A reader sent this note and photo:

Gary, On several occasions I have ordered Roses from you for a very special lady. On this occasion it was for her birthday. I ordered 50 and was not disappointed. I have attached a photo of us as proof of how beautiful they really are. I will be ordering more, as they are a terrific value.  Regards to You and Merri

He ended his kind note with an Irish proverb we have all heard at one time or the other but worth reading again:

Work like you don’t need the Money
Dance like no one is Watching
Sing like no one is Listening
Love like you’ve never been Hurt
And live life every day as if it were your Last

We just had a note about Easter roses and lilies from Roberto Ribadeniera, our flower supplier. He wrote:

Gary, I just talked to the farm about lilies, here is what we can do for Easter:

Easter is on April 4th which is Sunday.

So we can schedule the lilies or roses to arrive on Thursday April 1st, 2010.

The price for roses still the same $79 for 50.

Easter lilies will be the large oriental variety in assorted colors (white & pink) like this.

The packing is an eight box, for either 50 roses or 20 stems of lilies.

The price for lilies will also be $83.

Roberto

Learn more about Ecuador Roses here

Learn how Fedex delivers Ecuador Easter lilies to your home.

Learn how to earn income globally exporting Ecuador flowers at our Ecuador export course.

Learn how to export Ecuador flowers at our  Ecuador Export Expedition Tour ($499 or couple $749)

Stay on and look at Ecuador real estate opportunity.

Apr. 17-18   Imbabura Real Estate Tour ($499 or couple $749)
Apr. 20-21  Coastal Mid Coast Real Estate Tour ($499 or couple $749)
Apr. 23-24  Quito & Mindo Real Estate Tour ($499 or couple $749)

You enjoy discounts by attending multiple seminars and tours.

May 9-12       Super Thinking + Spanish Course, Cotacachi Ecuador
May  13-14    Ecuador Shamanic Mingo
May  16-17    Imbabura Real Estate Tour
May  19-20    Coastal Real Estate Tour
May  22-23    Quito Real Estate Tour
May  25-26    Cuenca Real Estate Tour

June 24       Quantum Wealth North Carolina
June 25-27    International Investing and Business North Carolina
June 28-29    Ecuador Travel & Andes=
June 30-Jul 1 Imbabura Real Estate Tour
July 3-4      Coastal Real Estate Tour
July 6-7      Quito Real Estate Tour
July 9-10     Cuenca Real Estate Tour

Sept.   3-6   Ecuador Export Tour
Sept.   8-9   Imbabura Real Estate Tour
Sept. 11-12   Coastal Real Estate Tour
Sept. 14-15   Cuenca Real Estate Tour
Sept. 17-18   Ecuador Shamanic Mingo

Oct.    7     Quantum Wealth North Carolina
Oct.   8-10   International Investing & Business North Carolina
Oct.   11-12  Travel to Quito and Andean Tour
Oct.  13-14   Imbabura Real Estate Tour
Oct.  16-17   Coastal Real Estate Tour
Oct.  19-20   Quito Real Estate Tour
Oct. 22-23    Cuenca Real Estate Tour

Nov.    4-7   Super Thinking + Spanish Course Florida
Nov.    8-9   Travel to Quito and Andean Tour
Nov. 10-11    Imbabura Real Estate Tour
Nov. 13-14    Coastal Real Estate Tour
Nov. 16-17    Quito Real Estate
Nov. 19-20    Cuenca Real Estate Tour

Dec.   3-5    Ecuador Shamanic Mingo
Dec.   7-8    Imbabura Real Estate Tour
Dec.  10-11   Coastal Real Estate Tour
Dec. 13-14    Quito Real Estate Tour
Dec. 16-17    Cuenca Real Estate Tour

Leather handbags from Cotacachi Ecuador.

Handbags is just one type of export from Ecuador but opportunity for Ecuador handbags is growing.

Here is why:

Newswire.com stated in a 2010 Handbag Retail Report:  Over the last few years, handbags market has witnessed a sea change which has resulted in the entire shift in its value chain with handbags production being shifted to low-cost countries like India, China and at the same time new channels of distribution emerging like online retailing. Also, change in the consumer preferences like growing demand for eco-friendly handbags has forced the companies to change and adapt their strategies according to the changing consumer preferences.

  
The key trends witnessed both in the US and EU handbag market is the growing demand for branded handbags from China and India as per capita income is rising in these markets fueled by high economic growth rates. Another trend witnessed is the growing importance of eco-fashion, resulting in the shift in consumer preferences. This has resulted in a shift in manufacturing process, as some handbags now being made from old wrappers, cartons and other waste materials.

Ecuador is the perfect place to create high end eco friendly handbags such as Chigras, the bags made from plant fiber.

Here is an Ecuador craftsman scrapping leaves of the Aguave plant to create…

fiber to make Shigra bags like this… green… hand made for the wearer.  Maybe $30 retail and they could look better than the Fendi!

At International Living’s recent Ultimate Event, I share ideas about Ecuador exports with 375 delegates.

We looked at ideas on exporting Ecuador roses.

I showed delegates really inexpensive Ecuador hand man suits.

This is a brand new hand made suit for just $275. (The Panama hat was $9 extra).

The key to success in an export business is passion and many delegates met our friend Steeny Harvey who was selling exports at the IL Event.  Her passion is a children’s  school and she told us that she raised $746 for the school.  Here is Steeny.

Here is a photo of our booth at IL’s Event and Bonnie Keogh who leads our Ecuador export tours.  Bonnie gained great success selling exports at Cultural Fairs in New England.

The fact that modern technology allows small businesses to turn passions into profit is perfectly time because inflation is robbing the purchasing power of our currencies and 
Baby Boomers have started to retire.

Many of pensions and social security will be severely squeezed by inflation, leaving boomers with few options.

#1: Keep working
 at bad jobs

#2: Move to less expensive areas within the US

#3: Export their retirement

#4: Live in near poverty

#5: Invest in better ways

The best investment a person can make is in their own small business and the ability to earn wherever you live or go.

60 million boomers will retire over the next 20 years. We boomers are the most spoiled group of consumers as a demographic class that has ever existed on earth.  We were promised the world.  We were given the world. Now the magic is about to disappear.

Those who learn how to use modern technology have the best chance for truly enjoying the golden years as we enjoy the process of earning extra income.  

To help our readers earn extra income we have created three courses.

Learn more about them here.

How to have an international business.

How to have a self publishing business.

How to have a web based business.

In the old era, people worked to earn so they could use the money to have some fulfillment and fun.  Join many of our readers who are reversing their lifestyle… doing what they love and figuring out how to earn in the process.

Gary

Many people have a passion for handbags and fashion s here are some Ecuador handbags we viewed on our last…

Ecuador export tour.

See how thoughts from this man and an example from…

this man can enhance your health and wealth as well as help you speak Spanish.

The ability to speak Spanish… even if you never leave the US is valuable in this day and age.   Spanish opens access to a good labor force and helps you communicate with a useful part of the American population.

Beyond Spanish knowledge is bliss. Ignorance is not and in these times of rapid change the more knowledge we can absorb, retain and recall… the better our chances of success… higher income… less stress…. better health and more fulfillment.

So it’s little wonder that the attendance at our Super Thinking + Spanish and Quantum Wealth courses have grown dramatically.   Our changing world not only reinforces the need to speak Spanish but also requires us to be smarter.

Our Quantum Wealth and Super Thinking plus Spanish courses are among the few I know that not only share valuable information but help the delegates become smarter so they absorb, retain and recall the education more effectively.  The course does through the power of music… a power we all already have within.

The first picture above is of Austrian scientist, Karl Pribram.

According to Wikepedia: Pribam is a professor at Georgetown University , and an emeritus professor of psychology and psychiatry at Stanford University and Radford University.

Pribram tries to explain this power we all have within in scientific terms.

Pribam is  a neurosurgeon, who pioneered work on defining the power of our limbic systems, the relationship of the frontal cortex to the limbic system, the sensory-specific “association” cortex of the parietal and temporal lobes, and the classical motor cortex of the human brain.   He is also known for his development of the holonomic brain model of cognitive function and his contribution to ongoing neurological research into memory, emotion, motivation and consciousness.

What the heck is a holonomic brain model?

The answer to that, I fear, is beyond me. An excerpt from the research paper entitled  “Comparison between Karl Pribram’s “Holographic Brain Theory” and more conventional models of neuronal computation”  by Jeff Prideaux might explains why the understanding is complex.

The excerpt says:  Karl Pribram’s holonomic theory reviews evidence that the dendritic processes function to take a “spectral” transformation of the “episodes of perception”. This transformed “spectral” information is stored distributed over large numbers of neurons. When the episode is remembered, an inverse transformation occurs that is also a result of dendritic processes. It is the process of transformation that gives us conscious awareness.

Pribram says that both time and spectral information are simultaneously stored in the brain. He also draws attention to a limit with which both spectral and time values can be concurrently determined in any measurement (Pribram, 1991). This uncertainty describes a fundamental minimum defined by Gabor in 1946 (the inventor of the hologram) as a quantum of information. Dendritic microprocessing is conceived (by Pribram) to take advantage of this uncertainty relation to achieve optimal information processing. Pribram then says that the brain operates as a “dissipative structure” where the brain continually self-organizes to minimize this uncertainty. The next few sections will attempt to explain the concept of the “uncertainty principle” and the concept of “dissipative structures” that self-organize.

The Uncertainty Principle

Quantum Physics

In quantum physics, the uncertainty principle can be described in the following way (paraphrased from Pagels, 1982): Consider that you have a device that can simultaneously measure the position and momentum of a single electron. Every time you push a button, the device displays numerical values for the position and momentum. Although, each time you press the button, you will get slightly different measurements for the momentum and position. If enough measurements are taken, then a statistical analysis can be performed. Heisenberg defined the term delta q as indicating the spread or uncertainty of the position measurements around some average value and delta p as indicating the spread or uncertainty of the momentum measurements around some average value (for the series of measurements). He then found that (delta q)x(delta p)>=h where h is Plank’s constant. For a series of measurements, the positions can be expressed as an average +/- some uncertainty. Likewise for the momentum. No matter how good one makes a quantum measuring device, the products of the uncertainties can never be less than Planks constant. For example, if you could build a measuring device that exactly determined the position (where delta q = 0) then you would not be able to determine anything about the momentum (delta p = infinity). There is a similar uncertainty relation for the energy of a particle and the elapsed time. For a series of measurements, the product of the uncertainty of the energy (delta E) and the uncertainty of the elapsed time is always greater or equal to Planks constant. (delta E)x(delta t)>=h.

Communication theory

In communication theory, a variation on the uncertainty principle also holds (Gabor, 1946). The measurement of the frequency can be made with arbitrary precision. Likewise, the measurement of the time of occurrence can be made with arbitrary precision. But there is a limit to the precision when these measurements are taken simultaneously. One can exactly measure either the frequency (of for example a tone) or the time (of occurrence) but not both at the same time. For instance, if the time of occurrence were known (indicating an impulse function) there would be frequency components all up and down the spectrum. If, on the other hand, the frequency information was exactly known, one would not know any information about when it occurred. A single peak (or peak pair if you consider the corresponding negative frequency) in the spectrum implies that the tone has infinite extent in the time domain. Analogously to the quantum uncertainty principle, when frequency and temporal measurements are made simultaneously, there is a limit to the precision possible. Pribram claims that the brain functions as a dissipative structure to seek to decrease this uncertainty in the direction of its theoretical limit.

Dissipative Structures

The second law of thermodynamics holds that the entropy always increases in any isolated system (figure 10). This simply means that if something is left to itself, it will move towards equilibrium…it will move towards maximal disorder…its internal energy state will tend to be minimized. There has not been, to date, any confirmed observation that this law is invalid.

I have printed this report and read it and read it… but it still has not sunk in.

However I am getting some clues about how our mind works.

The first clue is that we do not have “a mind”.

Primbam when asked in an interview about the mind said:

Well, I don’t like the term the mind, because it reifies — that means it makes a thing of — something that’s a process. We pay attention, we see, we hear. Those are all mental processes, mental activities. But there isn’t a thing called the mind. There might be something you want to call yourself, but the mind sort of makes something concrete out of something that’s very multifaceted.

This clue is that our mind is not a thing… but a process that takes place in the brain.. body and maybe elsewhere…. at some quantum level.

Life is a continual learning process so anything we do to improve that process is vital to success, fulfillment happiness and reduction of stress.

The second clue is that this never ending process can be dramatically improved by music.

A study at the AARE entitled THE EFFECTS OF RELAXATION TRAINING ON ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND
STRESS IN PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS AND TEACHERS : WORK IN PROGRESS  by Anthony M. Owens Phillip Institute of Technology outlines the mportance of music.

The AARE is the Australian Association for Research in Education, the Australian  national association for fostering educational research in Australia.  AARE facilitates contact between educational researchers and supports the development of high quality educational research.

Here are excerpts from this study (bolds are mine):  In his discussion of the historical development of holonomic brain theory Pribram (1986) stated that all “the evidence is coming.  Not only at the neuropsychological level, but at the psychophysical and psychological level, the behavioural level and in quantum physics (there) is a real paradigm shift away from Euclidean geometry that allows for crazy things, even like hypnosis to be so (p.73).”   To many scientists this may appear to be very “soft science” but Pribram appears to believes that the distinction between soft and hard science is not as relevant any more as he sees many fields to be moving in the same direction and the final proof of brain theory will be “mathematically so precise that…there is just no stopping it.”

This study fits into the psychological and behavioural levels that Pribram was talking about.  When I started this type of research I had a notion that if a person had some control over their own behaviour and they were able to be in command of their state of consciousness and never be out of control, they would be operating at a rhythm which would be optimal for them.

By gaining the skill to relax at will and thereby alter the state of consciousness, both students and teachers can to some extent gain more control over their own behaviour. It was the theory that not only would the fact of the control of their own body and behaviour be a positive force but also that  the knowledge, derived from consistent results over a period of time, that they had this control would gradually become even more powerful as it affected their self-concept and self-esteem.   Theoretically, the effect of their new skill would then permeate and generalize to many related and unrelated areas of behaviour and relationships.

An important part of the theory was that all negative, violent, and antisocial behaviour took place when a person was “out of rhythm” and behaving in response to the external environment. Each teacher was provided a set of tapes with 14 tracks, a manual with directions for tape use and a set of tape scripts.   Each of the tracks on the tapes contained the voice of the experimenter and relaxing music.

The results from the study (a link to the entire study is below) were positive.

Enough science.  Let’s see some examples.   Meet Jim Reed.

Jim is a retired airline pilot who moved to Ecuador a year ago and lived in our Casa Blanca condos for the last year, has become an Ecuador resident and is building a house nearby.   I interviewed hm on our last trip to Cotacachi.

Like so many others I have spoken with who have moved to Ecuador… he claims to be much happier… more relaxed and has become healthier, shedding medication and weight.

Yesterday’s Ecuador Living message introduced Shirley Humphrey who lost 22 pounds after moving to Ecuador.

Jim lost 55 pounds in the last year and, as reported by so many… without trying… without eating less… without any feeling of deprivation.

One event that many who have moved to Ecuador and enjoyed these wonderful positive changes is they have attended our Super thinking course and learned to use music in a very specific way to reach the quantum states of their intellect.

Music carries universal messages of emotion that go beyond cultural distinctions and learned experience.

A March 2009 report by World Science entitled “Language of music may really be universal”  says:  Na­tive Af­ri­cans who have nev­er lis­tened to the ra­dio be­fore can none­the­less pick up on hap­py, sad, and fear­ful emo­tions in West­ern mu­sic, ac­cord­ing to a new re­port. The re­sult shows that the ex­pres­sion of those three bas­ic emo­tions in mu­sic can be un­iver­sally rec­og­nized, the re­search­ers said. Stud­ies found that both West­ern and Mafia lis­ten­ers, who had nev­er be­fore heard West­ern mu­sic, could rec­og­nize emo­tion­al ex­pres­sions of hap­pi­ness, sad­ness, and fear in the mu­sic more of­ten than would be ex­pected by chance. 

“These emo­tion­al ex­pres­sions con­veyed by the West­ern mu­sical ex­cerpts can be un­iver­sally rec­og­nized,” the re­search­ers wrote, “si­m­i­lar to the largely un­iver­sal rec­og­ni­tion of hu­man emo­tion­al fa­cial ex­pres­sion and emo­tion­al prosody.” Pros­o­dy refers to the rhythm, stress, and in­tona­t­ion of con­nect­ed speech.

You can see a three minute example of this human connection to music in “One of the natural wonders of the music world,” a three minute video where 10-time Grammy Award winner Bobby McFerrin’s uses audiences to prove the chart-topper. His song “Don’t Worry Be Happy”, one of the most popular songs of the late 20th century.

See that three minute example here.

This video is pretty amazing. Music is just “in there”…hard wired… in our being and just needs tapping into.

This is why Super Thinking works…  The course goes beyond teaching and unlocks wisdom and intelligence that is already WITHIN!

As the speed of change increases… so to does our need for knowledge and the ability absorb, retain, recall and use what we learn in effective ways.

Gary

Read

Comparison between Karl Pribram’s “Holographic Brain Theory” and more conventional models of neuronal computation

See Bobby McFerrin and hear his  song Don’t worry Be Happy

The Effects of Relaxation

Language of music may really be universal

Sunrise at Hotel Tierra del Sol.

Hotel Tierra del Sol (formerly Meson de las Flores) is the center of Cotacachi.

The hotel was donated to Land of the Sun Foundation by Gary & Merri Scott, Joe Cox and Dr. Joe Spano to help promote the economy of Cotacachi and Ecuador and the new name reflects this connection.

All profits from the hotel are used to expand the economy in Ecuador or to provide scholarships to youth in Ecuador.

Tierra del Sol courtyard.

There are many pleasures  at Hotel Tierra del Sol in Cotacachi.

The colonial architecture charms and welcomes you.

Other Tierra del Sol  amenities include:

• Free broadband internet.
• Free calls to the USA, Canada and Europe.
• Free served full breakfast.

Plus a warm, welcoming, caring staff who really do want to look after you.

Room rates at Tierra del Sol in Cotacachi begin at only $59 a night plus 22% service and tax.

Enjoy the beauty of Cotacachi. Here is the Cotacachi Cathedral next door to the hotel

Tierra del Sol by night.

By day.

Hotel Tierra del Sol is Cotacachi’s oldest hotel located in a 180 year old colonial building with open air court yard just off Cotacachi’s main plaza and next to Cotacachi’s largest Cathedral. Here is the hotel.

Here are some snapshots of the Hotel Tierra del Sol.

The entrance of the hotel in Cotacachi is 56 steps to a magnificent cathedral and park.

Here’s the park on a misty morn.

The village is quiet and peaceful and once inside Tierra del Sol you feel the flavor of its colonial past.

A group enjoys the open air inner courtyard for meetings and dining “al fresco.”

The outer court leads to a dining and meeting room each for 50. Tierra del Sol has a full professional kitchen where the chefs produce delicious, nutritious and energizing meals drawn from the Andes’ mineralized volcanic soil.

Here is one of the renovated rooms.

Rooms run between $59 and $79 a night plus 22% service and tax. This price includes a full served breakfast.

Here is…

a view from Hotel Tierra del Sol’s…

large suite that features…

king size canopy bed, plus…

sitting room and…

bath and shower, plus…

all hardwood closets and trim and…

balcony dining with a view.

There is regular…

entertainment.

Many seminars…

and events, such as…

the Miss Ecuador pageant

export bazaars and seminars.

Here is the Hotel Tierra de Sol staff who wait to serve you.

Eduardo and Consuelo serve the food with care. love and attention.

Here is I am with Franklin Sandavol… the boss man at Tierra del Sol.

Our two Rositas are the …

mothers at Tierra del Sol.  They clean. They launder. They fix the flowers. They care.

The two chefs Alberto and Santiago.

Mauritio looks after the hotel at night.

Gary Scott, Trustee of Land of the Sun Foundation and Alberto Verdesoto tour guide.

Christian, night assistant at Hotel Tierra del Sol and sponsored university student.

The entire staff welcomes you to…

Hotel Tierra del Sol, Cotacachi, Ecuador.

Gary

Stay on and look at Ecuador real estate opportunity.

Apr. 17-18   Imbabura Real Estate Tour ($499 or couple $749)
Apr. 20-21  Coastal Mid Coast Real Estate Tour ($499 or couple $749)
Apr. 23-24  Quito & Mindo Real Estate Tour ($499 or couple $749)

You enjoy discounts by attending multiple seminars and tours. Here are our multi tour adventure discounts.

Two Pack… 2 seminar courses & tours $998 Couple  $1,349 Save $149 on couple

Three Pack… 3 seminar courses & tours   $1399 Couple  $1,899 Save $98 single or $348 on a couple or more

Four Pack… 4 seminar courses & tours   $1,699 Couple $2,299 Save $98 single or $697 on a couple or more

Five Pack… 5 seminar courses & tours  $1,999 Couple $2,699 Save $496 single or $1,046 on a couple or more

Six Pack… 6 seminars courses & tours  $2,199 Couple $3,099 Save $795 single or $1,395 on a couple or more

Here is the balance of our 2010 schedule.

May 9-12       Super Thinking + Spanish Course, Cotacachi Ecuador
May  13-14    Ecuador Shamanic Mingo
May  16-17    Imbabura Real Estate Tour
May  19-20    Coastal Real Estate Tour
May  22-23    Quito Real Estate Tour
May  25-26    Cuenca Real Estate Tour

June 24       Quantum Wealth North Carolina
June 25-27    International Investing and Business North Carolina
June 28-29    Ecuador Travel & Andes=
June 30-Jul 1 Imbabura Real Estate Tour
July 3-4      Coastal Real Estate Tour
July 6-7      Quito Real Estate Tour
July 9-10     Cuenca Real Estate Tour

Sept.   3-6   Ecuador Export Tour
Sept.   8-9   Imbabura Real Estate Tour
Sept. 11-12   Coastal Real Estate Tour
Sept. 14-15   Cuenca Real Estate Tour
Sept. 17-18   Ecuador Shamanic Mingo

Oct.    7     Quantum Wealth North Carolina
Oct.   8-10   International Investing & Business North Carolina
Oct.   11-12  Travel to Quito and Andean Tour
Oct.  13-14   Imbabura Real Estate Tour
Oct.  16-17   Coastal Real Estate Tour
Oct.  19-20   Quito Real Estate Tour
Oct. 22-23    Cuenca Real Estate Tour

Nov.    4-7   Super Thinking + Spanish Course Florida
Nov.    8-9   Travel to Quito and Andean Tour
Nov. 10-11    Imbabura Real Estate Tour
Nov. 13-14    Coastal Real Estate Tour
Nov. 16-17    Quito Real Estate
Nov. 19-20    Cuenca Real Estate Tour

Dec.   3-5    Ecuador Shamanic Mingo
Dec.   7-8    Imbabura Real Estate Tour
Dec.  10-11   Coastal Real Estate Tour
Dec. 13-14    Quito Real Estate Tour
Dec. 16-17    Cuenca Real Estate Tour

See how weaving stories into Ecuador tapestries enhances value.

Adding income earning power is important to many of us and Ecuador exports is one way to make extra money because they come in many forms.

At our Ecuador Export Expeditions we look at how there are three ways to create value in exports…

First, one can buy a product as is… like this

Ecuador carpet.  You can buy them in a number of markets. This shot was taken in Otavalo Market.  These carpets are beautiful… as is and you can bargain hard to get a good price.  Yet they are just carpets.

The second way to export and enhance value is to modify the product.

Most Ecuador tapestries have symbolic geometry so if you take a special tapestry like this…

double woven design and modify it… even with just a story… you enhance value.  For example the sacred geometry, animal protein of the wool and extra thickness could make this a special yoga pad.   Now the product is worth more than just a carpet.

The third way to add value is create your own product. Here is Merri at…

the Cotacachi museum at a recent course showing a full length vest she had made from…

a carpet.  Now this is much… much more than a rug and can be sold for much more!

Here is another… make from scratch… Ecuador export that will suit someone.

I did not own a suit for more than twenty years. My blue blazer is classic and the microfiber sport coat bought a decade ago or so has survived more miles crumpled in an airplane than I can guess. With these two pieces I always managed to get by.

I start our seminars with a coat and maybe… on a rare occasion a tie, but they are quickly abandoned for perhaps a  sweater or anything that lets the blood flow all the way to the head without any knots getting in the way.

Yet Ecuador export ideas are so good that I was forced a couple of years ago when our daughter Francesca was getting married to buy a hand made Ecuador suit.

I ambled just down the street from our Hotel Tierra del Sol (formerly Meson de las Flores) with a friend Todd Smith.  Todd was also in need of a suit and he took a photos of his and my brand new custom-made threads that cost only $130!

Here is David… our tailor,  a friendly man hard at work on the sewing machine.

Todd picked out a fine, gray, wool material for his suit… his was the finest material the tailor had available so his finished product was higher $210. (Todd splurged on the best. My more modest French wool rann only $130).

The tailor has a batch of modern men’s fashion catalogs that you can flip through and he makes any design you like.   If people send measurements, he can even make a suit for someone without them ever having to come to Ecuador!   They submit their measurements, select a material and a design, run their credit card, and two weeks later a new suit arrives in the mail.

Here I am with Todd and our new suits then.

Now our youngest daughter is getting Married.  Congratulations Ben and Ele!

This will be a summer affair in the Cotswolds so I figured that a light wool summer suit would be required.

I told David the tailor I only had a week. He delivered exactly on time.

I like it. A perfectly…

fitted suit of finer wool ran the price to $250… still a bargain.

Here is a great Ecuador export idea. When I lived in Hong Kong 30 years ago tailored suits there were great and cost about $150. Many business people made a living traveling Europe, the US and Canada to fit people for really great, low costs suits.

Now, I am not sure that travel is even be required.

A great Ecuador export idea is “The virtual tailor from Ecuador. Hand made suits for less than some US shirts!”

This is a business idea that should suit someone!

Learn more and meet David the tailor at our upcoming Ecuador export course.  Here are details.

Arrive in Quito for the Ecuador export course no later than April 11, 2010.

Your Flight Data:  As soon as you enroll, please send flight data so our tour guides can make all your arrangements.  Quito has a beautiful airport, easy passage through Immigration and on time arrival of bags.  There are carts available.  After collecting your luggage, just stay to the right and move slowly through the hall.  There is no inspection of luggage but there is an X ray scan for luggage at the end.

You will pass through glass automatic doors and start up a slight ramp.  An agent will need to see your baggage claim checks before allowing you to pass through.

The Radisson Hotel will be there with your name. If you were to be on a different flight or have any troubles, don’t worry, they will be able to find you.  If all else fails, take a taxi directly to the Radisson or catch their shuttle, which is just outside the Arrival Halls.
If you are going to the Mansion del Angel, the driver will be there with a sign with your name and will transfer you directly there.

If you would like to come early and/or just come straight out to Cotacachi (avoiding the high altitude of Quito), we can have a driver meet your plane and bring you on out ($55).

We will make the reservations for you at the Radisson or Mansion, our price is a lot lower than on the Internet ($120). Our price for this 5 star hotel is only $68 plus tax.  Just let us know your room needs.

Departure:  You will be returning to Quito in the late afternoon of April 15 and can depart on flights that evening or the next morning, April 16.

Schedule: Depart April 12 from the Radisson at 9:30 a.m. The course begins right there in Quito.  There are many interesting things to see and learn in Quito and on the trip down to Cotacachi. We start at the exquisite Olga Fisch Gallery and Museum with a lecture accompanied by the products themselves featuring the finest techniques, textiles, jewelry in Ecuador…and additionally the museum pieces from the private collection.

Hotel Data for the Course:  For the course, we will stay at Hotel Tierra del Sol (formerly Meson de las Flores) in Cotacachi.

At the hotel, you’ll enjoy our inn filled with flowers and sunshine, roaring fires at night.  It’s a 180+ year old hacienda converted into a small hotel.  The conference will be held here, and this will be our home while we travel around.  Meson de las Flores belongs to the Land of the Sun Foundation and is the seat of the foundation activities to help the indigenous. All proceeds from Meson go directly to the indigenous of the area and supports their projects.
Meson is $59 per room, plus 22% Ecuadorian tax including a sumptuous breakfast.

We have wireless Internet here so feel free to bring your own laptop.  The wireless works in the courtyard, rooms, balconies, all over.  We also have a free phone to call back to the US, Canada and all of Europe.  Everyone can utilize these no fee services to stay in touch.  We have a safe in every room and the water is good…although we furnish free bottled water also.

Tierra del Sol is the oldest of the hotels in Cotacachi by at least a century and was purchased by our foundation 4 1/2 years ago.  It is clean, comfortable, charming and full of character…but is certainly not pretentious or grand!  It is a country inn, where Gary and I live and where everyone is treated as part of the family.  We are grateful for your attendance and for your support in our projects and look forward to having you here in the the Andes.

Tierra del Sol (formerly Meson de las Flores), Sucre and Garcia Moreno, Cotacachi, Ecuador.  Telephone: 011 593 6 291 6009.  email: mesondelasflores@gmail.com

Calling from inside Ecuador:  06 291-6009   Also, you can call Tierra del Sol through a NC number 1-336-792-4767.  Be sure and give this number to your loved ones also.

Conference Itinerary and Schedule:  The tour starts at 9:30 a.m. from the Radisson.  Bonnie Keough, a very accomplished exporter and lecturer will be your guide.

This month we are happy to announce our incredible Bonus!  Bonnie Keough with Franklin Sandoval have created that makes it ultra easy for you to send goods in boxes back to the USA.   This is a great opportunity, unheard of in the country and from my point of view from any country!  Thanks to Bonnie!

Daily:  Full breakfast at 8 a.m. Tierra del Sol. Course begins at 9 a.m. at the Museum next door.

We welcome a guest speaker who is Maggie Swartz from Charleston SC.  She is an extremely successful exporter from Ecuador and makes a tidy $75,000 annually on her exports.  She will speak, demonstrate and answer questions…a delightful lady with worlds of experience.

Itinerary:  After 12 years of traveling, digging, exploring and enjoying ourselves all over Ecuador; we invite those of you who want to really get out there and experience the Export Trail.  You’ll gain exciting ways to increase your security, independence, freedom, wealth and well-being while helping this very deserving country and its indigenous people!  What a joy!

Each day we will have lecture with invaluable contacts, speakers, ideas and plans.  Then, we’ll head out to nearby stunning surrounding areas. We’ll enjoy the green patchwork mountains and the sacred province of Imbabura.

We’ll go to the markets, famous and obscure; visit the known and unknown…those who hand make, hand craft one-of-a-kind goods.  We’ll meet the artists, designers, creators, craftsmen and visit them in their workshops, homes and markets.

Otavalo (the most successful and colorful Indigenous market in all of the Americas) is a delight and we will meet a host of wholesalers.  We’ll also visit the charming and small village of the weavers, Peguche, where the sound in the air is the clackety clack of the looms. We’ll head out up the Pan American Highway to San Antonio de Ibarra for its world famous wood carvers and furniture makers.  This year we scored another win by being allowed into Diana Carrasco’s personal workshops…she is the leading designer of Cuenca.  Ah, the flower growers are everywhere….ready and packaged for export…we’ll host Roberto who will help all with the exportation of flowers and with the tips of selling/marketing/wholesaling/retailing of over 25 kinds of flowers.

And of course we are centered in Cotacachi with its famous leather market!

We have searched, scoured and scrounged our way across this tiny Andean country to find special products and goods that you can export in a suitcase and make outstanding profits. We’ll travel through the Andes Highlands on the search for that special something that will make your eyes gleam with delight…both for its uniqueness and salability.
Broaden your horizons as you increase your bank account. Help the poor and gain more fulfillment and fun. Improve the quality of your life, expand your horizons and reduce the tax you pay as you increase asset protection by having an overseas company and overseas income!

The goal of the course is to give you more than just knowledge.  The course brings you real, usable knowledge and the after course support so you can put the knowledge you gain into action right away.

The Andean Export Expedition combines experience, theory, practice and contacts Gary and I have over thirty years experience living, working, importing, exporting and conducting businesses overseas and 15 years of doing business in Ecuador.

This course promises to bring joys and wonders into your life as well as helping the indigenous.  Please let us know how else we can be of service.

Keep in mind, we will all make your reservations as soon as we have your arrival data.

Gary & Merri

Our Ecuador export tour starts April. 12-15 with our Ecuador Export Expedition Tour ($499 or couple $749)

Here are clay figurines that you will see on the Ecuador export tour.

These clay necklaces at the gallery are great models for Ecuador exports as well.

Stay on and look at Ecuador real estate opportunity.

Apr. 17-18   Imbabura Real Estate Tour ($499 or couple $749)
Apr. 20-21  Coastal Mid Coast Real Estate Tour ($499 or couple $749)
Apr. 23-24  Quito & Mindo Real Estate Tour ($499 or couple $749)

May 9-12       Super Thinking + Spanish Course, Cotacachi Ecuador
May  13-14    Ecuador Shamanic Mingo
May  16-17    Imbabura Real Estate Tour
May  19-20    Coastal Real Estate Tour
May  22-23    Quito Real Estate Tour
May  25-26    Cuenca Real Estate Tour

June 24       Quantum Wealth North Carolina
June 25-27    International Investing and Business North Carolina
June 28-29    Ecuador Travel & Andes=
June 30-Jul 1 Imbabura Real Estate Tour
July 3-4      Coastal Real Estate Tour
July 6-7      Quito Real Estate Tour
July 9-10     Cuenca Real Estate Tour

Sept.   3-6   Ecuador Export Tour
Sept.   8-9   Imbabura Real Estate Tour
Sept. 11-12   Coastal Real Estate Tour
Sept. 14-15   Cuenca Real Estate Tour
Sept. 17-18   Ecuador Shamanic Mingo

Oct.    7     Quantum Wealth North Carolina
Oct.   8-10   International Investing & Business North Carolina
Oct.   11-12  Travel to Quito and Andean Tour
Oct.  13-14   Imbabura Real Estate Tour
Oct.  16-17   Coastal Real Estate Tour
Oct.  19-20   Quito Real Estate Tour
Oct. 22-23    Cuenca Real Estate Tour

Nov.    4-7   Super Thinking + Spanish Course Florida
Nov.    8-9   Travel to Quito and Andean Tour
Nov. 10-11    Imbabura Real Estate Tour
Nov. 13-14    Coastal Real Estate Tour
Nov. 16-17    Quito Real Estate
Nov. 19-20    Cuenca Real Estate Tour

Dec.   3-5    Ecuador Shamanic Mingo
Dec.   7-8    Imbabura Real Estate Tour
Dec.  10-11   Coastal Real Estate Tour
Dec. 13-14    Quito Real Estate Tour
Dec. 16-17    Cuenca Real Estate Tour

At the time when we need more overseas expertise most overseas banks have abandoned US investors… due to the complications the US government has thrown in the way of banks.

Since I have worked with and personally used Jyske Bank for around 25 years I am most thankful that Jyske was one of the few overseas banks that went to the trouble of creating a subsidiary (Jyske Global Asset Management – JGAM) that can serve US investors.

Having this overseas experience has grown in importance because multi currency investing now requires more than just investing in various currencies.

I have introduced thousands of investors to Jyske over the years and continue to do so.  Here is a recent introduction, Jean Marie Butterlin from France,  who just moved to Cotacachi and will who conduct our shamanic tours… meeting in Quito with Peter Laub of Jyske Global Asset Management Copenhagen.

In the 1970s-80s choosing a strong currency was easy. The US government was conducting a “Guns and Butter” policy that cost more than the government’s income.

This was bad on the dollar’s value and this deficit spending caused the US dollar to fall versus industrialized currencies where governments (especially Germany and Japan) were more fiscally prudent.

Then the prudent governments learned deficit spending as well…Germany to finance the buy back of East Germany….Japan to bail out an economic meltdown. Other (most in fact) governments hopped on the deficit spending band wagon as well.  Plus the euro was invented… a real mess… as the investing world is seeing now.

So today we face the loss of purchasing power of many currencies, all over the world, all at the same time.

Investing in the playground of currencies is like trying to choose the rising end of the teeter totter, when all the teeter totters are going down a slide.

Since the yen is up and the euro low, for the moment.  I am still betting on the dollar’s fall… especially since I can borrow dollars at 1.75% and invest in other currencies that earn 4.5% to 6%.

Recently Thomas Fischer Senior VP of JGAM and my account manger Anders Nielsen visited Merri and me at our home near Mt. Dora, Florida.

We reviewed my foreign exchange tactic which has been and remains to invest in a spread of European (non euro) and emerging currencies that pay a higher yield that the US dollar.   Plus we are  buying good value real estate.

I am currently not leveraged much (about 5% of my portfolio) but am looking at shifting my loan from dollar to yen.

My portfolio is aimed at fighting inflation and US and Ecuador real estate is a part of my armory.

You can see  my personal currency breakdown as a Multi Currency Investing subscriber

I will review my portfolio and look at the latest ways to fight inflation and take advantage of foreign exchange loans at JGAM’s April-May Foreign Exchange  Seminar in Laguna Beach, California.

There are two important additions that have been added to this seminar.

First, JGAM has finished preparations so they can offer a new Foreign Exchange Managed Portfolio. They will introduce this portfolio and present this product for the first time in Laguna Beach.

JGAM will offer this Managed FX Portfolio to clients with a risk profile of medium risk and higher.

Thomas and Anders are on the new investment committee that will manage JGAM’s foreign exchange portfolio.

Medium risk investors can have 100% leverage, high risk,  200% leverage and speculative investors 400% leverage with a minimum of $100,000.

This portfolio will be managed by an investment committee that includes… JGAM, senior VP Thomas Fischer, a former currency trader, plus my account manager Anders Nielsen along with Bente Larnkaer and Henrik Tjott.

The portfolio will take positions in different currency pairs using stop losses to limit downside risk.  Profits will be protected by trailing stop losses that protect positions.

The portfolio is founded on strategic positions rather than shorter term day trading and the committee regulates leverage depending on their view and confidence any any one position. Any single position in a currency pair cannot exceed 25% of the overall position.

This first addition is important because Jyske Bank’s Jyske Markets is one of the most active currency traders in the world. JGAM is independent and has access to Jyske Market’s great knowledge and trading facilities as well as other major trading firms.

About Jyske Markets

Jyske Markets is the financial trading center of the Jyske Bank Group, trading, equities, bonds, foreign exchange, commodities and providing macro economic analyses.  Forex trading is run from Jyske’s global trading hub in Silkeborg, Denmark on a 24 hour trading basis. They trade over $50 billion a day.

Recently Jyske Markets added Front Arena, IT systems by SunGard that provide  global solutions for position control across multiple asset classes and business lines. This extension provides Jyske’s 24-hour foreign exchange spot trading desk with real-time positions, P&L and risk management.

Front Arena helps Jyske manage its positions and risk for a wide variety of FX instruments through the provision of a single platform for all its trading activity. This helps Jyske ensure that it has transparency, and helps reduce the risks that can occur when operating more than one system. Jyske went live on the system on the 29th November, 2009 with the FX trading capabilities added to the bank’s use of Front Arena for interest rates, fixed income and equity trading.

SunGard’s Front Arena helps customers to build a true cross-asset class platform – extending from low volume exotic transactions all the way through to the high volume dealing activities of the FX and cash equity markets, including exchange connectivity and order management.

Second, delegates participating in Laguna Beach can deduct the fee from the cost of Jyske’s full blown International Investment seminar in Copenhagen this August.   This will be a real seminar and I have learned that Bjorn Lomborg, author of “The Sceptical Environmentalist. has now been confirmed as one of the speakers.

I have spoken at seminars with Bjorn before and his excellent insights into green investments should be required reading for all investors in the environmentally sensitive era.

You can get full details about JGAM’s April 30 t May 2 Foreign Exchange seminar in Laguna Beach from Thomas Fischer at fischer@jgam.com

I hope to meet you in Laguna Beach!

Gary

Or meet Merri and me this Thursday in Mt Dora. We have three spaces left for March 11-14 Super Thinking + Spanish Course, Mt. Dora, Fl.

Learn Spanish in four days as you increase your intelligence.  Join Merri and me in Mt. Dora this week!

Then join our Ecuador Living team and  travel to Quito March 15, 2010.

March 16 Travel Quito to Cotacachi

March 17-18  North Andes, Imbabura & Cotacachi Real Estate Tour

March 19-20    Cotacachi Shamanic Tour

March 21  Travel Cotacachi to Manta

March 22-23   Manta & Mid Coast Real Estate Tour

March 24 Travel Manta to Cuenca

March 25-26 Cuenca Real Estate Tour

March 27  Travel Cuenca to Salinas

Mar. 28-29   Salinas & South Coast Real Estate Tour

The Ecuador airfare war makes it cheaper to get to Ecuador than ever before… and there is still time to enjoy great Ecuador tour savings.

International Club Three Monthly Payments of $1,190

Our Spring 2010 schedule starts April. 12-15 with our Ecuador Export Expedition Tour ($499 or couple $749)

Here are clay figurines that you will see on the Ecuador export tour.

These clay necklaces at the gallery are great models for Ecuador exports as well.

Stay on and look at Ecuador real estate opportunity.

Apr. 17-18   Imbabura Real Estate Tour ($499 or couple $749)
Apr. 20-21  Coastal Mid Coast Real Estate Tour ($499 or couple $749)
Apr. 23-24  Quito & Mindo Real Estate Tour ($499 or couple $749)

Here is the balance of our 2010 schedule.

May 9-12       Super Thinking + Spanish Course, Cotacachi Ecuador
May  13-14    Ecuador Shamanic Mingo
May  16-17    Imbabura Real Estate Tour
May  19-20    Coastal Real Estate Tour
May  22-23    Quito Real Estate Tour
May  25-26    Cuenca Real Estate Tour

June 24       Quantum Wealth North Carolina
June 25-27    International Investing and Business North Carolina
June 28-29    Ecuador Travel & Andes=
June 30-Jul 1 Imbabura Real Estate Tour
July 3-4      Coastal Real Estate Tour
July 6-7      Quito Real Estate Tour
July 9-10     Cuenca Real Estate Tour

Sept.   3-6   Ecuador Export Tour
Sept.   8-9   Imbabura Real Estate Tour
Sept. 11-12   Coastal Real Estate Tour
Sept. 14-15   Cuenca Real Estate Tour
Sept. 17-18   Ecuador Shamanic Mingo

Oct.    7     Quantum Wealth North Carolina
Oct.   8-10   International Investing & Business North Carolina
Oct.   11-12  Travel to Quito and Andean Tour
Oct.  13-14   Imbabura Real Estate Tour
Oct.  16-17   Coastal Real Estate Tour
Oct.  19-20   Quito Real Estate Tour
Oct. 22-23    Cuenca Real Estate Tour

Nov.    4-7   Super Thinking + Spanish Course Florida
Nov.    8-9   Travel to Quito and Andean Tour
Nov. 10-11    Imbabura Real Estate Tour
Nov. 13-14    Coastal Real Estate Tour
Nov. 16-17    Quito Real Estate
Nov. 19-20    Cuenca Real Estate Tour

Dec.   3-5    Ecuador Shamanic Mingo
Dec.   7-8    Imbabura Real Estate Tour
Dec.  10-11   Coastal Real Estate Tour
Dec. 13-14    Quito Real Estate Tour
Dec. 16-17    Cuenca Real Estate Tour

A picture is worth a thousands words… SOMETIMES.

other times… TEN THOUSAND… like this photo sent by architect and reader, David Hansen, under the title “Good Use of Ecuador Roses” says it all.

This is our simple story today.  Congratulations, David and Irina.

Gary & Merri

Learn more about Ecuador Roses here

Learn how Fedex delivers Ecuador Easter lilies to your home.

Learn how to earn income globally exporting Ecuador flowers at our Ecuador export course.

Learn how to export Ecuador flowers roses. Improve your Ecuador export skills by speaking better Spanish. Join Merri and me March 11-14     Super Thinking + Spanish Course, Mt. Dora, Fl.

Join our Ecuador Living team and  travel to Quito March 15, 2010.

March 16 Travel Quito to Cotacachi

March 17-18  North Andes, Imbabura & Cotacachi Real Estate Tour

March 19-20    Cotacachi Shamanic Tour

March 21  Travel Cotacachi to Manta

March 22-23   Manta & Mid Coast Real Estate Tour

March 24 Travel Manta to Cuenca

March 25-26 Cuenca Real Estate Tour

March 27  Travel Cuenca to Salinas

Mar. 28-29   Salinas & South Coast Real Estate Tour

The Ecuador airfare war makes it cheaper to get to Ecuador than ever before… and there is still time to enjoy great Ecuador tour savings.

International Club Three Monthly Payments of $1,190

Our Spring 2010 schedule starts April. 12-15 with our Ecuador Export Expedition Tour ($499 or couple $749)

Here are clay figurines that you will see on the Ecuador export tour.

These clay necklaces at the gallery are great models for Ecuador exports as well.

Stay on and look at Ecuador real estate opportunity.

Apr. 17-18   Imbabura Real Estate Tour ($499 or couple $749)
Apr. 20-21  Coastal Mid Coast Real Estate Tour ($499 or couple $749)
Apr. 23-24  Quito & Mindo Real Estate Tour ($499 or couple $749)

Here is the balance of our 2010 schedule.

May 9-12       Super Thinking + Spanish Course, Cotacachi Ecuador
May  13-14    Ecuador Shamanic Mingo
May  16-17    Imbabura Real Estate Tour
May  19-20    Coastal Real Estate Tour
May  22-23    Quito Real Estate Tour
May  25-26    Cuenca Real Estate Tour

June 24       Quantum Wealth North Carolina
June 25-27    International Investing and Business North Carolina
June 28-29    Ecuador Travel & Andes=
June 30-Jul 1 Imbabura Real Estate Tour
July 3-4      Coastal Real Estate Tour
July 6-7      Quito Real Estate Tour
July 9-10     Cuenca Real Estate Tour

Sept.   3-6   Ecuador Export Tour
Sept.   8-9   Imbabura Real Estate Tour
Sept. 11-12   Coastal Real Estate Tour
Sept. 14-15   Cuenca Real Estate Tour
Sept. 17-18   Ecuador Shamanic Mingo

Oct.    7     Quantum Wealth North Carolina
Oct.   8-10   International Investing & Business North Carolina
Oct.   11-12  Travel to Quito and Andean Tour
Oct.  13-14   Imbabura Real Estate Tour
Oct.  16-17   Coastal Real Estate Tour
Oct.  19-20   Quito Real Estate Tour
Oct. 22-23    Cuenca Real Estate Tour

Nov.    4-7   Super Thinking + Spanish Course Florida
Nov.    8-9   Travel to Quito and Andean Tour
Nov. 10-11    Imbabura Real Estate Tour
Nov. 13-14    Coastal Real Estate Tour
Nov. 16-17    Quito Real Estate
Nov. 19-20    Cuenca Real Estate Tour

Dec.   3-5    Ecuador Shamanic Mingo
Dec.   7-8    Imbabura Real Estate Tour
Dec.  10-11   Coastal Real Estate Tour
Dec. 13-14    Quito Real Estate Tour
Dec. 16-17    Cuenca Real Estate Tour

A reader sent this note after our recent article entitled Ecuador Timing

Rooftop terrace at Vistazul Ecuador beach condos.

The reader wrote:  Although I have kept up with your various editorials, I am somewhat concerned that the Vistazul project, with favorable infrastructure, location and amenities, has not taken off.  Is this a valid concern?  Thanks for your perspective Tom

My reply can help you understand what a good deal the recession created and share ideas on what to look for when looking for Ecuador real estate.

Vistazul Ecuador beach condo trim.

Here is my reply:

The Vistazul Ecuador beach condo project took off very nicely two years ago. About half the units in the first couple months were  sold. Then the recession hit and as these are more a second home, rather than full time living, destination, sales slowed badly.

Added to this, the road from Manta to San Clemente is being redone. This has really made it hard and circuitous to reach these Ecuador beach condos.  Long term though this will of course be really good!

However sales have continued… just at a slower pace.  The developer wrote that there are only two condos left in the blocks that are finished. One is a resale unit 506 and unit 301.  Unit 301 is the only finished unit that has not been sold.

There are eleven units left in the unfinished buildings two and six.

Structural work on these units should be ready within a month but as I mentioned Kjetil Haugan will wait with the finish work on these units until he has completed the infrastructure work on the development.  Gary

Let’s review the entire history of the project so you can see how surprisingly well it has sold considering the utter collapse of the real estate market in the USA.

We have worked with Kjetil for 12 or 13 years and ten years ago Kjetil, Merri and I drove the entire coast.  This San Clemente property is one that Kjetil liked and purchased.

Kjetil introduced us to the project in December 2007 when he was in the process of building the Palmazul Hotel & Spa and it looked like this:

Construction was…

well under…

way.

We put money up front and bought the first six Vistazul units to get construction started.  By then Palmazul looked like…

this.

A view of the land has gone from…

this to…

this to…

We always liked this project because the hotel clubhouse was finished and in operation before ground was broken on the condos.

We put enough money into the project so we knew it could be done.

All seven of the factors we like to see in a new project  were in place before we began sales.

#1: Land owned with title insurance.
#2: No debt on the land.
#3: Infrastructure complete.
#4: Financing in place.
#5: Experienced engineers and architects involved.
#6: A logical sales plan set up.
#7: Long term management organized.

Since we send about 20 people a month to the area on real estate tours and they stay at the hotel club house, the project has an advantage though we do not allow the developer to push this over other projects or properties on the tour.

The project’s unique position on the beach… in a really quiet location where little else can be built makes these to our way of thinking a real winner at $79,000 to $89,000.

Some US real estate prices have fallen so they compare to Ecuador real estate prices… but NOT ON THE BEACH.  US beach property is still far more expensive than Ecuador beach prices.  I have never seen any US beach front which compares  anywhere close to the prices at Vistazul.  Why is this?  First, Kjetil bought the land 10 years ago when prices were unbelievably low.  Second, the bulk of the construction was done before inflation started to push up construction costs. Third, we have sent all the buyers to the project and do not receive commissions, thus eliminating a normally large sales cost.

But we really recommend that you visit and see to make sure that this rustic area appeals to you and to see which units available best suit you.

The developer Kjetil Haugan also offers financing on the $89,000 units.

History of Vistazul from our website. Our Garyascott.com archives tells the tale of Vistazul.

December 2007 see the Ecuador beach club house under construction.

See how we began and the Ecuador beach land in December 2007.

See what we said and the Ecuador beach land by December 2008

We introduced the project in February 2008.

Three buildings under construction by September 2008.

We financed the completion of the club house by adding two penthouses.

From…

to…

this, to…

Here is the penthouse interior.

Learn how to rent these penthouses here.

See more on why I like this area and at

Ecuador Beaches

Ecuador Seafood

Ecuador Beach Restaurants

Fishing in Ecuador

This project was originally planned for 62 units at three price levels. After the economic slowdown it was reduced to 38 units.  See the site plan at Ecuador Beach Condo Party

Gary

See these Ecuador beach condos in our March or April 2010 mid coast Ecuador real estate tours.

Join Merri and me March 11-14  for Super Thinking + Spanish Course, Mt. Dora, Fl.

March 15    Travel to Quito

March 16 Travel Quito Cotacachi

March 17-18  North Andes, Imbabura & Cotacachi Real Estate Tour

March 19-20    Cotacachi Shamanic Tour

March 21  Travel Cotacachi to Manta

March 22-23   Manta & Mid Coast Real Estate Tour

March 24 Travel Manta to Cuenca

March 25-26 Cuenca Real Estate Tour

March 27  Travel Cuenca to Salinas

Mar. 28-29   Salinas & South Coast Real Estate Tour

A Miss Ecuador contestant at our Tierra del Sol Inn.

Merri and I do not seek this type of event, but we love romantic places and each year it seems that some romantic place we are involved with attracts the Miss Ecuadors!

In 2008 Miss Ecuador had an event with us at our inn in Cotacachi.

Last year Miss Ecuador was with us at our Palmazul property on Ecuador’s coast.

I received a nice email thanking us with a few photos from the organizers of Miss Ecuador.

This was a star studded night with many Miss Ecuador contestants in Cotacachi.

Merri and I slept through it.

When it comes to crowds and events at night, we are the ultimate in dull and boring!

Plus I have a message to share with you each morning.  Late nights and early mornings are not compatible.

But we loaned our camera and had our tour guide, Alberto Verdesoto, attend on our behalf.

We also organized some…

Indigenous…

dancers to entertain the potential Miss Ecuador.

The palate of the evening was painted with…

swirling colors and…

laughter and brightness.  A delight.

The Miss Ecuador…

contestants were served by our sweet staff and I believe…

they enjoyed the night as well.

However if I were to get a vote… it would be for our…

wonderful people in Cotacachi. Here is Consuelo serving.  She and the rest of our staff hope they can serve you sometime as well.

Gary

Last year Miss Ecuador was with us at our Palmazul property on Ecuador’s coast.  See them here.

Join Merri and me March 11-14  for Super Thinking + Spanish Course, Mt. Dora, Fl.

March 15    Travel to Quito

March 16 Travel Quito Cotacachi

March 17-18  North Andes, Imbabura & Cotacachi Real Estate Tour

March 19-20    Cotacachi Shamanic Tour

March 21  Travel Cotacachi to Manta

March 22-23   Manta & Mid Coast Real Estate Tour

March 24 Travel Manta to Cuenca

March 25-26 Cuenca Real Estate Tour

March 27  Travel Cuenca to Salinas

Mar. 28-29   Salinas & South Coast Real Estate Tour

You can see a video of the Miss Ecuador contestants  in action here

Last week I spoke before almost 400 delegates at International Living’s Ultimate Event in Quito.

We looked at many ways to earn..from exporting flowers… to…

creating unique handbags… like these leather bags in Cotacachi.

Ecuador is a beautiful country with many wonderful income earning and export opportunities.

However conducting business in Ecuador requires time and this requires knowing the visa regulations.

An excerpt from a recent password protected Ecuador Living update shows new enforcement procedures on Ecuador visas.

In the past, visitors could stay for 90 days on a tourist visa and then expect to stay on 90 days more if they left Ecuador for even one day.

The immigration authorities were very lax about this visa and the normal procedure if you wanted to stay longer was to give another 90 days.  This meant you could use a tourist visa to stay in Ecuador up to 180 days a year.

Or you could do as Merri and I did for years… come in for five or six weeks… leave… come back for five or six weeks etc. Each time they gave 90 more days.

NO MORE!

A new type visa has been made easier to stay 180 days BUT the relaxation over the tourist visa has been withdrawn.

Readers discovered this in a very harsh way when leaving Ecuador after spending the Christmas holiday at their condo in Cuenca. This reader had been in and out of Ecuador three previous times in 2009 attending to renovations and furnishing the condo.  No one stay was longer than 30 days.  The between times on visits was a matter of months.  On the fourth trip the total time for 2009 was 104 days. None of those stays was for more then 30 days.

At Quito Airport the reader was prevented from leaving the country and was told by the Immigration official at the exit booth, that the maximum annual stay could be no more than 90 days.

The reader had to pay a fine of $200.

Even worse was told not to return to Ecuador for nine months and that to be allowed back would require a special visa from the Ecuadorian Consulate in the US.

The immigration attorney whom we introduce to our readers explained:

“Usually non Ecuadorians have been able to stay in Ecuador as a tourist for 90 days. After they used these first 90 days, they used to get 90 days more as a tourist if they requested an extension at an immigration office prior of expiry of the first 90 days.

“Several months ago immigration changed its policy. Now instead of renewing a tourist visa for 90 days they grant a 180 day Commercial Acts Visa.

“In a way this new procedure makes it more convenient (though more expensive) to stay for longer periods.

“If a non Ecuadorian wants to stay in Ecuador in any one year for more than 90 days with a tourist visa, they can still apply to the immigration authorities for an extension.  If they leave Ecuador in their first stay of the year before reaching 90 days, BUT anticipate returning in that same year, and that return stay will take them beyond 90 days total in that year, before leaving, they should petition the immigration authorities either prior to leaving the first time, or before returning to Ecuador via a local consulate office near their overseas home (USA, Canada, England, etc).

“These changes in immigration policy are actually changes in strictness of enforcement of the procedures, not the procedures themselves.

“The easiest approach though is for those wishing to stay more than 90 days a year in Ecuador to go to an Ecuador consul and apply for the Commercial Acts Visa, good 180 days travel in a calendar year.  This allows a total of 180 days stay in Ecuador without any extension beyond the 90 day maximum under a tourist visa.

“The fee for the Commercial Act Visa is $230 per person.  Given the growing restrictions and/or increased enforcement on the tourist visa and extensions beyond 90 days, this is a good  option for those who want to maximize their time in Ecuador but who do not with to apply for a full resident visa.”

I have sent5 this reminder because the Commercial Acts Visa provides a period of time.. NOT… a number of days… to be in Ecuador. There is an detailed explanation and more important immigration points to observe in two password protected updates sent to our Ecuador Living subscribers.  Learn how to subscribe here.

You are now updated. Immigration procedures have changed so be sure to plan ahead and make sure your visas are in order if you plan to stay in Ecuador for more than 90 days.

Gary

Join Merri and me March 11-14  for Super Thinking + Spanish Course, Mt. Dora, Fl.

March 15    Travel to Quito

March 16 Travel Quito Cotacachi

March 17-18  North Andes, Imbabura & Cotacachi Real Estate Tour

March 19-20    Cotacachi Shamanic Tour

March 21  Travel Cotacachi to Manta

March 22-23   Manta & Mid Coast Real Estate Tour

March 24 Travel Manta to Cuenca

March 25-26 Cuenca Real Estate Tour

March 27  Travel Cuenca to Salinas

Mar. 28-29   Salinas & South Coast Real Estate Tour