wore the paper hats. Great memories! Kris…when is your weekend happening? I’ll was planning to be in Canoa for a week during my 3 week trip in February. If timing works, maybe I’ll join you ladies!
Happy New Year! In Baños you have to have melcocha. OMG! The best hard candy I ever had. It's the traditional food of Baños. They used to have stores where you would see the people, usually men, pulling on the candy from hooks just outside the store. We didn't see them last time we were there, eons ago, because most places were closed. It's a tourist town, and we went there during the low season, and during an even "lower season" day. Therefore, I can't attest for sure they still do that. It's possible that they now do it all with machines. The traditional ones are usually rectangular. I got some rod-shape ones once. I think these are machine made. Still delicious, but nothing compares to the hand-pulled, rectangular ones. Those are the ones I would have as a child growing up in the later part of the 20th Century (lol), the 70s-80s. I guess it's nostalgia on my part that makes my taste buds finicky when it comes to melcocha. 😊 I don't know if you know this yet, but every region, and even cities, have their traditional fare. There's the Manabí cuisine, the best in Ecuador in my opinion, chugchucaras in Latacunga (pron: chook-tchoo-kah-rahs), hornado just outside of Quito in Tingo located in the Chillos Valley (oven cooked whole pork), caldo de manguera in Guayaquil (hose broth, "hose" being the penis of the bull. Never had it because.... gross! Lol), and other delicacies. Sometimes, we would travel to different towns just to eat their food. Granted, now it's easier to get everything everywhere, especially if you know where to look. Say, I didn't find melcocha in the Supermaxi, but I did at the local municipal market. Another tidbit of Ecuadorian cuisine.... chocolate. See if you can find Bios chocolate, but make sure it's the one with the red and yellow stripes on the wrapping. They have one that's white and red, and that's their "newer" one that's a dark chocolate. The one in the wrap with yellow and red markings is the original. I found them in small corner stores and at Santa Maria. One of the best chocolates ever... in my opinion. 🙂
Happy New Year to you as well. I expect we will get at least 4 places in this year. Kris is heading to Mindo and Banos. Together we will likely to a big Amazon trip and possibly Cuenca again. Who knows.
Looks like a great time and much safer than being on Normandy beach like last year ha ha . this is my year. I land in quito july2nd and will be on the coast at the end of July. Hoping to get a long term at Samai -
I wanna see that bird! Wren? I have my brushpile to attract birds but, sadly there are very few birds here in winter. Here there's about 6 inches of new snow and it's going to be below freezing for the forecastable future. A young hooligan has gotten his car stuck in the yard across the street and is digging ditches. The city is celebrating because homicides are down, only 154 counted this year and 146 last year. Yes, proudly we are that stupid. I am hoping for Ecuador 2025 but, hedged my bet and bought myself a 12 gauge pump shotgun for Christmas. Looking forward to the new channel, maybe a Mindo bird watching trip? Take care and have fun in the new year.
Guayaquil has major issues. You need to do your research there. Flying in and out is fine but certain areas are not that safe compared to Quito and Cuenca.
Thank you for sharing another entertaining and informative video. Wishing you a fantastic 2025!
Thanks 👍
Looks like you guys had a blast! You definitely had a spectacular view without getting burned!
Yes lots of fun. Thanks for watching.
The party sounded fantastic! Congratulations on your visas !
Thanks. Happy New Year.
Come on, Kris! You and the girls should bring Mike to Baños with you. He would enjoy it a lot. It's great place. You're going to have a lot of fun!
Ha ha. Yes they should!!👍
Haha, you sound so much like me. My wife likes to go out with a group of Ecuadorian couples. We are all 50s to 70s in age. I'm 69. They party till after midnight. Music super loud. I normally go to bed about 10:30. I really don't enjoy it much. The people are really nice. My wife (Ecuadorian) rarely even drinks. I like to drink. But the late hour and loud music don't work for me. So last night for example, I stayed home and she went out.
Yup I totally understand lol. I am glad Kris has made lots of friends where she can hang out with if I don't feel it. No issues with our independence. Cheers my friend. Have a great 2025.
Happy New Year 🎉
Happy New Year 🎊
Happy New Year! Love the enthusiasm that Ecuadorians have for holidays and celebrations. New Year's in Ecuador is on my bucket list.
Yes we love it too. Such joy and happiness and always a family affair ❤️
Best wishes for a great 2025 to you both! 🎉. The fireworks are amazing. How are the dogs with them? I worry about when I snowbird and bring my two girls as one of mine is so scared of fireworks and thunder too. She trembles terribly. I made a “Thunder box” in my closet for her with a blanket draped over and her stuffie and she hides in there in the dark. Poor girl.
When I was a kid New Years Day was a family day of aunts and uncles and cousins. We had a huge ham dinner and did the pull crackers at dinner and wore the paper hats. Great memories!
Kris…when is your weekend happening? I’ll was planning to be in Canoa for a week during my 3 week trip in February. If timing works, maybe I’ll join you ladies!
Thanks for watching. Good to see you again. The dogs are surprisingly fine with fireworks. Not sure why. Next girls weekend is slated for March/April.
¡Feliz Año Nuevo desde Cuenca!
Feliz ano Nuevo.
Happy New Year! In Baños you have to have melcocha. OMG! The best hard candy I ever had. It's the traditional food of Baños. They used to have stores where you would see the people, usually men, pulling on the candy from hooks just outside the store. We didn't see them last time we were there, eons ago, because most places were closed. It's a tourist town, and we went there during the low season, and during an even "lower season" day. Therefore, I can't attest for sure they still do that. It's possible that they now do it all with machines. The traditional ones are usually rectangular. I got some rod-shape ones once. I think these are machine made. Still delicious, but nothing compares to the hand-pulled, rectangular ones. Those are the ones I would have as a child growing up in the later part of the 20th Century (lol), the 70s-80s. I guess it's nostalgia on my part that makes my taste buds finicky when it comes to melcocha. 😊
I don't know if you know this yet, but every region, and even cities, have their traditional fare. There's the Manabí cuisine, the best in Ecuador in my opinion, chugchucaras in Latacunga (pron: chook-tchoo-kah-rahs), hornado just outside of Quito in Tingo located in the Chillos Valley (oven cooked whole pork), caldo de manguera in Guayaquil (hose broth, "hose" being the penis of the bull. Never had it because.... gross! Lol), and other delicacies. Sometimes, we would travel to different towns just to eat their food.
Granted, now it's easier to get everything everywhere, especially if you know where to look. Say, I didn't find melcocha in the Supermaxi, but I did at the local municipal market. Another tidbit of Ecuadorian cuisine.... chocolate. See if you can find Bios chocolate, but make sure it's the one with the red and yellow stripes on the wrapping. They have one that's white and red, and that's their "newer" one that's a dark chocolate. The one in the wrap with yellow and red markings is the original. I found them in small corner stores and at Santa Maria. One of the best chocolates ever... in my opinion. 🙂
Thanks for all your support over the life of our channel
Banos is one of my favorite cities. If you
get a chance try to include a white water rafting trip. You won’t be disappointed,
Thanks 👍
¡Feliz 2025!
Poor dogs, with all that noise.
Happy New Year. Compared to most dogs they were pretty good.
Happy New Year friends! Thanks for the awesome party and thanks even more for giving us so many leftovers lol!
You are very welcome. See you soon.
Im a PEPPER HEAD ! Look forward to your videos .
Take care
Happy New Year to you guys!! Hope this year you explore other regions in the country, Ecuador is a small country but big in nature and beauty!!
Happy New Year to you as well. I expect we will get at least 4 places in this year. Kris is heading to Mindo and Banos. Together we will likely to a big Amazon trip and possibly Cuenca again. Who knows.
Looks like a great time and much safer than being on Normandy beach like last year ha ha . this is my year. I land in quito july2nd and will be on the coast at the end of July. Hoping to get a long term at Samai -
You will be able to I think. Enjoy your journey
I wanna see that bird! Wren? I have my brushpile to attract birds but, sadly there are very few birds here in winter. Here there's about 6 inches of new snow and it's going to be below freezing for the forecastable future. A young hooligan has gotten his car stuck in the yard across the street and is digging ditches. The city is celebrating because homicides are down, only 154 counted this year and 146 last year. Yes, proudly we are that stupid. I am hoping for Ecuador 2025 but, hedged my bet and bought myself a 12 gauge pump shotgun for Christmas. Looking forward to the new channel, maybe a Mindo bird watching trip? Take care and have fun in the new year.
Thanks for being a loyal subscriber. Have a great 2025.
Hello, I like your videos. I am planning for Quito, Cuenca and Guayaquil. Are the problems over and safe to visit in September.
Guayaquil has major issues. You need to do your research there. Flying in and out is fine but certain areas are not that safe compared to Quito and Cuenca.