Expat Community > Ecuador

ladulce
Joined 2011
Posts: 13

no taxis

10 years ago

Not trying to scare you- do NOT get into a tax that isn't affiliated with your hotel or a restaurant that you are leaving.

We got into a taxi outside a mall there- that was lined up, and, well, to make a long story short- were abused and the gentleman with me was nearly killed. They obviously stole all of our belongings, but, they 'kept us' for several hours before throwing me from a moving car and shooting at me as I ran.

The details are horrible- that is the most 'g rated' I can make this.

I was a 36 year old woman that is fluent in Spanish. Just to say, it can happen to anyone, but, there was just a Japanese couple killed in very similar circumstance.

If you are kidnapped, cooperate and do whatever they say. As the American Embassy pointed out, it is largely a 'tough guy' thing, and, if you disrespect them, they will kill you to prove they aren't weak.

I apologize if this freaks you out, it isn't my intention. We stayed in the super-expensive hotels ($400 night) and, as the man at the embassy pointed out- they aren't looking for victims in the slums. They know to go where the $ is.

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