Blog
Money sent home from Ecuadorians living in the U.S., Spain and Italy, dropped 22% in fourth quarter of 2008 compared to the same period for 2007. On a per capita basis, there are more Ecuadorians living and working outside the country than citizens of any other Latin American country. There are an estimated 2.75 million...
U.S.-based developers have announced plans for what they are calling “a first of its kind residential community in Cuenca.” Daryl Lassiter, project spokeman for Cuenca Casas, said that community will be designed to appeal to both foreigners and local residents. “The concept is not revolutionary,” said Lassiter. “It will be an active adult community that...
This little nook of a restaurant packs a giant south-of-the-broder flavor whallop! Tucked away behind the soccer stadium on Calle Peralta, just off Av. Solano and Av. Remigio Crespo, I had passed Pronto Tacos many times and thought “I wonder if their food is any good.” You see, having been raised in Southern California, so...
Hey ladies! Need to shed a few pounds? Or just shape up? The recently reopened Curves, at the corner of Unidad Nacional and Gran Colombia, just below the Las Cuadras condominium complex, is the place to do it. Besides scrubbing and buffing the facility, new majority owner and Wyoming native Jon Wright has added new...
Cuenca merchants and tourism and education officials are calling on the city to institute a uniform system of signage, particularly in the historic district. In a letter to city officials, the group claims that poor signage –or the lack of it altogether—affects tourists and citizens alike. According to to Gabriela Alvarez, coordinator of the Tourist Information Center,...
Looking for a little piece of paradise in the middle of Cuenca? Parque Paraiso –Paradise Park— may be just the place. A short walk from Iglesia El Vergel, at Av. 12 de Abril and Calle de las Herrerias, the park, with its groves of willow trees and grassy fields, offers a welcome break from the hustle...
If you love Italian food, be sure to put Mediterraneo at 7-64 Honorato Vasquez, between Luis Cordero and Hostel Cafecito on your “to-do” list. The first thing I noticed were the new restaurant’s wall decoration. Rich Tuscan colors and a rogue’s gallery of famous Italians –Marcello Masatriani and Sophia Loren, among others— are sure to...
Heavy rains in the past 10 days have caused minor flooding in several areas of Cuenca and prompted calls from residents for city government to improve maintenace of storm drains. Cuenca Fire Chief Carlos Chaca agreed that better maintenance could have prevented some of the problems, particularly in the southern areas of the city. He also...
The effects of new Ecuadorian import taxes and quotas will begin to hit home by early February according to the director of the National Association of Merchandisers. “Get ready to feel the pain,” Juan Maldonado warns. Ecuador began limiting imports and imposing higher taxes on 630 products January 15. The government claims that the move...
Cuenca’s refurbished Ninth of October mercado reopons today after months of construction delays. Over the weekend dozens of vendors who had been relegated to the streets during the 18-month project, set up shop in the three level building at Calles Lamar and Cueva. The market building anchors a two-block market district that features everything from...
By Aston Morrisey His hand-made guitars have been played by Freddy Fender, Judy Collins, and Spanish classical musician Pablo Menendez, according to a 25-year-old article in American Musician magazine. Cuenca guitar maker Juan Uyaguari say, however, that he can't vouch for the story. "I hear that some of them belong to famous people but I...
You can call 2009, “the year of the traffic light” in Cuenca. The fact is painfully evident to downtown pedestrians who are forced to circumnavigate the installation work on almost every block. Almost all intersections in El Centro that do not already have traffic signals, will be getting them soon. In all, 99 new lights are being...