At Christmas in 2014, Giselle and I gifted ourselves a tour of Ecuador with Gate 1 Travel to be taken in late April of 2015. To us, Ecuador is one of the most beautiful and diverse countries either of us has ever visited. So much so, that we have returned multiple times and plan to make this our retirement home in the not too distant future…..Enjoy the stories and pictures from a country we both fell very much in love with…
April 2015 (4/30/2015) - Our first trip to Ecuador...here are the stories from our very first experience with Gate 1 Tours. It was a very memorable trip where we made many new friends that we still see and visit with today. 
October 2015 (10/30/2015) - We were so taken by Ecuador on our first trip that we could hardly wait to go back for more. We arranged to hire Wilson, our guide from the first trip, to take us on another private tour to see… 
February 2017 (3/1/2017) - In January 2017 Giselle headed to Cotacachi to stay for 2 months on her own just to see if it was someplace she could retire in. I invited my cousins Dan and Rose Fisher to fly down with me for… 
February 2018 (3/1/2018) - We returned to Ecuador in February 2018 to explore more of the country and have a visit to the coast to see if maybe that was an option for us to live. We rented a small car to get us… 
August 2019 (9/20/2019) - We have finally made up our minds that Ecuador was where we would plan to possibly retire. We flew down again in August 2019 for another stay. This time, we decided that we would see more of the small town… 
November 2021 (11/20/2021) - As travel restrictions were beginning to wind down from COVID, Giselle and I needed to return to Cotacachi to get more coffee! Actually, we were just yearning to go back to experience more of our paradise. We stayed in the… 
Cotacachi Again!- February 2023 (2/28/2023) - Here I am back in Cotacachi, this time for a two month stay. It is sort of a retirement test drive, just making absolutely positive that this is the spot where Giselle and I will make our home sometime in… 
Cotacachi again…..December 2023 (12/6/2023) - Well, I'm off to Cotacachi for another visit, this time over the Christmas holidays. I'm looking forward to seeing how it is celebrated there. I am also looking forward to seeing good friends Chuck and Susan Bussey, Roger and Malena… 
Ecuador Again! 2024/25 (11/17/2024) - Well, here I am again for my longest stay yet in beautiful Ecuador. I have returned to my favourite spot - Cotacachi for an extended stay of almost three months. Follow along as I post new videos and stories about… 
Ecuador 2026 (4/30/2026) - In the Spring of 2026 I headed back to Cotacachi again. This time for a one month stay, just because. I was checked in to a newer apartment that was located above my favourite Mexican restaurant - El Minero. I…