Cheap Retirement Living

The cheap retirement living is the reason most of our friends in Ecuador are living there. They have it the best way to survive inflation. Besides the economical feature, Ecuador living is very slow paced. It is a much more relaxed and peaceful lifestyle.


Each village in Ecuador is self sufficient. Each one has a product or products which it produces and ships out around the world. Our village of Cotacachi is world known for its production of leather. It is shipped to Italy and many other parts of the world. Purses and other leather items can be purchased right there in the village on “Leather” Street.


One village next to us is called Otavalo. It is a world famous Indian market. The hundreds of colorful tables and booths display all kinds of items from handmade jewelry, tablecloths, sweaters, clothes, alpaca items and much more. Customers come here from around the world to shop; many to ship home for resale.


Cheap Retirement Living

Transportation here fits right into the cheap retirement living. Many of our friends travel here at least once a week on the bus or by taxi. We have never taken the bus, because the taxis are so cheap. The driver takes us anywhere we want to go, waits on us however long we wish and carries our packages when we shop. How can you beat that! The price is only a few dollars. Within our village it is one dollar.


ecuador bird sanctuary

Otavalo is where I headed. I needed to find a tablecloth for Eva, a very good friend back home. I took a beautiful blue and white tablecloth back to my sister from one trip. Eva loved it and wanted a red and white one. These tablecloths are very colorful and most of them are with a white background. After searching through hundreds of tablecloths, I could not find one with just red and white. I settled for one with several shades of pink on white. It is very pretty and I am hoping that Eva can fit it in her color scheme.


Cheap retirement living here does not require skimping; good value can be found in most of what you buy. After leaving the market, we stopped by the Condor Park, outside of Otavalo. It is a beautiful ride up through the mountains to reach it. On top of the mountain we found many beautiful condors and eagles. (The prophesy of Ecuador is that we from the North are the Eagles and they are the condors. Toward the end of time the Eagles of the North will come to the Condors of the South. This is why they welcome us with open arms.) Anyway, after seeing all the birds, we took a seat in the arena and watched a bird show. Cheap retirement living does not mean you have to skip entertainment. It was a beautiful sight from the top of the mountain.

ecuador market

One reason I recommend Ecuador for cheap retirement living and the thing I love most about Ecuador (besides the wonderful people) are all the fresh foods available there; with no chemicals and at great prices. Because of the mild temperatures there year round, you always have a wonderful selection of fresh fruits and vegetables. The fish and fresh pork are also very good. It is a little different cooking at a higher altitude, making adjustments necessary but it is great to have all the fresh ingredients at your fingertips. I experienced the delicious flavor of local strawberries dipped in local chocolate. How wonderful!!

STRAWBERRY PRETZEL DESSERT

My friend who is enjoying her cheap retirement living makes this strawberry pretzel dessert for most of the gatherings which she attends. It is always a big hit.

Crust:

  • 3 Cups crushed pretzels
  • 2 Tablespoons sugar
  • 10 Tablespoons melted butter
  • 8 Ounces soft cream cheese
  • 16 Ounces thawed Cool Whip
  • 1 Cup sugar
  • 2 Small packages thawed frozen strawberries
  • 2 Small package strawberry gelatin
  • 2 Cups boiling water

Preheat oven to 400 F degrees.

Lightly spray with oil a 9x13 inch baking pan.

Combine the pretzel crumbs, melted butter and 2 tablespoons sugar; press into pan and bake for 8 minutes. Cool.

Cream the sugar into the cream cheese. Blend in the Cool Whip and spread over the cooled crust. Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes.

Combine the gelatin with the boiling water; stir until dissolved. Stir and let set until mixture begins to thicken.

Spoon mixture over the cream cheese mixture and refrigerate overnight.

Cut in squares to serve.

SAUSAGE AND PASTA RECIPE

This sausage and pasta recipe is a good one for me to fix in Ecuador using the fresh sausage and fresh vegetables. The prices of these ingredients help for cheap retirement living.

  • 12 Ounces fresh sausage
  • 1 Clove minced garlic
  • 1 Medium chopped onion
  • 1 Chopped green pepper
  • 1 Medium zucchini sliced
  • 2 Cups chopped fresh tomatoes
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh chopped basil
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh chopped thyme
  • 1 Teaspoon fresh chopped oregano
  • ¼ Teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 12 Ounces fettuccine, cooked
  • ½ Cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese

Brown sausage in heavy skillet; remove from skillet and drain.

Leave 1 tablespoon fat in skillet; add garlic, onion, green pepper and zucchini and sauté 5 minutes.

Add tomatoes basil, thyme, oregano, pepper and sausage; stir thoroughly, cover and simmer about 15 minutes.

Toss sausage mixture with cooked fettuccine; sprinkle with grated cheese and serve.

TOMATO ASPIC RECIPE This recipe utilizes the delicious avocados grown in Ecuador when enjoying cheap retirement living there.

  • 1 Package (3 ounces) lemon gelatin
  • 1 ½ Cups tomato juice heated
  • 1 Teaspoon lemon juice
  • Salt/pepper
  • 1 Can (7 ounces) artichokes cut in half
  • ½ Cup finely chopped green pepper
  • ½ Cup avocado chopped fine
  • 1 Head of Boston lettuce of similar lettuce

Dissolve gelatin in hot tomato juice; add lemon juice, salt and pepper and cool slightly.

Lightly grease 6 cup muffin tin.

Spoon 1 tablespoon gelatin mixture in each cup; place half of artichoke in each cup and chill until firm.

Chill remaining mixture until partially thickened; add green pepper and avocado.

Fill muffin cups with this mixture and chill thoroughly; unmold cups of plates of lettuce.