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Title: A very mixed message from this author
Review: I'm hoping to retire to Ecuador or another Andean country in three years or so, so I really looked forward to reading this book. The author is married to an Ecuadorian woman and has lived there for well over 20 years now, and he obviously loves the country. I found the sections on history, geography/ecology and culture/customs quite useful as a starting point. But then, he splashes cold water all over the reader with his sections on crime and health/medicine. He makes even a short visit to Ecuador seem like the most perilous possible journey -- if you don't die from some tropical disease, you surely will be mugged, robbed or murdered. In effect, he seems to be saying "Gringos! Keep Out!" Very disappointing.
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