Simple tips to identify dangerous snakes in Vilcabamba Loja Ecuador

us English version
es
Español AQUI
BY PIERRE VOLTER

Let’s be clear and upfront. I am not a snake specialist. I live near Vilcabamba, a small village in the Loja province of southern Ecuador. My house is on a large piece of rural land (una finca) surrounded by beautiful wilderness and yes there are snakes (and scorpions and spiders).

Having said that, I took some time to try to identify simple ways to tell whether one snake specimen is deadly or totally harmless, something that you must admit is good to know when you encounter one.

Like I said, I am no specialist and this write-up is no attempt to cover the subject exhaustively. It is rather an attempt to make simple and easy to understand something scary and apparently complicated. Readers will tell me if I succeeded.

I roamed the land for years without ever bumping into one of those creatures until one day finally I almost stepped on one very large Bothrops Asper, the one that they call here the Macanche, that was having a nap in the sun right in the middle of my road a few meters only from my front door. It was 2 meters long approximately (no I did NOT measure it with a tape) and its body must have been around 10 cm – 15 cm diameter. After a moment of sheer panic, I went to get my camera and since I could see that the creature was very calm and in no way about to jump on me, I sat down a few meters from her and took some photos.

I say “her” because I now know that only the females of that species can be that large. I had no idea then that I was looking at one of the deadliest snake on the planet, let alone a large specimen of it. My instinct was telling me that she could feel my energy and since my energy was good nothing bad would happen. I was very curious I must admit. So below, there she is just like I found her.

Equis Bothrops Asper- Macanche - Vilcabamba Loja Ecuador
Bothrops Asper – Here they call it “MACANCHE”

Equis Bothrops Asper- Macanche - Vilcabamba Loja Ecuador

After a few years without seeing another Equis, recently I had my second encounter, a smaller specimen this time. I had a better camera with me with a better zoom and I took some good close-ups. On the photo below, the shape of the pupil can be seen and it is vertical which is an important parameter.

Equis Bothrops Asper- Macanche - Vilcabamba Loja Ecuador

Todoloja - Simple tips to identify snakes in Vilcabamba Loja Ecuador
Todoloja – Simple tips to identify snakes in Vilcabamba Loja Ecuador

On the photo just above as well as the almost all of them, two reddish dots can be seen between the eyes and the nostrils. This is one of the most important identification attributes. These are called “loreal pits” or “Jacobson’s organ” and are part of the sensory organs along with the tongue that my friend is precisely pulling out in one of the photos above. Using these organs they can sense you and I guess this is also how they “feel” your fear or lack thereof maybe through the pheromones that you emit I am not sure.

 

To identify a snake one has to look at the shape of the head, the shape of the eyes and the tail, easier said than done I know but that is what it is.

The head and the eyes

Equis has big triangular flat head that sticks out. That is a bad sign. Whereas harmless snakes have a spoon shaped head.

Equis has elliptical vertical pupils as opposed to round pupils. That is another bad sign.

Equis has the two reddish dots, the pits, and that is yet another bad sign.

To compare let’s have a look at another friend who I found comfortably sleeping in my roof right above my head. Our house is a rustic house made of adobe blocks with a sugar cane straw roof and it had been left empty for a long time which is why the snake made it its home.

Harmless snake - Dormilona
Harmless snake – Dormilona

The head is smaller and spoon-shaped rather than sharply triangular, not that much wider than the body, meaning that there is no room inside this snake’s mouth for the venom glands. It also has round eyes.

The one below which we found in a stack of timber in our shed is also harmless. It is a banded cat-eyed snake, totally harmless. It is called cat-eyed because … hmm … it has eyes that look like the eyes of a cat. It also has a relatively small head that does not stick out so much.

Banded Cat Eyed Snake
Banded Cat-Eyed Snake

The tail

Admittedly the tail is not often easy to see because snake have a natural tendency to make a tight roll of themselves.

Below is the same macanche but this time we can clearly see that her tail is thick and short.

Bothrops Asper- Macanche - Vilcabamba Loja Ecuador
Macanche – Thick and short tail

On the other hand, this one which I found in a water reservoir that I was letting dry in order to do some maintenance has obviously a thin and very long tail. That is good. Equis has a short and thick tail, meaning that the body does not get thinner and thinner over a large part of the body but stays pretty much the same thickness and then ends in a short tail. On the specimen below it is clear that roughly as much as 25% of the body length could be considered the tail.

Harmless Snake - Vilcabamba Loja Ecuador
Harmless Snake – Vilcabamba Loja Ecuador

It is also green and has a small head. Another thing I noticed is that to make matters worse, the bad guys don’t move and just sit completely still whereas the good guys tend to run away. Too bad it is not the other way round.

To sum it up

  1. Look at the head: flat, big, triangular, sticking out IS BAD
  2. Look at the eyes: round pupil is GOOD, elliptical vertical pupil is BAD
  3. Look at the pits: two reddish dots between the eyes and the mouth is BAD
  4. Look at the tail: long and thin is GOOD / short and thick is BAD (*)

(*) A trick to remember which one is what is to think about the rattlesnake that everybody knows is dangerous and makes a rattling sound with its tail.

It would be hard to shake the tail and make that sound if the tail was long and thin, much easier with a short one.

So to remember: short and thick = DANGER, long and thin = SAFE.

Unfortunately there is one exception

Hey, life would not be fun if it was that easy, would it?

In Ecuador, we have the pleasure to host a wonderful and deadly snake that is called the CORAL

One day we were enjoying our breakfast on the porch when this guy just “walked by” as if nothing. I followed him and took some shots. Here he is:

Serpiente Snake Coral (this one is dangerous)
Serpiente Snake Coral (this one is dangerous)

As can be seen it has a long thin tail and we cannot see it on the photo but it also has a small head. However it is very easy to identify because of its beautiful colors.

Coral snake - Loja Ecuador
Coral snake – Loja Ecuador

So beware of that one !

Any comments? Want to share some experience? Please post here below.

Appreciated.

© 2016 bbxmusic.com
All rights reserved

bbxmusic.com

Síganos en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/todoloja

#HechoConAmor #TodoLoja

 

Dumas Restaurant – French Italian Gastronomy in Loja Ecuador

BY PIERRE VOLTER

Who has not heard of Italian and French cuisine?

They are considered among the most important in the world. They are characterized by their variety, the result of regional and cultural diversity, but also by their refinement. Their influence is felt in almost every kitchen in the Western world, which have incorporated into their recipes technical knowledge of French and Italian cuisine .” Wikipedia.

Now, Dumas is not a French restaurant nor is it an Italian one. It is an Ecuadorian restaurant of “French/Italian inspiration” where the food is a fusion of different styles. We have already introduced Roberto Delgado, the restaurant owner, a talented and very likeable 30 year old chef, in our previous note Dumas Restaurant – Traditional lunch with a gourmet touch in Loja Ecuador . It is true that the lunches are delicious but, as we were to discover  that night, they are nothing compared to the a la carte dishes served Monday through Friday from 4 to 9 PM.

So? you fool haven’t taken her out yet for dinner at Dumas restaurant?

Dumas - Romantic dinner

I have, and I am delighted to let you know that she confessed to me that it was the best meal of her entire life.

We started with the Dumas salad, a true symphonic piece of work by itself. Roberto brought us a plate full of colors, a mix of greens with mozzarella cheese and crispy caramelized onions, edible flowers that had a pumpkin flavor, olives, sauteed mushrooms  with garlic and honey and mustard vinaigrette with sesame seeds.

salad Dumas
Dumas Salad
At Dumas just forget about what you do not like

I am not a great lover of salads I must admit, but she is. However, both of us we liked it so much that it left us speechless. The truth is that if you do not really like something, like there are people who do not like onions, or I do not like very much olives, my advice is to forget about these preconceptions and simply let the magic of Roberto do its job. You may simply find that you did enjoy what you never used to like.

Then we ordered two entrees, the “Bourbon Ribs” and a Pizza. As the menu says, the ribs are nothing short of  spectacular and they are so tender that they melt in the mouth like butter. The BBQ sauce is, it goes without saying, 100% home made, courtesy of Roberto. They come accompanied with something called “rustic patatoes” and a Dumas salad it could not be otherwise. With a good house red it was really something from another world.

Dumas Restaurant - Bourbon Ribs
French Italian Gastronomy in Loja Ecuador
French Gastronomy in Loja Ecuador
Dumas Restaurant - Bourbon Ribs
Bourbon Ribs – Absolutely Spectacular
Dumas Restaurant - Pizza
Making the Pizza

Roberto prepares his pizzas from fresh and personally selected quality ingredients . He said his handmade mozzarella cheese is the best one can find in this country (from Cuenca). He also prepares the tomato sauce himself. He only uses extra virgin olive oil.

Dumas - Pizza a la piedra
Dumas – Pizza a la piedra
Dumas – Stone Pizza

We had the pleasure of spending a few minutes with Roberto who came to sit at our table and we asked him to tell us a little more of his life.

Roberto Delgado = Dumas Restaurant Owner
Roberto Delgado – Dumas Restaurant Owner

His parents had a restaurant in Loja before named “Gino Ginelli” and it was quite a success too. At this time he was still at school and helped his parents out in his spare time but did not really pay too much attention because he had other plans and gastronomy was not something he was interested in yet. His desire then was to study medicine.

Then I had the opportunity to leave the country in 2004. Apparently at that time Argentina was very convenient for those who wanted to make their higher education abroad. So I went and then decided to study at the school of gastronomy “Gato Dumas“.

Hence the name of his restaurant in Loja. In Argentina, Italian and French cuisine are well known and widely practiced. Then when he left school in 2007, he worked in Buenos Aires in a restaurant of typical food where they attended 500 people each night. Wow! He later returned to Ecuador and worked at a French restaurant in Quito as we explained in our previous article .

Dumas - The best customer service
Dumas – The best customer service

What is really noticeable in Roberto’s attitude, besides his good humor and smile, is his high level of commitment and customer service. While we were talking, customers were coming in, and every time Roberto stood to greet them personally and show them a table.

This surely is the result of his experience outside the country and this should be an example for the many businesses in Loja who have not yet understood the tremendous importance of customer attention and service.

The nail on the coffin. The desserts.

After so much of this rich and tasty food accompanied with red wine, my girlfriend and I were barely standing when they brought us two plates of their special homemade desserts: crème brûlée and chocolate fondant.

Dumas Homemade desserts
Crème Brûlée
Dumas Homemade desserts
Chocolate Fondant

The crème brûlée or burnt cream is also called Catalan cream . You can read about this wonderful dessert on wikipedia here . I already knew it from my previous life in Belgium, a country neighboring France, but for my girlfriend it was the first time. We must say that there are as many versions of crème brûlée as there are chefs who prepare it, some better than others, but, once again, the Roberto’s version of it was one of the best I’ve had.

As per the chocolate dessert, it was so yummy and so rich that I really do not recommend it after eating too many other things or possibly share it between two people.

Social events

One very important thing I want to mention is that “Dumas” also caters for social events such as baptisms, first communions, confirmations, friends gatherings (but no bachelor party, too messy 🙂) etc …

Book your event with just one phone call and enjoy the best …

conclusion

The conclusion is that there is no conclusion because the story does not end here. Roberto told us, but it is a secret and please do not repeat it to anyone, that he is preparing a new menu with new dishes. Then he will surely surprise us again and we will have to revisit our current conclusions whatever they are. Stay tuned.

What is true and will not change is that if you want to experience some fine dining in the city of Loja, and this without killing your budget, Dumas is the ideal place. It offers typical lunches and at night it offers gourmet à la carte dishes at affordable prices.

I can not resist one last comment. Whatever your religious beliefs, it is true that what is done with pleasure and love is always better that what is done out of duty or for money. And love abounds in this place. Only watching how Roberto puts his arm around his mum’s shoulder speaks volume. She helps a lot in the kitchen and has years of experience in restaurants including her own.

Dumas - Made with Love
Dumas – Made with Love

I’m not very religious myself but while the flavors of the bourbon ribs were filling my mouth a thought came to me, sweet like a caress but strong as a revelation,

Dumas must be the proof that God does exist!

The bbxmusic.com team at Dumas Restaurant in Loja
The bbxmusic.com team at Dumas Restaurant in Loja

Thank you, Roberto, our friend from Loja, for these magical moments we lived together on this night of the 15 of July 2016.

To you who read this note we recommend the following.

Do not wait even one more day to visit Dumas restaurant and please do tell us your opinion in the comments section below.

Dumas Trattoria and Restaurant in Loja Ecuador
Dumas Restaurant – A cozy place of French and Italian cuisine in Loja Ecuador
Dumas Restaurant - Traditional lunch with a gourmet touch in Loja Ecuador
Dumas Restaurant – Gastronomy at affordable prices in Loja Ecuador

Contacts

Address: Jose Antonio Eguiguren y Bernardo Valdivieso, Loja, Ecuador
Tel: +593 (0)7 256-1494
Social networks: https://www.facebook.com/dumastrattoria
Opening Hours: 12:00 – 21:00 hours
Dumas Restaurant Map

 

© 2016 bbxmusic.com
All rights reserved

bbxmusic.com

Síganos en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/todoloja

#HechoConAmor #TodoLoja

Dumas Restaurant – A gentle gourmet touch in Loja Ecuador

us English version

BY PIERRE VOLTER

Whatever the correct formula might be for a restaurant to be successful in Loja, it seems that Dumas found it. There is this “je ne sais quoi” that makes one immediately feel as a regular customer although it might be the very first time.

Is it the nice relaxing classic rock – jazz – 1950/60/70 something that is playing ?

Is it Roberto’s always smiling and inviting face, making you want to sit down and enjoy his French inspired gastronomy?

Dumas Restaurant in Loja Ecuador - Roberto Delgado - owner
Dumas Restaurant in Loja Ecuador – Roberto Delgado – Owner and Chef

Is it that social atmosphere that permeates the place where families come to eat together or individuals are happy to join a table with strangers who will become new friends?

Dumas Restaurant in Loja Ecuador - A Place for Families and Friends
Dumas Restaurant in Loja Ecuador – A Place for Families and Friends

Or could it be the decoration, the wooden furniture and the original paintings on the wall?

Dumas Restaurant in Loja Ecuador

Or the typical “almuerzo with a gourmet touch” that Dumas has on offer every single day of the week ?

Lomito de cerdo con salsa de ciruela - pork tenderloin with plum sauce
Pork tenderloin with plum sauce

Could it be that deserts are your worse sin and Dumas is your redemption ?

Dumas Restaurant - The home made deserts
Dumas Restaurant – The home made deserts

Or could it be the classy, professional, super fast and always friendly service that Roberto and Patricio his very experienced garcon provide ?

Dumas Restaurant in Loja Ecuador - Classy Service
Dumas Restaurant – Patricio

To me it seems that it is all of the above combined.

A la carte or set menu ?

At noon, Dumas offers “almuerzos”, usually a soup, a choice of two mains and one desert. For those who are not familiar with life in Ecuador, the word “almuerzo” of course as the dictionary says means “lunch” but it also has another meaning.

Firstly, it means a three course meal made out of a soup of the day, a choice between 2 or some times 3 mains (a meat, a fish) and a small desert. It also includes a non alcoholic beverage such as horchata or juice. Portions are rather small, in my view anyway, but that is what people want here because they also eat at night.

Secondly and most importantly the word “almuerzo” conveys the meaning of “economical“, not expensive, something around the $3 dollar mark per person all included whereas “a la carte” is usually at least double that price.

Dumas does not offer a la carte menus during the day except wen they run out of almuerzos. They do serve a la carte at night though and that will be covered in the next article.

Part 1 : Lunch Time Set Menu

I arrived on this beautiful Tuesday at around 12 noon when things slowly pick up until the place gets in full swing at around 1 PM. This is the famous “almuerzo”, this time of the day when everything comes to a grinding halt in Loja, when people leave the office, shops close their door and people focus on one and only one thing: EAT.

Dumas is conveniently located only a few steps from Loja central square

Dumas is conveniently located only a few steps from Loja central square

While the entire city of Loja goes to sleep, Dumas goes into a frenzy serving their delicious lunches. These lunches are not complicated. This is not the time for gastronomy. This is a time and a place for families, friends, colleagues and couples to eat the typical lunch that they are used to but very importantly with a touch of something that I call

the gourmet touch

This day, after the traditional soup of the day, we had a “lomito de cerdo con salza de ciruela” (pork tenderloin with plum sauce) and a homemade carrot cake for desert which I personally enjoyed with a good cup of espresso coffee.

Roberto makes everything himself from fresh ingredients, meaning that his day starts way before lunch time, making bread, making pastries, making sauces … Roberto who is only 30 studied and worked 4 years in Buenos Aires, then came back to his home land Ecuador to work at “Chez Jérôme” in Quito for Jerome Montelier, a french chef of international reputation. Roberto told me that he was his “sous-chef”. Then after working two years on a boat in Galapagos he finally decided to drop the “sous” in the word “sous-chef” and become his own “chef” in his restaurant called “Dumas” in Loja Ecuador.

Dumas Restaurant Loja Ecuador - Empresa Familiar

Dumas Restaurant - Santiago hermano de Roberto
Dumas Restaurant – Santiago hermano de Roberto

His entire family works there which is yet another proof of this amazing family spirit that Ecuadorians have.

His sister is at the counter, his mother runs the kitchen, his brother helps at the table, even his father lays a hand during peak time.

I was early and I have to admit that just watching all this food being prepared in anticipation of the peak hour made me very hungry. I sat down at the end of one of the large tables and enjoyed my lunch while there were still few people.

I strongly recommend people who read this post and who like me enjoy a quite time to eat to go either early (before 12:30) or late (after 2PM).

Later on, people came to sit down at my table and we chatted. I found out that many people come here every single day. The entire place started looking like a beehive. It struck me that everybody was laughing and having a good time. I got up to wander around and take a few photos. I went upstairs. They have two floors. Everyone seemed happy, relaxed and nobody seemed to be waiting.

Dumas Restaurante en Loja Ecuador - El almuerzo momento feliz
Dumas Restaurant in Loja Ecuador – Lunch and Happiness
Dumas Restaurant in Loja Ecuador - Time for all generations to share family moments
Dumas Restaurant in Loja Ecuador – Time for all generations to share great family moments
Dumas - todo el mundo esta riendo y pasando un buen rato
Everybody having a good time

Conclusion

After having lunch at Dumas, you may no longer want to have an “almuerzo” anywhere else. Indeed, why pay the same price to get a very plain tasteless 90% white rice “almuerzo” somewhere when for the same price you can get that gourmet touch and enjoy a nice recipe with a french sounding name?

Other places should follow the example and learn to develop some culinary imagination to provide better lunches. That would certainly benefit Loja and attract more tourism.

Definitely a thumbs up for Dumas Trattoria and Restaurant and his friendly owner Roberto Delgado. Give it a try by all means a let us know in the comment section below what you think.

Dumas Restaurante Loja
Dumas Restaurant – A gentle gourmet touch in Loja Ecuador

Contacts

Address: Jose Antonio Eguiguren y Bernardo Valdivieso, Loja, Ecuador
Tel: +593 (0)7 256-1494
Social networks: https://www.facebook.com/dumastrattoria
Opening Hours: 12:00 – 21:00 hours

Dumas Restaurant Map

 

© 2016 bbxmusic.com
All rights reserved

bbxmusic.com

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/todoloja

#HechoConAmor #TodoLoja

Studio K Loja – Let the light and the music be

us English version

BY PIERRE VOLTER

Lighting – Design – Automation – Sound – Ambience – Remote Control – Home Theater – Intelligent Home

Don’t we all love our home to be nice, to be a place where we feel good and can relax?

Of course the criteria vary enormously from one person to another with respect to what exactly makes one feel good at home. Having said that, to a certain extend I believe that we all agree that lighting is an important part of it, being the latest hi-tech-state-of-the-art-remote-controlled-LED-system all the way down to oil or Himalaya salt lamps and candles.  It is all about lighting and the common denominator is to create the ambience that we love.

As you probably guess from the headline photo, Studio K in Loja does not sell candles and oil lamps. They do offer an astonishing range of modern lighting options for most tastes and budgets. Their lighting systems can be automated and remote controlled from any smartphone.

Audio

Once the light is good, it is no less important to think about the sound. Studio K is I believe the only company in Loja offering hifi audio solutions and mid to up-market home theaters, not the most expensive systems in the world but very good ones. “The best quality/price ratio on the market”.

Studio K Audio and Home Theaters
Studio K – Marantz entry level home theater (the smallest of 3)

“The brands that we have in audio are Monitor Audio (speakers from the UK, Marantz (Amplifiers USA), Denon (now fused with Marantz) and also SpeakerCraft (in-wall in-ceiling speaker systems, USA)”.

Design

Getting the best results is not a matter  of throwing lights and speakers all over the place, the more the merrier. Design is the name of the game. Studio K does the design free of charge, meaning that they go to your house, take photos, draw some sketches, get back to you with ideas, listen to your feedback, change the drawings … until getting to a final agreed design with a price that suits the family budget.

This is it in a nutshell but there is more to it. Time to to meet Israel Reyes, the owner of Studio K Loja, and listen to what he has to say. Israel is a young and clever engineer. Listening to him it becomes immediately obvious that he loves what he does and that he knows what he is talking about. I did no tell him that I am an engineer too. I played “middle of the road reasonably educated customer” and did not hear anything incorrect or exaggerated in what Israel told me. You won’t find a lot of that in tech shops around Loja.

Studio K Loja - Israel Reyes gerente/manager
Studio K Loja – Israel Reyes manager – a young dedicated and smart engineer

Studio K in Loja is only one year old. It is a franchise of Studio K in Quito, created by a German. The company in Quito has been operating for 33 years. There is another Studio K in Manta.

Lighting

Studio K Lighting

This is their first and main area of expertise. I won’t attempt to describe all that is available. It is all modern, either white or black, some but few colors, no flowery designs, no strong reds, no plastic, nothing pop.

“That is what people want around here”, Israel explains, that is what the architects and the designers, their main customers, seek. Straight lines, some smooth curves. Nothing cheap but nothing horrendously expensive either. For example, the lamp that we see on the photo above costs $200. It is very nice and comes with a warm LED light bulb and of course it can be dimmed. There are cheaper and more expensive options.

Studio K Loja - Iluminacion with Remote Control

“There are two things that are exclusive to us, the design and the automation. We provide the design free of charge and our lighting systems can be remote controlled”.

Installation

“A cozy home has light elements in the ceiling, in the floor and inside the walls. With this combination of elements providing light from different angles, we can create really cozy and stylish ambiences.”

Then, it is a matter of combining lighting with sound. This can be a home theater, a stereo system or a multi-stereo system, one that is distributed throughout the entire house.

With the various possibilities of automation (in wall dimmers, remote control by phone) of both lights and sound, it is easy to understand that things can become rather complex indeed. This is why Studio K has a specialized installation team.

Studio K – Electricians specialized in installation of remote controlled lighting and audio systems
Studio K – Electricians specialized in installation of remote controlled lighting and audio systems

Combining with classic or rustic designs

Saying that what I have seen is all modern does not mean that it cannot be combined with more rustic or even antique “Louis 15” designs. This is important to mention for foreigners living in Cuenca or in Vilcabamba who seem to like more the type of natural rustic earthy and woody architecture.

San Joaquin Vilcabamba
Typical design at San Joaquin Vilcabamba

A few years ago, Joe Simoneta showed me his San Joaquin development in Vilcabamba. He is an architect and uses a lot of timber in his designs.

I revisited some old photos that I have and looked at the lighting.

It struck me that the type of house that is common there could readily benefit from the inclusion of some of what I saw in Studio K showroom.

 

 

Rustic adobe house in Vilcabamba
Rustic adobe house in Vilcabamba

Adobe blocks, rammed earth, guadua bamboo and other earthy type homes would not be hurt either. It is all a matter of creativity.

LEDs and energy saving light bulbs

First, a brief mention of the so called “energy saving light bulb” that is so widespread in Ecuador. It is a fluorescent tube, it contains mercury vapor, the light that it produces is cold, unpleasant and harmful to your health. It does save energy compared to the incandescent light but because of the mercury that inevitably always ends up in the environment it should not really be called a green solution. I hope it disappears soon from residential properties. Their use can still be justified in offices and factories.

LED (Light Emitting Diode) is another thing altogether. It is not really new but the world of LEDs has changed a lot over the past few years. They are no longer prohibitively expensive and no longer white, cold and weak. Israel showed me some rather good looking and small spots that consume 5 Watts of energy and give a strong yellow warm light just light the old Thomas Edison light bulb.

Studio K LEDS

Studio K LEDS
Studio K dimmable LEDs

Studio K even sells a range of LED lights that can be dimmed (dimmable LED light bulbs) which is not the case for those that can be found in the hardware shops. They last forever and pay for themselves on the reduced power bills.

Why not enjoy a nice romantic diner by the candle LED?

Dinner by the candleLED

The show room

Time for a tour of the showroom upstairs which also happens to be the Reyes family home, lucky them! A huge modern and bright room, all open, with a kitchen, an office, a dining room and a small cinema.

Here, Israel explains that they can demonstrate both the remote controlled lighting and the audio/home theater together. People can even try it out on their own phone. Israel rapidly installs the Lutron app and configures it. It gives people a real thrill and sense of ownership to drive all the lights and the sound from their own phone.

Studio K Loja showroom
Remote controlled lights

“The Audio is usually the masculine part and the man is the one who decides whereas the lighting appeals more to the female side and it is the woman who decides… For budget reason he may have to drop one sub woofer in order for her to get that foot lamp that she so much desires!”. It is all about negotiation !

Of course I could not help asking for a demo. Israel launched YouTube that popped up on his larger than life monitor and selected one of my own songs. We sat in the couches and it took half a second for the dog to jump on my knees and settle there. It was day time. I would love to go back once at night time. It must be even better.

Enjoying the Studio K 7.2 Home Theater
Enjoying the Studio K 7.2 Home Theater

Life can be good 🙂

Conclusion

There is so much more to say. This is by no mean an exhaustive review of what Studio K has on offer. More like a teaser. Better to see and hear for yourself. Israel is a very approachable person and will be delighted to show you all his wonderful gadgets. If you look for quality lighting, quality audio, need someone knowledgeable who can design and deliver something cool, trendy, modern, original, energy efficient … for your home, Studio K in Loja is definitely a place to consider.

Contacts

STUDIO K – Loja
Juan Jose Peña 13-52 y Leopoldo Palacios

Tel: (+593 7) 2 580 816
Email: info@studiok.com.ec

web:  http://www.studiok.com.ec/

Studio K Loja

Studio K Loja - Map

 

Studio K Loja – Let the light and the music be
Studio K Loja – Let the light and the music be

© 2016 bbxmusic.com
All rights reserved

bbxmusic.com
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/todoloja

#HechoConAmor #TodoLoja

Reina del Cisne – Pharmacy with a heart in Vilcabamba Ecuador

us English version

 

Do pharmacies have a heart? Or are they just pill pushers? Most modern pharmacies appear to be in the business of selling as many drugs as they can per unit of time.

Not so at Reina del Cisne in Vilcabamba. This is family business since 4 generations and its current owner, Guicela Riofrio, is definitely a lady with a heart who runs her business with a gentle hand.

Where indeed, more than in a pharmacy, does one need good friendly and discrete attention?  You go there with your boo-boos, your ailments, your intimate problems. Are you expected to spit it all out to some hurried employee dressed in white overall in the middle of a crowd?

At the pharmacy Reina del Cisne you will be attended by the owner herself. She has plenty of experience, plenty of patience and will do her best to make you feel that you are in good hands. As per my usual way of collecting information for a write-up, I gave her a live interview with the camera and invited her to tell me about her story and her day to day professional life.

Farmacia Reina del Cisne, VilcabambaGuicela Riofrio

Guicela is Nelly Toledo’s daughter, the person we see on the right side of the photo below. Mrs. Toledo has dedicated her life to pharmacy as well and so had her own mother. Today, Nelly’s daughter has taken that role with the help of her own eldest daughter who we see on the left. Her youngest, also on the photo, albeit still too young to participate is no doubt watching, listening and learning.

Farmacia Reina del Cisne, Vilcabamba
Three generations working together to provide the best service

I spent a few hours in the pharmacy watching people coming in and out. It was entertaining I must say.  I was amused to watch one of two young guys who were sitting drinking beer on the pavement opposite to the pharmacy stand up, walk to the pharmacy and ask for “two pills for the liver”. One lady popped out of a car to buy two “pills for the flu” (whatever that might be)… There is a pill for everything. Then an old lady, “Luchita” was her name, needed new rubber gloves for her kitchen but had trouble remembering her size. So Guicela spent about 15 minutes assessing whether a number 7 or a number 8 was best putting the lady’s hand on top of the shrink wrapped gloves.

Paciencia y cortesia
Trying out the rubber gloves

Privacy is important, she told me. “Many times, people only want to talk to me. We move a little to a corner so that no one can hear. Some times they want to show me a pimp, a lesion, some rash and that is not something people want to do in public of course”.

Watching these people I mentioned above buying “liver pills” or “flu pills” didn’t sound too good to my natural medicine oriented ears and made me want to ask Guicela about the status of health in general around Vilcabamba. She told me that it was not very good. Constipation, fatty liver, parasites in children, psychological problems as well, there is a whole range of ailments in this small paradise of Vilcabamba.

Natural medicine and pharmaceuticals, are they compatible ?

I asked here whether in her opinion there was a contradiction between natural medicine and the use of pharmaceuticals. She said no, they go hand in hand.

“Normally, people here go for natural remedies first and when it does not work  they go to see the doctor”.

“In the case of fatty liver for example, if they don’t eat less fatty food and fried stuff they won’t get better fast. They can take silimarin and B complex tablets and it will help but it is a slow process…”

I wish to make a small parenthesis here. I am not Ecuadorian, I am from Belgium and I liaise with expats in Vilcabamba and Loja, some of whom are knowledgeable in the field of natural health. These people would absolutely not agree that natural medicine and pharmaceuticals go hand in hand. On one hand, strictly speaking and in an absolute world I don’t agree either. We know that tablets interfere with the body and make natural medicine less effective.

On the other hand we don’t live in an absolute world. Now that I have observed Guicela’s world, I understand it better. It is a relative world made of real people and made out of compromises. She knows that it would be better to tell people to stop smoking, stop drinking, eat less bad fatty acids and fried stuff, eat less white rice and white bread, turn the cellphone off, go for a walk, just to give a few examples. Less pills would be necessary. She knows that and certainly does advise people about these things day in day out. It is hard though to change people’s habits. In this context of relativity, what she says about natural medicine and drugs being complementary makes sense.

“Many people come to me because they know that I try to give them other options, not just drugs”.

Medicina natural en la farmacia Reina del Cisne
A few natural products available at the pharmacy Reina del Cisne

To me this pragmatic, realistic attitude that takes into account people’s bad habits, while at the same time advising them of the other options they might have, is really what is needed in a place like Vilcabamba. That is the attitude that I witnessed. Sometime you have to give people the pill that they’re asking.

What? Anxiety and depression in Vilcabamba?


“There are many people with depression here… Family problems … Economical problems … the husband drinks … no help is available … children don’t do well at school …. “.

“Normally I try to give people something natural like valerian passionflower and chamomile… Mind altering drugs no! I almost don’t work with these.”

She surprised me when she said:

“… it is not so much the locals but more the foreigners that seem to suffer of anxiety and depression … It saddens me to watch some people getting worse over the years… There is a problem with alcohol as well”.

One in the morning and one at night
One in the morning and one at night

I asked her about her English. She laughed and told that she does understand most of what people say and can speak enough to explain a posology for example: “one tablet in the morning with breakfast and one at night”.

 

Enemas – Colon cleanse kit

A product that the pharmacy has sold a lot albeit almost exclusively to foreigners is the enema kit.

Kit de limpieza colonica
Colon cleanse or Enema Kit

With this kit, one can do a coffee enema. This is an ancient therapy that can be dated as far back as the Egyptian Pharaohs. Enemas are not a new fad or something that’s only performed by those obsessed with their health. It wasn’t that long ago that enemas were routinely prescribed by doctors as part of a normal cure for illness.

The enema can safely be done at home. It bears no risk whatsoever and in many cases can be very effective almost immediately. Suzy Cohen, also known as “America’s Pharmacist,” declares that coffee enemas are safe when performed by holistic physicians and even at home in her Ask The Pharmacist column. Cohen goes on to say that coffee enemas can be used as therapeutic treatment for a number of conditions, like constipation, fatigue, liver detoxification, and even cancer. Research has confirmed the effectiveness of administering therapeutic agents through the colon instead of the mouth.

If you haven’t tried before and are interested to give it a try, please contact us or contact Guicela who will contact us.

Conclusion

Farmacia Reina del Cisne, Vilcabamba
Guicela Riofrio – Reina del Cisne – Pharmacy with a heart in Vilcabamba Ecuador

At pharmacy Reina del Cisne, you will find something special that has become rare in our modern world: quality service and professionalism delivered by a real human being with a heart who can listen to you and give you sensible advice.

Atendiendo a "Mama Silivia"
“Mama Silivia” at Reina del Cisne Pharmacy

Contacts

Guicela Riofrio
Cell: 09 80700666

Calle Bolivar Vilcabamba (near the police)

Farmacia Reina del Cisne, Vilcabamba

 

© 2016 bbxmusic.com
All rights Reserved

bbxmusic.com
Síganos en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/todoloja

#HechoConAmor #TodoLoja

2016 – Ola de crímenes violentos en Vilcabamba Ecuador

es Versión Español us
English HERE

El texto a continuación es una copia de un post de Jim Braman y Beatriz Benavides-Hilgert en el grupo Facebook “Boletin de Vilcabamba”.

Pues han hecho un tremendo trabajo y pues este post es tan completo y contiene tanta información que pueda ser útil en el futuro (espero que no !), decidí de re-publicarlo aquí en las paginas de seekvilcabamba.com, un lugar mejor, mas permanente y mas cómodo para buscar que Facebook.

Pierre Volter

=======

Saludos a todos,

Antes de repasar lo que sucedió en la reciente reunión permítanme comenzar mediante la revisión de lo que ha ocurrido hasta este punto. Sólo una advertencia: esto no es un breve correo electrónico!

HISTORIA CONDENSADA

La reciente ola de crímenes violentos comenzó hace casi dos años con dos espalda con espalda delitos de secuestro, extorsión. Esto fue una verdadera llamada de atención para todos nosotros. Hemos tenido oleadas de crímenes antes, pero éste ha generado preocupación a nivel nacional, y ha sido la fuente de un esfuerzo más profundo, más amplio hacia una mayor seguridad en Vilcabamba. Cuando se trata de seguridad en general, hay muchos caminos y / o capas que componen el conjunto. No es la prevención, la intervención y la justicia, algunos de éstos se superponen, pero los tres son importantes.

En cuanto a la justicia, el reciente impulso para mejorar nuestras conexiones con los funcionarios del gobierno llegó a un crescendo que culminó en la reunión con el gobernador de la provincia, y luego la visita de Correa. Ahora, varias personas del grupo principal responsable de la creación de las nuevas conexiones gubernamentales están tomando un tiempo libre, y al mismo tiempo que han pedido Beatriz Benavides-Hilgert y para continuar con el impulso que hemos creado como un grupo, y comienza a recibir más organizado en los otros aspectos de la seguridad. Invitamos a otros para ayudarnos a expandir el “núcleo”, porque en realidad, cada uno de nosotros es “núcleo”. Cada uno de nosotros tiene el poder de aumentar o disminuir la seguridad en la comunidad.

Un montón de trabajo ha ido a conseguir donde estamos, pero tenemos un largo camino por recorrer. Dicho esto, ya estamos viendo algunos de los cambios que suceden prometidos. Enjuiciamiento de los crímenes violentos está a cargo de los fiscales más graves que antes, y el Tribunal Supremo recientemente confirmó una sentencia de primera instancia que fue apelada por los autores que secuestraron y extorsionaron dos residentes de Vilcabamba; se van a quedar en la cárcel por muchos años por venir.

Mientras que las reuniones con los funcionarios del gobierno se han preocupado sobre todo con la justicia, y el procesamiento, también hay algunos nuevos esfuerzos gubernamentales hacia la prevención e intervención. Uno de los programas pasa por una unidad de operaciones especiales de la Policía Nacional asignados de forma indefinida a Malacatos y Vilcabamba. Su atención se centra en los elementos organizados de crímenes violentos. Son una unidad secreta y, como tal, no están al tanto de la información más específica, salvo para decir que ellos no están aquí para interrogar y acosar a los extranjeros y restaurantes.

Además, Vilcabamba se le ha asignado un policía local especial para ser un enlace con la comunidad. D. Manuel Chamba es nuestra nueva policía comunitaria, ya pesar de que actualmente la mayoría de habla española, invita a los extranjeros para ayudarle a aprender Inglés. Su trabajo es construir la seguridad de la comunidad a través de una mejor comunicación. Esto significa una mejor comunicación entre la policía y el público, pero más que eso, dentro de cada barrio también. Él es muy entusiasta, y pasa mucho tiempo yendo de barrio a barrio para presentarse y para participar en las actividades del barrio. Él fue enviado aquí porque no ha tenido éxito con lo que otras comunidades.

Él cree, y yo estoy de acuerdo, después de que la colocación de cualquier barras que desee en sus ventanas y cerraduras de las puertas, el principio fundamental de la buena seguridad es una buena relación con los vecinos. Descubre cómo asegurar sus vecinos ecuatorianos se sienten, y piden de una manera abierta, “no-agenda”, lo que su consejo es que los extranjeros en materia de seguridad. Un poco de humildad y escucha va un largo camino.

REVISIÓN REUNIÓN DE LA COMUNIDAD

Como algunos ya saben, nuestra última reunión de la comunidad tenía varios invitados sorpresa, incluyendo la Oficina del Gobernador, el Departamento del Interior, Departamento de Turismo, y el capitán de la policía de Vilcabamba. Los nombres y los datos de contacto de estos funcionarios se enumeran al final del correo electrónico. Cada uno fue la tarea de presentar la información de seguridad, así como solicitar preguntas. Su información era en su mayor general; cómo quieren trabajar con nosotros para mejorar las cosas, y nos dieron su información de contacto y nos animaron a llamar o enviar mensajes con preguntas y preocupaciones. Esto fue seguido por más de diálogo acerca de los sistemas de respuesta de emergencia, y explicando la nueva marcación rápida, servicio de la casa es de emergencia “Tia-poli”. Ha habido problemas significativos con las falsas alarmas. La mayoría de estos han sido ‘bolsillo’ llamadas (llamadas realizadas accidentalmente por la presión de la sesión). El sistema tiene problemas inherentes a las comunidades rurales …. con muchas casas fuera de la red, y no tener las direcciones necesarias para el GPS para guiar efectivamente la policía para una ubicación exacta. El fondo es que ‘Tia-Poli’ tiene un buen potencial, pero es necesario ajustar mucho. No obstante, cada uno de nosotros debería tenerlo instalado como un número de marcación rápida en nuestros teléfonos. Esto se hace por un oficial de la policía local, ya sea en la estación o en su casa. Además, se ha señalado que si habla español, usted todavía tiene ‘911’ para emergencias fuera de la casa, y también para el cuerpo de bomberos.

En una reunión anterior en Charlito de con funcionarios del consulado de Guayaquil, basado en varias historias de fracasos Tia-poli presentados por el público, se determinó que nuestro sistema Tia-Poli es probable que no funciona como debería … sin tener en cuenta el problema de la direcciones rurales. Enrique prometió que iba a mirar en esto, y tengo la intención de seguimiento con él.

Así que la reciente reunión cubrió mucho acerca de los sistemas de respuesta de emergencia, y que era bueno para la gente que sean capaces de compartir hay frustraciones personales y diálogo con los funcionarios a través de la traducción de Beatriz, pero todavía tenemos que tener nuestra propia reunión (s) para discutir y compartir información en los otros aspectos de la seguridad.

SISTEMAS DE RESPUESTA DE EMERGENCIA ALTERNATIVA

Así que mientras esperamos mejoras en la norma TIA-Poli, necesitamos a otros tipos de sistemas de respuesta de emergencia EMPRESA … tales como el sistema de taxis de emergencia que estamos tratando de crear. Muchos taxisistas comparten nuestra preocupación por una mejor seguridad, y varios de nosotros están trabajando en colaboración con ellos. Mientras que está avanzando penosamente a un ritmo más lento que este Americano prefiere, otros estarán organizando lo mismo sobre una base más regional con los extranjeros en barrios específicos que son dueños de camionetas 4×4 y vehículos utilitarios deportivos, utilizando las nuevas radios. Hay tres ideas con el potencial de unirse: los respondedores locales barrio 4×4 de emergencia, el programa de radio / walkie-talkie, y el club deportivo / auto-defensa, sin embargo, sólo una de ellas es muy bien fuera de la tierra, y que es el programa de radio de Edwin.

Más de 50 ALTA CALIDAD de radio / walkie-talkies se han vendido a un costo de alrededor de $ 50 cada uno, y los pedidos adicionales están pendientes. Formación gratuita también ha comenzado, y todo esto a través de un solo hombre: Edwin Roux. Busque sus anuncios thru varias listas de correo electrónico y Facebook. Gracias, hermano Edwin …. usted es increíble!

Equipo de seguridad para casas. SEGURIDAD PERSONAL.

Esta es un área que tenemos que discutir más a fondo. Personalmente, me gustaría ver a los equipos de seguridad realizada como acción regular aquí en una de las tiendas existentes en Vilcabamba. Espero que alguien será el anfitrión de una mini-reunión sobre esto. Hay un par bilingüe en Catamayo que se ha ofrecido a venir presente información. El hombre es también un dentista, y tiene una clínica-oficina portátil, así que tal vez puede venir a ayudar a asegurar algunos dientes, así como nuestras casas!

PRÓXIMA FORMACIÓN DE SEGURIDAD PERSONAL CON CORONEL JARAMILLO Jueves, 7 º abril, con … más anuncios venir

Por último, pero no menos importante el jefe de Policía de la Provincia de Loja está a la espera de reunirse con nosotros. Esta reunión, a pesar de su interés en la autodefensa, es importante para todos. Coronel Jaramillo ha estado pidiendo a venir a Vilcabamba para hablar con nosotros por algún tiempo. No sólo va a hacer el entrenamiento de personal, sino también responder a sus preguntas y preocupaciones individuales.

CONCLUSIÓN

En el futuro, nos veo alejándose de un solo concepto “núcleo”, y hacia sectores autónomas que comparten con, y la superposición de ciertas preocupaciones … que tiene un deseo común de trabajar juntos por el bien de la totalidad. Por ejemplo, en lugar de tener grandes reuniones de la comunidad todos los meses, los grupos pueden optar por mostrar lo que están haciendo en los momentos oportunos de éxito. Pueden optar por coordinar con otros o no. Edwin Roux ha sido bastante independiente hasta este punto con su programa de radio de dos vías, pero ahora puede ser el momento para fusionarse con otros programas.

El crimen viene en olas, pero cuando no hay violencia durante varios meses en funcionamiento, las personas pierden la motivación para hacer las cosas que se necesitan para cambiar la próxima ola de delincuencia en una onda atentados del crimen !! Es difícil mantener la ira como una motivación duradera para hacer cambios positivos, pero la ira adecuadamente canalizado es la fuente de todo tipo de maravillosos programas de transformación de todo el mundo. Por favor, con el fin de evitar que la gente quemarse a cabo, estamos pidiendo a todos a hacer algo para que Vilcabamba un lugar más feliz y más seguro …. no sólo para usted, sino para sus vecinos también. No todo el mundo está interesado en la construcción de relaciones con los funcionarios del gobierno, y no todo el mundo quiere tomar artes marciales o poseer un arma, pero todo el mundo puede hacer algo.

La paz y la prosperidad a todos ….

Jim Braman y Beatriz Benavides-Hilgert

los datos de contacto de los funcionarios en la reciente reunión:

Asistente del gobernador – – Mauro Toledo 099-958-3349
Claudio Renato Galarza – Ministro de Turismo – 099-566-1453
Marco González – Ministerio del Interior – 099-131-7972
Jefe de la Policía de Vilcabamba – Otto Jaramillo – 07-878-7231
Enlace de la Policía Comunitaria – Manuel Chamba – 098-086-9403

2016 - Ola de crímenes violentos en Vilcabamba Ecuador
2016 – Ola de crímenes violentos en Vilcabamba Ecuador

https://bbxmusic.com/ecudor/es/prensa?p=44109

 

El post original de FB esta aquí

https://www.facebook.com/groups/284441554963879/permalink/1016186681789359/

2016 – Wave of violent crime in Vilcabamba Ecuador

us English version es
Español AQUI

The text below is a copy of Jim Braman’s and Beatriz Benavides-Hilgert’s post in the Vilcabamba Bulletin Facebook Group.

Because they have done such tremendous work and because this post is so comprehensive and contains phone numbers, names and other pieces of information that might be useful in the future (I hope not !), we re-publish it here in seekvilcabamba.com, a more permanent and better searchable place than Facebook

Pierre Volter

======

Greetings all,

Before reviewing what happened at the recent meeting let me start by reviewing what has been happening up to this point. Just a warning: this is NOT a short email!

CONDENSED HISTORY

The recent wave of violent crime began almost two years ago with two back to back kidnapping-extortion crimes. This was a real wake up call for all of us. We have had crime waves before, but this one has spawned national concern, and it has been the source of a deeper, broader effort toward greater security in Vilcabamba. When it comes to overall security, there are many avenues and/or layers that make up the whole. There is prevention, intervention, and justice, some of these overlap, but all three are important.

Concerning justice, the recent push for improving our connections with government officials came to a crescendo that culminated in our meeting with the governor of the province, and then Correa’s visit. Now, several people from the core group responsible for creating the new governmental connections are taking some time off, and in the meantime they have asked Beatriz Benavides-Hilgert and I to continue the momentum we have created as a group, and start getting more organized in the other aspects of security. We invite others to help us expand the ‘core group’, because in reality, everyone of us is ‘core’. Everyone one of us has the power to increase or decrease security in the community.

A lot of work has gone into getting us where we are, but we have a long way to go. That said, we are already seeing some of the promised changes happening. Prosecution of violent crimes is being handled by more serious prosecutors than before, and the supreme court recently upheld a lower court decision that was appealed by the perpetrators who kidnapped and extorted two Vilcabamba residents; they will stay in prison for many years to come.

While the meetings with gov’t officials have been mostly concerned with justice, and prosecution, there are also some new governmental efforts toward prevention and intervention. One of the programs involves a special operations unit of the national police assigned indefinitely to Malacatos and Vilcabamba. Their focus is on organized elements of violent crime. They are an undercover unit and as such, we are not privy to more specific information, except to say that they are NOT here to interrogate and harass foreigners and restaurants.

Additionally, Vilcabamba has been assigned a special local policeman to be a community liaison. Mr. Manuel Chamba is our new community policeman, and although he currently speaks mostly Spanish, he invites foreigners to help him learn English. His job is to build community security through better communication. That means better communication between law enforcement and the public, but more than that, within each barrio as well. He is very enthusiastic, and spends a lot of time going from barrio to barrio introducing himself and participating in barrio activities. He was sent here because he has had success bringing other communities together.

He believes, and I agree, that the after putting up whatever bars you want on your windows, and locks on your doors, the core principle of good security is good relationships with neighbors. Find out how secure your Ecuadorian neighbors feel, and ask in an open, ‘non-agenda’ way, what their advice is to foreigners regarding security. A little humility and listening goes a long way.

COMMUNITY MEETING REVIEW

As some may already know, our last community meeting had several surprise guests including the Governor’s Office, the Department of Interior, Dept. of Tourism, and Vilcabamba’s police captain. Names and contact data for these officials are listed at end of the email. They were each tasked with presenting security information as well as soliciting questions. Their information was mostly general; how they want to work with us to improve things, and they gave us their contact info and encouraged us to call or message them with questions and concerns. This was followed by much dialog about emergency response systems, and explaining the new speed dial, house-emergency service “Tia-poli”. There have been significant problems with false alarms. Most of these have been ‘pocket-calls’ (calls made accidentally by the pressure of sitting on one’s phone). The system has problems inherent to rural communities ….with many houses off the grid, and not having the addresses needed for GPS to effectively guide police to an exact location. Bottom line is that ‘Tia-poli’ has good potential, but it needs much tweaking. Not withstanding, each of us should have it installed as a speed dial number into our phones. This is done by an officer from the local police either at the station or at your home. Additionally, it was pointed out that if you speak Spanish, you still have ‘911’ for off-site emergencies, and also for the fire department.

At a previous meeting at Charlito’s with American Consulate officials from Guayaquil, based on several stories of Tia-poli failures presented by the audience, it was determined that our Tia-poli system is likely not working as it should …regardless the problem of rural addresses. Enrique promised that he would look into this, and I intend to follow-up with him.

So the recent meeting covered a lot about emergency response systems, and it was good for folks to be able share there personal frustrations and dialogue with officials via Beatriz’s translation, but we still need to have our own meeting(s) to discuss and share info on the other aspects of security.

ALTERNATIVE EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEMS

So while we wait for improvements in Tia-poli, we need others types of emergency response systems NOW …such as the emergency taxi system we are trying to create. Many taxisistas share our concern for better security, and several of us are working on collaborating with them. While that is plodding along at a pace slower than this Americano would prefer, others will be organizing the same thing on a more regional basis with foreigners in specific barrios who own 4×4 trucks and SUVs, using the new radios. There are three ideas with the potential to come together: the local barrio 4×4 emergency responders, the radio/walkie-talkie program, and the sporting/self-defense club, however, only one of these is really well off the ground, and that is Edwin’s radio program.

Over 50 HIGH QUALITY walkie-talkie radios have been sold at a cost of about $50 each, and additional orders are pending. Free training has also begun, and all of this through one man: Edwin Roux. Look for his announcements thru various email lists and Facebook. Thank you, brother Edwin ….you are amazing!

HOME SECURITY EQUIPMENT AND PERSONAL SAFETY IDEAS

This is an area we need to discuss further. Personally, I would love to see security equipment carried as regular stock right here in one of the existing stores in Vilcabamba. I hope someone will host a mini-meeting about this. There is a bilingual couple in Catamayo who has offered to come present info. The man is also a dentist, and has a portable clinic-office, so maybe he can come help us secure some teeth as well as our houses!

UPCOMING PERSONAL SECURITY TRAINING WITH CORONEL JARAMILLO Thursday, April 7th …more announcements coming

Last but not least the chief of Loja Provincial Police is looking forward to meeting with us. This meeting, regardless of your interest in self-defense, is important for everyone. Coronel Jaramillo has been asking to come to Vilcabamba to speak with us for some time. He will not only do personal training, but also address your individual questions and concerns.

CONCLUSION

In the future, I see us moving away from a single ‘core group’ concept, and toward autonomous sectors that share with, and overlap certain concerns …having a common desire to work together for the good of the whole. For example, instead of having large community meetings every months, groups may choose to showcase what they are doing at timely moments of success. They may choose to coordinate with others or not. Edwin Roux has been quite independent up to this point with his two-way radio program, but now it may be time to coalesce with other programs.

Crime comes in waves, but when there is no violence for several months running, people lose motivation to do the things needed to change the next wave of crime into an ATTEMPTED wave of crime !! It is difficult to sustain anger as a lasting motivation to make positive changes, but anger properly channeled is the source of all kinds of wonderful transformative programs around the world. Please, in order to keep people from getting burned out, we are asking everyone to do SOMETHING to make Vilcabamba a happier and safer place ….not just for yourself, but for your neighbors as well. Not everyone is interested in building relationships with government officials, and not everyone wants to take martial arts or own a weapon, but everyone can do something.

Peace and prosperity to all….

Jim Braman & Beatriz Benavides-Hilgert

Contact data for the officials at the recent meeting:

Mauro Toledo – Governor’s Assistant – 099-958-3349
Claudio Renato Galarza – Minister of Tourism – 099-566-1453
Marco Gonzalez – Ministry of Interior – 099-131-7972
Chief of Vilcabamba Police – Otto Jaramillo – 07-878-7231
Community Police Liaison – Manuel Chamba – 098-086-940

2016 - Wave of violent crime in Vilcabamba Ecuador
2016 – Wave of violent crime in Vilcabamba Ecuador

Original post here

https://www.facebook.com/groups/284441554963879/permalink/1016186681789359/

AGAVEBLU – Comida Mexicana Autentica Orgánica en Vilcabamba

es Versión Español us
English HERE
Por PIERRE VOLTER

D.e.l.i.c.i.o.s.o

Fresco

S a l u d a b l e

Colorido

O r g a n i c o

Sabroso

 

“Hemos sido bendecidos por los dioses de los alimentos … Todo el mundo está tomando conciencia de las infinitas posibilidades que ofrece la cocina Mexicana”   Greg.

La comida mexicana toca todos los sentidos, y sin duda tocó todos los míos cuando tuve la oportunidad de probar una selección de algunos de los mejores platos del restaurante AgaveBlu. La presentación fue tan impresionante que me quedé observando por un momento la variedad de colores y de texturas de los diferentes platos.

Sirvieron una mesa para 3 y me senté allí solo por un corto tiempo, esperando a Isamar y Greg los propietarios del restaurante AgaveBlu, un poco abrumado debo admitir, mirando a toda esa deliciosa comida frente a mí.

Mexican bonanza in Vilcabamba

Me di cuenta de que no les tomó mucho tiempo para preparar toda esta comida. Esto es genial. Menos tiempo de espera es más tiempo para disfrutar de la comida.

Esto seguramente refleja la eficiencia del personal que trabaja en la cocina. Margarita es la encargada de que todo este en perfectas condiciones. Ella trabaja con mucha eficiencia y con una sonrisa.

AgaveBlu kitchen - Margarita
Margarita asando los medallones de pollo

La cocina mexicana va mucho más allá de los nachos, tortillas, tacos, burritos y guacamole. De hecho no existe una sola “comida mexicana” sino una gran variedad, explicó Isamar Vélez, la propietaria de nacionalidad mexicana que ha vivido en Vilcabamba desde hace 8 años. México es un lugar muy grande y cada región tiene sus propias tradiciones y utiliza diferentes ingredientes.

” El Mole “, por ejemplo es el curry de México, una pasta elaborada de 10 diferentes variedades de chiles (pimientos picantes). Hay mole verde, mole amarillo, mole rojo y dependiendo de lo que crece en una región en particular, la preparación será diferente. AgaveBlu sirve el “mole negro”, también llamada “mole de chocolate”, ya que también contiene una pequeña cantidad de chocolate negro.

Una pasión por la comida

Isamar Vélez García es una apasionada por la comida, le encanta cocinar y ha traído a nuestro pequeño pueblo ecuatoriano el conocimiento que ha heredado de sus padres y abuelos en la ciudad de México, donde solía vivir. Yo la escucho con mucho placer y atención …

Isamar Velez - Agaveblu Vilcabamba
Isamar Velez – Agaveblu Vilcabamba

En mi familia todos somos amantes de la cocina. Empecé a cocinar cuando tenía 6 años de edad. Yo pasaba mi tiempo en la cocina con mi madre, y también en la cocina con mi abuela mirando, haciendo preguntas y aprendiendo sus truquitos. La tradición de los domingos en nuestra familia era de preparar una sola comida al día que empezaba en la mañana  y terminaba en la noche. Aun  recuerdo el olor del aceite de oliva y ajo que me hace recordar a mi abuela”.

“Tomamos la calidad de los ingredientes muy en  serio. Tenemos clientes que son alérgicas a ciertas cosas. Utilizamos aceite de oliva y la verdadera mantequilla de vaca para cocinar. También preparamos alimentos crudos para las personas que son partidarios de los alimentos crudos, pero sólo bajo pedido debido a que se necesita más tiempo para preparar ya que la cocina mexicana llena mi día “.

Muchos ingredientes, me explica, no se pueden encontrar aca en Ecuador. La mayor parte de los ajíes son importados en forma seca de México (Chile ancho, Chile guajillo …). Algunos crecen en su propio huerto en Vilcabamba tales como el chile serrano o el chile jalapeño.

Y eso nos lleva a un aspecto esencial de la cocina AgaveBlu: casi todo es orgánico y casi exclusivamente cultivado localmente, en gran parte por los propietarios mismos.

Agaveblu - del huerto a tu plato
AgaveBlu – De nuestro huerto a tu paladar
Agaveblu - Locally grown and organic
AgaveBlu – Locally grown and organic

Directo del huerto a tu paladar. No puede ser más fresco que eso. Les pedí que me enseñen su huerto y un viaje de 5 minutos en un taxi nos llevó hasta las colinas de Mollepamba.

El huerto

A pesar de estar tan cerca del centro del pueblo, en este lugar uno se siente como si estuviera a millas de distancia. Este sitio sigue siendo tierra rural poco desarrollada y es ahí donde AgaveBlu siembra sus verduras. Comenzaron a desarrollar el huerto hace 8 años, esto supuso mucho trabajo, dice Isamar, y ha requerido un montón de compost. El compost se hace en parte de lo que se recicla desde el restaurante. Reciclan todo.

AgaveBlu veggie garden

Me di cuenta de la presencia de una gran cantidad de esta variedad de col risada que los extranjeros llaman “Kale”, una verdura milagrosa que tiene muchos beneficios para la salud, lastimosamente aún poco conocida en esta parte del mundo.

Kale - Col rizada
Col Risada – Kale

Isamar me enseñó las 3 variedades de ajíes que siembran allí, y luego el perejil y el culantro que son ingredientes importantes de la cocina mexicana. También tienen un huerto de hierbas aromáticas tales como el orégano, el romero y otras. Su huerto contiene un gran variedad de plantas.

Tomatillo

Una de las plantas que ha traído de México y que se ha adaptado con éxito acá es el tomatillo verde que se utiliza para preparar la salsa verde que se sirve con las enchiladas y los huevos rancheros.

“Es acido y muy sabroso, pero tienes que probarlo tú mismo …”

A continuación vemos Isamar y Greg con Jorge, su muy amable jardinero ecuatoriano, que me ayuda a encontrar el primer tomatillo verde de mi vida.

 

Tomatillo

Tomatillo

Jorge me contó que le encanta su trabajo. Parece que se ha convertido en un  fan del cultivo orgánico.

Si te gusta el pescado, un punto importante que debes saber es que proviene de la pesca artesanal y consciente. Es traído directamente del Puerto Bolívar de Machala. Nuestro pescador hace todo lo posible para ofrecer siempre una variedad de pescado fresco de temporada.

La carne y el pollo también son orgánicos.

AgaveBlu Tilapia/Trucha al MojoAgaveBlu Tilapia/Trucha al Mojo

“A parte de algunos ingredientes tales como ciertas variedades de ajíes que sólo se encuentran en México, todos los demás productos provienen de la zona misma de Vilcabamba o de Loja o son cultivados por nosotros mismos.”

Isamar Velez Garcia

Full belly, happy heart

Pansa llena, corazón contento

El menú

AgaveBlu ofrece una selección extensa “a la carta”, con todo lo que uno desee de un restaurantes de comida mexicana (nachos, enchiladas, burritos, tortillas, guacamole…) y más. Por ejemplo también ofrece pizzas al estilo italiano con masa fina y crocante.

Probamos 4 platos que están entre los más populares:

  • Nachos (por lo general se sirve como aperitivo)
  • Medallon de pollo con mole negro, que es la salsa con 10 ajíes y chocolate
  • Tacos de cochinita – una especialidad de la casa – tortillas rellenas con carne de cerdo – servido con guacamole
  • pizza sambuca
AgaveBlu Pizza
Pizza Sambuca
Tacos de Conchinita
Tacos de Cochinita

Tacos de conchinita

Me gustó mucho todo, pero tengo que decir que los tacos de cochinita fueron mis favoritos, así como el pollo con salsa mole.

 

 

 

 

Las bebidas

Además de las marcas habituales de cervezas nacionales, AgaveBlu sirve la cerveza artesanal Zarza, fabricada en la ciudad de Loja, que la contienen en barriles.

Ofrecen una selección de jugos verdes y tropicales. Su café es cultivado y tostado por una familia de Vilcabamba. Sirven café filtrado, expresos y capuchinos.

Los postres

Después de toda esta bonanza sabrosa, nada mejor que un buen postre. Muchos restaurantes te desilusionan en el campo de los postres. No es así en AgaveBlu. En pocos minutos la mesa volvió a llenarse, esta vez con un surtido de 3 postres diferentes, capuchinos y un café expreso para mí.

AgaveBlu Desets

Mientras disfrutábamos de los postres que eran absolutamente deliciosos los tres, conversamos un poco más sobre la vida en México, la vida en general y lo que significa para ellos ser los gerentes de este restaurante.
Blessed by the food gods

Quiero dejar la última palabra a Greg que lo resumió todo de esta manera:

“Hemos sido bendecidos por los dioses de los alimentos y estamos muy orgullosos de poder traer la comida mexicana, el patrimonio de México, a esta parte del mundo. Porque la comida es deliciosa, y es fresca,  es saludable y colorida y sabrosa. Todo el mundo se está despertando a las infinitas posibilidades que existen en la cocina Mexicana. Estoy muy bendecido de ser parte de esta presentación “.

Comentarios de los clientes

Alan Kales vive en Vilcabamba desde hace nueve meses. Él es un cliente regular de AgaveBlu.

La comida aquí es siempre excelente. Nunca he tenido una mala experiencia.”

The food is always superb
The food is always superb

Otro de sus clientes regulares es Joseph Connelly, mas conocido como “Joe”, de Nueva Zelanda y residente en Vilcabamba desde hace muchos años. El estaba pasando por allí. Él me comentó que visita el restaurante por lo menos 3 veces por semana, no necesariamente para comer, pero también a veces para tomar una bebida, conversar con la gente, mirar a las chicas (eso dijo el)…. Le pedí su opinión sobre el lugar.

“La comida es sumamente excelente … Tiene sabor y textura y el servicio es excelente”.

Joe - the food is supremely excellent
Joe – the food is supremely excellent

Image50

Un agradecimiento especial para el buen sentido del humor de Greg que vemos en la foto de arriba dando un billete de $5 dólares a Joe por sus buenos comentarios. ”

“Esto te costará mucho más que eso! ” dice Joe.

Esta es la actitud ! Este es el espíritu  🙂

Conclusión

Si te gusta la comida sabrosa, sana, orgánica, si te gusta la comida un poco picante, si te gusta la comida mexicana, si te gustan las buenas pizzas o si sólo quieres pasar un buen rato mirando la variedad de gente pasar mientras disfrutas de un café expreso o de una rica cerveza artesanal y de un servicio de calidad, este lugar quizá es exactamente lo que has estado buscando.

Deseo agradecer a Isamar y Greg por el tiempo maravilloso que pasamos juntos. No sólo la comida fue excelente, sino también sus personalidades, su carisma y pasión por lo que hacen, a mi me hicieron sentir de maravilla y sin duda hacen lo mismo con todos sus clientes.

 

AGAVEBLU Vilcabamba - Exquisite Mexican Food in Ecuador

AGAVEBLU – Comida Mexicana Autentica Orgánica en Vilcabamba

Contactos

Dirección: Calle Bolívar (parque central) – Vilcabamba
Tel: +593 (0)980881035  +593 (0)959057384
Redes sociales:
https://www.facebook.com/agavebluvilcabamba
https://www.facebook.com/agave.azul.vilca

AgaveBluMap

Horario

AgaveBluHorario

 

© 2016 bbxmusic.com
Todos Derechos Reservados

bbxmusic.com
Síganos en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/todoloja

#HechoConAmor  #TodoLoja

AGAVEBLU – Exquisite Organic Mexican Food in Vilcabamba

us English version

BY PIERRE VOLTER

D.e.l.i.c.i.o.u.s

Fresh

Healthy

Colorful

O r g a n i c

Tasty

“We are blessed by the food gods … The whole world is waking up to the infinite possibilities that are inhered in the cuisine of Mexico”   Greg.

Mexican food touches all your senses and it certainly touched all of mine when I was given the opportunity to sample a selection of some of AgaveBlu best dishes. The presentation was impeccable, it was as much something that I wanted to look at as something that I wanted to taste and eat.

We set the table for 3 and I sat there alone for a short while, a bit overwhelmed I must admit looking at all that colorful food in front of me while waiting for Isamar and Greg, the AgaveBlu owners to join me.

Mexican bonanza in Vilcabamba

I noticed that it took them virtually no time to prepare the meals. This is great. Less time waiting is more time enjoying the food.

An efficient well run kitchen is part of what makes a good restaurant. Margarita is the person in charge, she is fast, loves what she does and does it with a smile.

AgaveBlu kitchen - Margarita
Margarita preparing the chicken

Mexican cuisine goes way beyond nachos, tortillas, tacos and burritos. Actually there is no such thing really as “Mexican food” explained Isamar Velez, the Mexican owner who has lived in Vilcabamba for 8 years. Mexico is a big place and each region has its own traditions and uses different ingredients.

Mole” for example (pronounce “moley”) is the Mexican curry, a paste made out of as many as 10 different varieties of chiles (chili peppers). There is green mole, yellow mole, red mole and depending on what grows in a particular region, the mole will be different. AgaveBlu serves the “dark mole” also called “chocolate mole” because it also contains a small quantity of dark chocolate.

A passion for food

Isamar Velez Garcia is passionate for food, loves cooking and has brought to our small Ecuadorian village the knowledge that she inherited from her parents and grand parents in Mexico city where she used to live. I listen to her with pleasure and attention…

Isamar Velez - Agaveblu Vilcabamba
Isamar Velez – Agaveblu Vilcabamba

We are all foodies in the family. I started cooking when I was 6 years old. I was in the kitchen with my mum, I was in the kitchen with my grandmother. On Sundays we had a day with just one meal that started in the morning and lasted the whole day. I do recall the smell of olive oil and garlic that brings me back to my grandmother all the time“.

“We take the quality of our ingredients most seriously. We have clients who are allergic to certain things. We use olive oil and real farm butter to cook. I also prepare raw food for people who are raw foodists but only on order because it takes more time to prepare and just the Mexican cooking fills my day”.

Many ingredients she explained cannot be found here in Ecuador. Most of the chiles are sourced in their dry form from Mexico (chile ancho, chile guajillo…). Some she grows in her own veggie garden in Vilcabamba (chile serrano, chile jalapeño).

And that brings us to an essential aspect of the AgaveBlu cuisine: it is almost all organic and almost exclusively locally grown, much of it by the owners themselves.

Agaveblu - del huerto a tu plato
Agaveblu – From the garden to your plate
Agaveblu - Locally grown and organic
AgaveBlu – Locally grown and organic

It does not get fresher than that. I asked to take a look at the garden and we went for a 5 minute drive in a taxi up the hills to Mollepamba.

The garden

Despite being so close to the center of the village, it feels like being miles away. This is still largely undeveloped rural land and that is where AgaveBlu grows its vegetables. They started the garden 8 years ago, it has been a lot of work, Isamar says, and has required a lot of compost. The compost is partly made from what is recycled from the restaurant. We recycle everything.

AgaveBlu veggie garden

I noticed a lot of this hardy cabbage variety called “Kale”, a miraculous green that has so many health benefits, still poorly known in this part of the world.

Kale - Col rizada
Kale – Col rizada

Isamar showed me the 3 varieties of chiles that she grows there, then the parsley and cilantro which are important ingredients of Mexican cuisine, then the herb garden with oregano, rosemary and others, and much much more. Her garden is well developed.

Tomatillo

One species that she brought from Mexico and has successfully adapted here is the green tomatillo which is used to make green sauce (salsa verde) that is served with enchiladas and eggs.

“Tart and very savory, but you have to try it for yourself…”

Here they are, Isamar and Greg, with Jorge, their friendly Ecuadorian gardener, showing me what a tomatillo looks like.

Tomatillo

Tomatillo

Jorge told me that he likes his job very much there and has become a big fan of organic gardening.

If you like fish, you won’t be disappointed either.

All seafood is wild caught and comes from a fisherman in Puerto Bolivar (port of Machala). They strive to offer a variety of fresh fish depending on the season.

Meet and chicken are also organic.

AgaveBlu Tilapia/Trucha al Mojo
AgaveBlu Tilapia/Trucha al Mojo

“Apart from the hot peppers and some items that can only be sourced from Mexico, all our ingredients are sourced locally from Vilcabamba or Loja or grown by ourselves.”

Isamar Velez Garcia

Full belly, happy heart

Pansa llena, corazón contento

The menu

AgaveBlu has an extensive “a la carte” menu with everything one expects from a Mexican restaurants and more. For example they have a large selection of Italian style crispy thin based pizzas.

The 4 dishes that we tried were among the most popular ones:

  • Nachos (usually served as entree)
  • Medallon de pollo con mole – chicken medallions in mole sauce – that is the sauce with 10 chiles and chocolate
  • Tacos de cochinita – a specialty of the house – tortillas filled with pork – served with guacamole
  • Pizza Sambuca
AgaveBlu Pizza
Pizza Sambuca
Tacos de Cochinita
Tacos de Cochinita
Tacos de conchinita
Enjoying the tacos de conchinita

I really enjoyed everything but I must say that the tacos were my favorites as well as the chicken with the mole sauce.

 

 

 

 

Drinks

In addition to the usual Ecuadorian brands, AgaveBlu serves the Zarza craft beer from Loja which they have on tap.

They have a good selection of juices, tropical and green. Their coffee is grown and toasted by a local Vilcabamba family. They serve filter coffee, espressos and cappuccinos.

The deserts

After all this savory bonanza, nothing better than a perfect desert. Many restaurants let you down in the desert department. Not so at AgaveBlu. In no less than a few minutes the table was full again, this time with an assortment of 3 different deserts, cappuccinos and a black espresso for me.

AgaveBlu Desets

While enjoying the deserts which were all three absolutely delicious, we conversed a little more about life in Mexico, life in general and what it meant to them to run this restaurant.

Blessed by the food gods

I wish to leave the last word to Greg who summed it all this way:

“We have been blessed by the food gods and we are very proud to be able to bring Mexican food, the patrimony of Mexico, to this part of the world. Because the food is delicious, and it’s fresh, and it’s healthy, and it’s colorful and tasty. The whole world is waking up to the infinite possibilities that are inhered in the cuisine of Mexico. I am just really fortunate to be part of this presentation.”

Customer Feedback

Alan Kales has been in Vilcabamba for nine months. He is an AgaveBlu  regular.

The food here is always superb. I have never had a bad meal.

The food is always superb
Alan Kales “The food is always superb”

Another one of their regulars, Joseph Connelly, aka “Joe”, from New Zealand and long time resident of Vilcabamba, walks by. He says to me that he comes at least 3 times a week to the restaurant, not necessarily to eat but sometimes just to have a drink, chat with people, watch life goes by. I ask him his opinion about the place.

“The food is supremely excellent… It has taste, texture and flavor and the service is excellent”.

Joe - the food is supremely excellent
Joe – the food is supremely excellent

Image50

A special thanks for Greg’s wonderful sense of humor who we see on the photo above handing a $5 dollar note to Joe for his good comments.

This will cost you much more than that !” says Joe.

 

That’s the spirit  🙂

Conclusion

If you like tasty, healthy, organic food, if you like it a little spicy, if you like Mexican food, if you like pizzas or if you want to just spend some time watching life goes by while sipping a good espresso coffee, a good craft beer, this place maybe exactly what you have been looking for.

I wish to thank Isamar and Greg for the wonderful time that we spent together. Not only was the food excellent but their personalities, their charisma and passion for what they do, made me and no doubt makes their customers feel great.

AGAVEBLU - Exquisite Organic Mexican Food in Vilcabamba
AGAVEBLU – Exquisite Organic Mexican Food in Vilcabamba

Contacts

Address: Calle Bolivar (parque central) – Vilcabamba
Tel: +593 (0)980881035  +593 (0)959057384
Social networks:
https://www.facebook.com/agavebluvilcabamba
https://www.facebook.com/agave.azul.vilca

AgaveBluMap

Opening Hours

AgaveBluHorario

 

© 2016 bbxmusic.com
All rights reserved

bbxmusic.com
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/todoloja

#HechoConAmor  #TodoLoja

EcuadorVIDA – Your friendly legal expert in Loja Ecuador


es Español AQUI

(traducción es generada por google translate, no nos responsabilizamos por los errores encontrados)

Immigration and Visas,
Container of Personal Items
Import / Export
Companies
Real Estate

If you are looking for a friendly, relaxed, low key, highly experienced lawyer in Loja Ecuador to take care of your legal affairs, whether personal or business, look no further than EcuadorVIDA.

You will be attended by Dr. Ramiro Carrión, a professional lawyer with over 20 years of experience with the Ecuadorian legal system. As a person who has filled several positions in public institutions including the High Court, Ramiro knows the system inside out and has a wide network of contacts. It is my observation as an immigrant who has lived a number of years in this country that here in Ecuador a good network of relationships is as important as knowledge and experience.

Dr. Ramiro Carrión - EcuadorVIDA - Loja Ecuador
Dr. Ramiro Carrión – EcuadorVIDA – Loja Ecuador

 

The man is busy, answering calls, attending people, running to and from hearings and still manages to keep a relaxed attitude and a smile. I interviewed him in his office of Calle Sucre in the heart of the city of Loja. I need to mention straight away that Ramiro frequently travels to Vilcabamba where he can attend his clients too.

Image19-002

Ramiro works in one of these beautiful historic homes in Loja made out of natural materials like rammed earth and tropical woods. This house has some history as it belongs to his grandfather Clodoveo Jaramillo Alvarado, a great historian whose brother was none less than Pio Jaramillo Alvarado, a symbolic icon in this country.

In this beautiful home, you will find an atmosphere of tranquility, suitable to discuss the issues that bring you there.

And I have to admit that I enjoyed for once to be looking at a painting of a woman reading a book rather than the usual blindfolded woman holding the scale.

EcuadorVIDA

Immigration and Visas

Passport

 

“My main focus is everything that relates to immigration: obtaining visas and residency, shipping your belongings from overseas, buying, selling and developing property and sorting out any type of real estate issue … “

 

Ramiro Carrion - Highly experienced lawyer in Immigration and Visas
Ramiro Carrion – Highly experienced lawyer in Immigration and Visas

“I have many many friends in Loja and in Vilcabamba, many foreigners too, from all countries, and I have helped many who found their new home in Ecuador sorting out the problems they had with regard to the immigration legal process. I am providing a legal advice that is just and intelligent to make their new life in Ecuador as easy and trouble free as possible”.

English, French, German and now more recently Chinese and Japanese are the most common languages that Ramiro deals with. The man himself is not a polyglot but thanks to his extended network of collaborators and friends,  communication has never been an issue irrespective of the spoken language.

Isamar Velez
Isamar Velez

When it comes to do a proper legal translation of some document from or to English, Isamar Velez, a commercial engineer from Mexico, who has lived in Vilcabamba for over 10 years, takes care of it. She has a lot of experience and is very professional.

 

 

 

“Migration is not complicated but is has to be done step by step and done right and that requires an experienced lawyer…”

“What we aim for is to give our clients peace of mind, the reassurance that things are under control and well managed.”

“Some transactions must be done with the client because they might require a photo for example but in most cases we handle the process independently and will deliver the visa to the client when ready. Our service is all comprehensive including the very final step of the residency process which is to obtain the identity card, the cedula as it is called here, which requires a trip to Cuenca.”

Personal belongings

Ever_Given_container_ship

 

We take care of making sure that your belongings get delivered to your door in the minimum amount of time.

Another important step in the immigration process is the shipment of one’s personal belongings to Ecuador, something that can be done totally tax free within the 6 months following issuance of the residency visa. EcuadorVIDA has in depth knowledge and experience in this area.

Real Estate

Real Estate Loja Ecuador
“In general my clients are people from Loja who want to sell a piece of property in Loja, Vilcabamba, Malacatos, Yangana, Quinara and nearby places We put them in touch with prospective purchasers.”

 

As an expat in Ecuador, especially if you barely speak any Spanish, the process of acquiring a piece of property, which could be the very first thing you have to do in order to obtain your visa in the case of an investment type visa, is tricky and can lead to unpleasant surprises. This is why it is of uttermost importance to work with a law firm that knows the ropes and will carry out all due diligence on your behalf.

Ramiro insists that he is not a real estate agency but rather acts as a facilitator between the seller and the buyer. He uses Facebook and mouth to mouth to bring people in contact. For example, you as a potential buyer let him know your criteria and he will tap into his extensive network of contacts to find the right property for you.

“We are lawyers of many people and companies here in Loja and that puts us in a good position to know about what is available. We have a portfolio of about sixty properties from Malacatos to Yangana, in Taxiche, on the Malacatos high grounds, occidental and oriental : El Carmen, El Sauce, San Francisco, La Granja, El Prado and then going to Vilcabamba, in San Pedro, Sacapo, Quinara, Yangana Cucanama…”

At this point of the interview I notice that Ramiro gets quite enthusiastic. It is obviously something that he enjoys very much doing.

EcuadorVIDA Real Estate

“After we help the purchaser to identify the right property, we then give him/her the legal advice and assistance to go through the entire process, we deal with the city council, the property register, we issue the documents … basically to avoid the buyer any possible pitfall during the process.”

Conclusion

Ramiro Carrión is a dedicated person, intelligent and well articulated. He puts a strong emphasis on friendships and collaborations. He mentioned in the course of the interview that many of his clients have become friends and in turn contribute to the services he provide. This is something important in a cosmopolitan place like Vilcabamba when one suddenly has a requirement for a translation of a German, French or Japanese document.

We invite you to contact him for an assessment of your legal requirements and we welcome any feedback.

EcuadorVIDA - Your friendly legal expert in Loja Ecuador
EcuadorVIDA – Your friendly legal expert in Loja Ecuador

Contact

Address: Sucre 06-79 between José Antonio Eguiguren y Colon, Loja Ecuador
Tel: +593 (0)997967639
Email: ramirocj@yahoo.com
Social networks: https://www.facebook.com/ramirocj

EcuadorVIDA Map

EcuadorVIDA - Calle Sucre Loja
EcuadorVIDA – Calle Sucre Loja

EcuadorVIDA - Your friendly legal expert in Loja Ecuador

© 2016 bbxmusic.com
All rights reserved

bbxmusic.com
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/todoloja

#HechoConAmor  #TodoLoja