HOME

Sunday, October 27, 2013

WEATHER IN CUENCA - Some say "Rain, Rain, Go Away!!!"

Eternal Spring Weather in Cuenca - Really?

One major reason we left Eugene-Springfield, Oregon after living there 40 years was because we got tired of NINE long months of RAIN every year.  SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) was draining Bo, and it played a big part of our decision not to retire in Bluegene, Oregon.  We both love Oregon.  It's one of the most beautiful states in all of the USA.  It has the Majestic Pacific Oregon Coast, spectacular mountains and breathtaking waterfalls, and one of the most beautiful dry desert areas ever.  But, in the Willamette Valley, it RAINS and RAINS - way too much.  Also, it is one of the most deadly allergy season areas with high grass pollens, and many people cannot live there or they would die - seriously!  Some continue to stay there and are seasonally allergic and physically miserable.

So, weather was a big decision maker on where we would spend our glorious retirement age.  In our research, we kept reading about this "Eternal Spring" area of Ecuador - CUENCA!  We liked the idea of living where it was SPRING year-round.  Neither of us like HOT and HUMID, nor do we enjoy COLD and SNOWY.  We survived our comfortable Oregon life because of the mild winters and minimal snow and ice.  Yes, WEATHER is a big factor in most people's decisions as to where to spend their golden years.

I LOVE the weather in Cuenca!  So does Bo.  Now, here's a man who agonized in the long rainy season each year.  You would think the same would be happening in Cuenca, since it rains here A LOT!  But, what's a lot?  Compared to Eugene, Oregon, it hardly rains here.  Oh yes, it rains daily, and it thunders, and it rains HARD.  Yet, every day we wake up to beautiful majestic blue skies and the most amazing cloud formations.  Every day, we walk in Cuenca's perfect weather, for us anyway, and we don't have to deal with hot humid days, ice or snow, nor do we have to deal with mosquitoes or bugs.  Every day, we walk around with our umbrellas or raincoats knowing the rains will come, but we only have to use them intermittently.  We know that each afternoon the rain will stop and once again the blue skies will evidence themselves. 

If you move here from an extremely rainy mountainous area, as we did, this cooler high altitude climate and rain will not be a negative.  We are mountain people.  We love the green and being surrounded by the beauty of the mountain ranges.  We also love the rain because it clears the air and makes everything sparkle.  Living in a big city and knowing there is a lot of pollution from the city buses and cars makes us embrace the rain.  Again, the sun shines every day, it is warm and spring-like every day, and we know how to dress to embrace all four seasons from morning until evening.  This is why we chose to live in Cuenca, why it works for us, and why we LOVE THE WEATHER HERE! 

So, don't move to Cuenca if your blood is thin, you're moving here from a hot humid climate area that you love, or if you love mosquitoes and bugs and being near the sand and beach.  Move here if you love ETERNAL SPRING weather that sometimes has a cooler bite to it and where it RAINS and POURS every day.  Move here if you're not afraid of the daily weather surprises.  Move here if you can say, "I LOVE the WEATHER in Cuenca!"  If not, go some place else or you won't be happy.  Afterall, that's why you're leaving the place you're at, right?  'Cause ya wanna be happy.  Well, that's another posting, so don't get me started.  What's gonna make you HAPPY?  Because it isn't the weather, it isn't the place you live, it isn't the things you have or bring or accumulate, and it isn't living somewhere that has ETERNAL SPRING WEATHER.  Think about it!!!!!

Our majestic Cuenca Skies will change from morning until evening....

......and if you're out walking, ya better have your rain gear with you, 'cause once that blue isn't peaking through the clouds anymore......

.......it's best you're either inside a restaurant eating and staying dry, or cozy and warm inside your home!!! (yes, home sweet home!!)

The powerful rains will come SUDDENLY and HARD (a view from my office window)..........

.....and the skies will become gloriously and majestically beautiful and thunderous, yet below it will suddenly become dark and VERY VERY WET!!!!

The city streets will flood up with the powerful down pour and SUDDENLY no one will be walking around......

......except for this family who got caught in the down pour - without any rain gear nor one single umbrella!!!  What to do? STOP and open up the plastic sheet (wait, that is their rain gear!!!).....


.......and they brilliantly cover up.......

.......and keep on truckin'!!!

Even those with umbrellas have to duck sometimes because the rains are so POWERFUL for some of the flimsy umbrellas out there!

Yes, sometimes a plastic sheet works a lot better than a flimsy umbrella to keep one dry - ya think????

This posting is not to discourage you about the weather here.  It's to bring you TRUTH so you don't come here expecting your version of Eternal Spring when you read all those rave (false) reviews about how perfect the weather is in Cuenca.  It's only as perfect as you allow it to be.  Nothing's perfect!!!  So, come here prepared for a little bit of EVERYTHING.  IF NOT, ya better go some place else 'cause there's already enough mumblers, grumblers and complainers moving and living here. Just saying......




10 comments:

  1. I hope you might post some photos once you get your pics from home up. Also, I love the windchime in the office window. So glad to hear about your trip and that you could bring home such great buys. Blessings always! Alena/USA.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Is this "Oregon Caregiver" Alena?? Please let me know!
      Welcome to our blog - and so nice to hear from you. Yes, I cherish this windchime - it makes me smile! Our apartment is becoming cozier as we continue to decorate and make it more special with our USA buys. Will post more pics of our home soon.
      Con Carino,
      Linda

      Delete
  2. Linda, still keeping up with your wonderful blogs and pictures. You and Bo were brave to have done that long motorcycle trip. Glad it was a safe journey. While our moving plans might have changed, we do hope to visit next summer. Dinner's on us at your favorite restaurant, if you're available (and if we actually make it there). Living here in the NW, I can totally relate to what you say about the weather. Don't like extended periods of dreariness. It can rain as hard as it wants as long as the sun comes out at some point. Fortunately, we don't get many blizzards or extended heatwaves here, either.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Bob and Cathy,
      Please do let us know when you finally arrive here for your visit - and thank you for the dinner invite - ACCEPTED!!! Yes, we are loving the weather here compared to the dreary Pacific NW rains. The rains have ceased, and I'm loving wearing t-shirts and capris again. I'm interested to know about your change of plans to relocate to Ecuador. Keep us posted!
      Linda

      Delete
  3. pls PM asap - have friend there who needs help and you speak the language
    denise
    denisemic@bellsouth.net

    thank you

    ReplyDelete
  4. she came down in September and did not have her proof on income translated and apostilled - she was told to have that done and come back
    she sent it to her son who had it done in DC, he mailed it back to her and did not keep the tracking number, so it is probably at one of four cities
    her 90 days are about to expire
    if she came to Cuenca (she lives in vilcabamba) could you go with her and see what can be done?
    i'm asking you because of your Spanish and you can assert yourself
    1 I am in north carolina
    2 she really does not have two nickels to rub together and cannot afford a facilitator
    3 I could not email my replay to you because your email address is 'blocked'????

    thank you
    denise

    ReplyDelete
  5. If you are Davids brother we played city league football together and against each other in Eugene. You the same Longood the Longood brothers.... I think so Here in Panama with Eugene phone number on vonage. 541 255-2535 Go Ducks

    ReplyDelete
  6. If you are Davids brother we played city league football together and against each other in Eugene. You the same Longood the Longood brothers.... I think so Here in Panama with Eugene phone number on vonage. 541 255-2535 Go Ducks

    ReplyDelete
  7. Jim Hansen Eugene talkingparrots14@gmail.com I know Dave and Bo if the same. City League football and other.... please contact me.... Here in Panama and be in Manta in March.. Have a condo in Manta.
    HAPPY NEW YEAR to all Go Ducks

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hope to hear from you both Bo and Dave. No good Longood.... jajajaj we used to say cause it rhymed but far from the truth.. great guys been 40 plus years

    ReplyDelete

Leave us your comments and I will respond with any questions you may have. Enjoy our Blog! Linda (y Bo)