[deserat]

Orchidflower,

I spent a month in Ecuador for language immersion and as part of that got courses in Ecuadorian history, etc. They do use the dollar - they did the 'dollarization' of their economy a few years ago - what's interesting is that the money you get there is very battered - it's almost as is the US sells their old money to them (of course they don't, but you'll notice the difference in the worn money down there). Saddest part is that with the dollarization as well as a few corrupt politicians, the middle class has significantly decreased there....the conversion caused a drop in some of the value of their savings/etc and a couple of Presidents just up and ran off with tax money. Their was still a bit of grumbling when I went down there in 2002. If you stayed on the economy, the prices were quite cheap, however, in Quito, there was the mall and some other restaurants, etc. that had US prices (almost CA prices) - I was surprised to see so many locals at those restaurants. Fortunately or unfortunately, my expectations for cost of living adjust to the local standards of where I live - so I got into the bargaining and would bitch at prices I considered too high for Ecuador (although I wouldn't do so in the US). They saw me coming, most of the time and of course put the 'tourist tax' on prices.

Other interesting factoid - Ecuador is the only 'former' OPEC nation - they left the 'club' in the 70's I believe.

Deserat