Married to María del Carmen Guzmán, with whom he has three daughters, the successful businessman born in Guayaquil, has made the leap to diplomacy after the request of President Guillermo Lasso to represent his country in Hungary and its surroundings.

In this new professional stage, Salazar Arrarte has set himself the goal of making his country known in Europe, at a commercial and tourist level, in addition to strengthening ties with the governments before which he represents Ecuador.

1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here?

 I arrived to Budapest on February 15th of this year to assume the position of Ambassador of Ecuador to Hungary from where I also oversee the countries of Croatia, Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria.

2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere?

 I am not a career diplomat, I have always been in the private sector (banking and retail). As a friend of President Guillermo Lasso I was asked to represent my country in the countries of Central Europe, based in this magnificent city of Budapest. My business background is a great advantage to bring together the Hungarian and Ecuadorian business sectors but as I lack diplomatic experience, but I am rapidly learning from my fellow colleagues, mostly from sister countries of Latin America.

3. What surprised you most about Hungary?
In general Hungary has received us very well and my wife and I feel very happy to be living in this beautiful city of Budapest that besides having very polite and friendly people is undoubtedly a very safe city.

4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do? 

The whole city of Budapest has a lot of history and many attractions to visit, starting with the Buda Castle district, where you can find the Fisherman's Bastion, Matthias Church, the Presidential Palace and the whole complex of the Royal Palace that today houses many museums.

And on the Pest side, besides the Basilica, it is certainly a place you have to see, the Heroes' Square, the Széchenyi pools, the House of Terror and in general all the tourist attractions that Andrássy Street has, such as the Opera House and the heritage buildings that sit along this avenue.

5. What is your favourite Hungarian food?

Two of the many Hungarian dishes we love are the Székelykáposzta (Transylvanian cabbage) and the Székelygulyás,(Transylvanian gulyás) tipical dishes of the Erdély region of the ancient Hungary. 

6. What is never missing from your refrigerator?

The first class Hungarian wines from the Villány, Eger, Tokay and Szekszárd regions. But as well, we are very fond of juices and fruits, we always have a good stock of tropical fruits in the fridge.

7. What is your favourite Hungarian word?

Egészségedre.

8. What do you miss most from home? 

Naturally, my family, especially our 3 daughters and our 8 grandchildren.

9. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?

Travel agent.

10. What's a job you would definitely never want?

Bureaucrat.

11. Where did you spend your last vacation?

 In Vienna.

12. Where do you hope to spend your next holiday?

In my home country.

13. Apart of temptation what can't you resist?

A good wine.

14. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?

My favorite band was the Beatles, favorite movies are Ben-Hur and Lawrence of Arabia. A sport I have always liked and played is tennis.

15. Red wine or white?

Is there any other wine that is not red?

16. Book or movie?

Both of them.

17. Morning person or night person?

Morning.

18. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about?

Oppression or invasion of a country by another country for whatever reason it be!

19. Buda or Pest side?

Both, I live in Buda, I work in pest! So I spend my life truly in BUDAPEST.

20. What would you say is your personal motto?

I am a troubleshooter.