2012 Ecuador - MindStormPhoto

We have known that we wanted a new adventure in retirement for many years. In 2012, we decided that we were within a few years of retirement and should start looking seriously. We came to Ecuador twice that year, and fell in love with the country. So much so that we accelerated retirement, and came here to live in Cuenca in 2013.

Street vendors cook both chicken and cuy (ginnea pig) during Cuenca Independence Day celebrations

Evelyn negotiates for vegetables at a local mercado

Most mercados have lunch areas where women slice up a pig and put it on a plate for you to eat right there

Canar indigenous people almost always wear a round white straw hat in public

We spent an afternoon just people-watching in Canar

A woman holds the reigns on two pigs she is selling in the Cuenca live animal market

This guy just bought a pig and is now trying to manhandle the pig towards his truck

Salinas has beautiful beaches, and the weather encourages families to take a walk

There were five separate futbol (aka 'soccer') games going on at once on the Puerto Lopez beach

These sisters and brother ran up to me and hammed it up once they saw my camera

Blue footed Booby chick on Isla la Plata

Nazca Booby chick tests his wings while mother looks on

An adult male Blue-footed Booby with his two female chicks

Bins of larger fish are safe from Frigate bird attack, since they are too big to be easily carried off

Pelicans and frigate birds wait for fishermen to arrive in Puerto Lopez, Ecuador, then attack and steal shrimp and squid as the fish are carried to the scales for sale

Kids fire off rocket fireworks with almost no concerns for safety

This man is holding a 6 foot pole with spinning fireworks on the end. He ducks his head to avoid sparks on his face in Cuenca, Ecuador

Guitars are handmade by generations of craftsmen in San Bartolome

The domes of the "New Cathedral" on Parque Calderon are usually shown on brochures advertising Cuenca

Isabel and her partner joined us at a rooftop party on Parque Calerdon

Evelyn, Burt and Pauline gather on the rooftop for a party across from the New Cathedral

Isabel and Hanna stike a pose from Charlie's Angels

The faces of Cotacachi locals are often interesting character studies

The Christmas Nativity scene in Plaza Otorongo includes a donkey outlined in lights

As Christmas apporaches, streets are lined with decorative lights

The reluctant angel with a pout at the Pase de Nino parade