Ecuador VI - Misc Stuff

From: Dan Trumble
Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007
Subject: The Trumble Travels - Ecuador VI - Misc Stuff

Did you know that in 2000, Ecuador dollarized and now the U.S. dollar is the currency of Ecuador? Paper bills are the same as the ones used in the States but there are special Ecuadorian coins. http://www.globalpolicy.org/nations/sovereign/dollar/2000/ecuador.htm

According to Wikipedia, these are the countries that are dollarized:

British Virgin Islands
East Timor (uses its own coins)
Ecuador (uses its own coins)
El Salvador
Marshall Islands
Federated States of Micronesia
Palau
Panama (uses its own coins)
Turks and Caicos Islands

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dollarization

Ecuadorian nickels, a half-dollar, and a quarter

French fries (“papas” in Spanish) are quite popular. Here is Papa Sumprema (like Supreme Nachos or something but fries, not chips).

That’s a big Coke banner.

There are three main cell-phone providers in Ecuador. They are Porta, Allegra, and Movistar. Movistar has the coolest logo, hands down. It can also be seen in a lot of places. It’s a really cool logo.

Street vendors that sell to folks in cars stopped at stop lights are common. Cell minutes can be purchased from guys like this guy.

Dan with a smaller Movistar logo.

The Movistar logo looms outside of the office (actually this is from a sign at the airport)

Movistar is also in Colombia. Here are some Colombia Movistar images.