Amelia And JP’s Blog
Embrace the Unconventional Life!
Our blog is dedicated to the 3 pillars of The Unconventional Life: Online Income, Living Abroad, and the FIRE Movement. Each pillar is pivotal in living a dream life on your own terms. Together, they allow you to choose where you live, when you work, and what you do. This section is a rollup of everything we share.
Grab our free Live Abroad Toolkit by signing up for our newsletter.
Get the Free Move Abroad Checklist
Enter your email address here to get our Unconventional Newsletter with all sorts of timely information about living abroad, online income and achieving financial independence.
You'll also get immediate access to our Move Abroad Checklist that will walk you through the process of wrapping up your life at home and moving to a new country.
PLUS, there are several other free perks in our Live Abroad Toolkit we think you'll enjoy!
PLUS, there are several other free perks in our Live Abroad Toolkit we think you'll enjoy!
Filigree Jewelry in Chordeleg Ecuador
/in Blog, Ecuador, Live Abroad/by JP StonestreetFor our first tourist-y excursion since we’ve been in Cuenca, Ecuador, we took a trip east of town to three different artisan villages: San Bartolomé, Chordeleg and Gualaceo. This video covers the second town of Chordeleg, Ecuador, which is famous for its miniature ceramics and filigree jewelry.
Be sure to check out our other videos from this excursion to San Bartolomé Ecuador (Part 1) and Gualaceo Ecuador (Part 3).
We hope you enjoy seeing the beautiful Andean scenery, the picturesque town of Chordeleg, and the interesting people we meet along the way. We’ve also included some Spanish language learning opportunities for you….
San Bartolomé Ecuador Handcrafted Guitars
/in Blog, Ecuador, Live Abroad/by JP StonestreetFor our first tourist-y excursion since we’ve been in Cuenca Ecuador, we took a trip east of town to three different artisan villages: San Bartolomé, Chordeleg and Gualaceo. This video covers the first village of San Bartolomé, Ecuador, which is famous for its handcrafted guitars.
Be sure to check out Part 2: Chordeleg Ecuador and Part 3: Gualaceo Ecuador to see the rest of our tour.
We hope you enjoy seeing the beautiful Andean scenery, the picturesque town of San Bartolomé, and the interesting people we talk to along the way. We’ve also included some Spanish language learning opportunities for you….
Belly Dancing at Fratello in Cuenca Ecuador
/in Blog, Ecuador, Live Abroad/by JP StonestreetBack in the states, Amelia enjoyed Pole Fitness (that’s pole dancing for exercise), but here in Cuenca, she has fallen in love with Tribal Fusion Belly Dancing! She only had 4 days to learn this dance for the Belly Dancing at Fratello fundraiser, and she did great!
Shoe Shopping in Cuenca Ecuador
/in Blog, Day In The Life, Ecuador, Live Abroad/by JP StonestreetToday, we went shoe shopping in Cuenca Ecuador, and as a reward for my extreme patience, we went to Inca Lounge for cervezas on our way home. We also stumbled upon some improv dueling rappers in Parque de la Madre. You just never know what you’re going to see while walking around Cuenca!
Cuenca Ecuador Supermarket: Supermaxi El Vergel
/in Blog, Ecuador, Live Abroad/by JP StonestreetThis morning, we visited Supermaxi El Vergel to get some of our staple supplies like soy milk, mushrooms, apple cider vinegar, crackers, wine, etc. We also buy trash bags, laundry detergent, canned goods, spices, tofu, condiments and other packaged items there.
We typically buy all of our fruits and veggies at the mercado, but the mercados don’t carry everything and we really like Supermaxi El Vergel. It’s clean, reasonably priced and feels like a Safeway or Kroger back in the states. Oh, and the people who work there are all really nice and helpful.
We hope you enjoy this tour of Supermaxi El Vergel. We’ve also included some Spanish language learning opportunities for you….
CLP Bus to Guayaquil Ecuador from the Coast
/in Blog, Ecuador, Ecuador Coast 2018, Live Abroad, Our Trips/by JP StonestreetWe couldn’t live at Villa de Los Sueños forever and we eventually had to go back home to Cuenca Ecuador. This video covers our CLP Bus to Guayaquil Ecuador from Olón, including the Guayaquil Bus Terminal and the busetas that run between Cuenca and Guayaquil….
Whale Watching Puerto Lopez Ecuador: We Saw Humpback Whales!!!
/in Blog, Ecuador, Ecuador Coast 2018, Live Abroad, Our Trips/by JP StonestreetMy whole life I’ve dreamed of seeing whales up-close, and our Puerto Lopez Whale Watching tour on Ecuador’s Southern Coast more than delivered! We saw a momma whale and her baby playing pretty close to the port of Puerto Lopez, Ecuador. They swam right by and even under the boat. They’re such amazing, prehistoric looking animals!
The Party Town of Montañita Ecuador
/in Blog, Ecuador, Ecuador Coast 2018, Live Abroad, Our Trips/by JP StonestreetIt was an overcast morning, but it was warm (in the mid-70’s) and didn’t look like rain so we decided to walk along the beach 8 kilometers from La Entrada to Olón and Montañita, Ecuador. The beach was virtually empty all the way to Olón, except for a giant whale!
Ecuador Beach Vacation
/in Blog, Ecuador, Ecuador Coast 2018, Live Abroad, Our Trips/by JP StonestreetThis was our first Ecuador beach vacation and we LOVED IT! We’d heard great things from our friends about Ecuador’s beaches, Montañita and the Bed & Breakfast where we stayed, Villa de Los Sueños. And they were right! It was amazing!
This video covers our trip from Cuenca Ecuador to La Entrada where Villa de Los Sueños is located. La Entrada is about a 20 minute drive north of Montañita Ecuador….
A Hike Up the 439 Turi Church Steps + Mall Del Río & Feria Mascotas in Cuenca Ecuador
/in Blog, Day In The Life, Ecuador, Live Abroad/by JP StonestreetToday, we decided to hike up the 439 stairs to the Turi Church again, just for exercise (yes, I also think Amelia is trying to kill me!).
Then we circled around to Mall del Río where we went shopping for a new pair of shoes for me, but we bought Amelia new shoes and shirts, instead. Then we went to Parque El Paraíso for the Feria Mascotas (Pet Fair)….
Sabatino’s Artisanal Market in Cuenca Ecuador + Belly Dancing & Music Festival
/in Blog, Day In The Life, Ecuador, Live Abroad/by JP StonestreetToday, we visited Sabatino’s Artisanal Market here in Cuenca Ecuador to get some organic peanut butter, vegan fudge, bread and other stuff. Then we stumbled upon a music festival at Otorongo Plaza celebrating 80 year anniversary of a local music conservatory. We ended our day in the life at Fratello for a delicious lunch and belly dancing performed by Academia Profesional de Danza Clásica “Tersícore”….
Mercado 27 de Febrero Organic Thursday Market in Cuenca Ecuador
/in Blog, Ecuador, Live Abroad/by JP StonestreetOn most Thursday mornings, you can find us at the organic popup market outside Mercado 27 de Febrero in Cuenca Ecuador. It’s a short 10 minute walk from our house so it’s very convenient.
We’re not 100% sure everything is truly organic, but everything is 100% beautiful and delicious. And since the prices are so reasonable, we figure it’s worth it, regardless….
Mirador de Turi Ecuador: The Colorful Cuenca Countryside
/in Blog, Ecuador, Live Abroad/by JP StonestreetOur hike through Mirador de Turi Ecuador and the Cuenca Countryside was like stepping back in time. Small farms dot the landscape and friendly people were eager to talk to us….
Bumba Artisanal Market Cuenca Ecuador + Tour of El Centro & Lunch at Café Libre
/in Blog, Day In The Life, Ecuador, Live Abroad/by JP StonestreetToday, we went to the Bumba Artisanal Market in Cuenca Ecuador before venturing onward to a popup outdoor textiles market and then to lunch at plant-based Café Libre restaurant in Cuenca.
We love to visit the artisanal markets like the Bumba Popup Market for fresh, organic, delicious, locally sourced vegan foods.