CuencaHighLife
By Calvin Spinks Ecuador owes Clemente Yerovi Indaburo a debt of gratitude for establishing the original “Banana Republic,” and making the country number one in banana exports. Between 1948 and 1950, Yerovi served as Minister of Economy in the government of President Galo Plaza, who, after an extended era of political instability in the country,...
According to a study by the Network of Development Financial Institutions (RFD), 65 percent of small Ecuadorian businesses do not have taxpayer registration numbers (RUC) and pay no taxes other than VATs on some purchases. The government says there are 4.2 million small businesses, or micro entrepreneurs, in the country, with 39% of them, or...
By Chuck Bolotin When in my early twenties, after crossing the border near San Diego with my friends and driving south in Mexico, I noticed lots of houses in which the construction had begun but was not finished. “How stupid”, I thought, viewing what I believed to be evidence of bad planning on a large...
By Nick Allen Armed miners have reportedly invaded a village in a remote part of Brazil and killed a tribal leader. Villagers fled but were planning to return, sparking fears of a “bloodbath,” according to local reports. The violence began last week when the indigenous leader was reportedly stabbed to death in an area belonging...
Víctor Salazar, 34, once practiced law in Venezuela. Today, he supports himself by selling cigarettes on the streets of Quito. It gives him no pleasure knowing he is breaking a law and could be fined $788 and even deported. But Salazar is stuck. He cannot afford to pay for the permits required to work legally...
If you’ve been looking for Ecuadorian recipes with a little international flare, your hostess is Layla Pujol, commonly known as Laylita. Layla grew up in Vilcabamba and Loja, south of Cuenca, but lives today in Seattle, in the U.S., with her French husband and two sons. She says her cross-cultural influences have made her appreciate...
Text and photos by Doug Hansen You don’t have to be a hard-core bird watcher in order to be mesmerized by the dazzling display of hummingbirds, and various other tropical birds, that swarm to the feeders at one of Ecuador’s special nature preserves, Buenaventura. For me, the occasional brightly colored toucans and turquoise green honeycreepers...
By Christopher Lux Ecuador is small country with a diverse geography. That geography produces diverse cuisine that corresponds to the regions’ abundant edible resources. While the coast and mountains have their own unique dishes, many foods are shared by the entire country. One popular meal is the seco. Secos are usually stewed chicken, beef, or...
By John Smith Call me John Smith. Call me Ishmael, if you like. I’m a recovering social media addict and I’m too embarrassed to show my face. I wasn’t always an addict. In fact, six years ago when I moved to Ecuador, I thought social media was something teenagers did (it was certainly something my...
Cuenca’s Easter soup, fanesca, is considered by many to be the best in Latin America and it is a tradition among Cuencanos to have at least one bowl of it during Holy Week. It is being served in mercado food courts and in many restaurants around the city this week — up until Easter Sunday....
By Taylor Goebel Crime and violence in Latin America and the Caribbean come with a hefty price tag — $261 billion, or about 3.5 percent of the region’s gross domestic product in 2018, according to a new study by the Inter-American Development Bank that analyzed the costs of police and prisons, private security and lost...
Editor’s note: The renovated San Francisco Plaza will be inaugurated this afternoon at 6. President Lenin Moreno will be in town for the ceremony. By Liam Higgins As it prepares for its reopening in today, it’s worth a look back at the colorful, sometimes bloody, history of Cuenca’s iconic San Francisco Plaza. It has been...
Dani News
Thai Lotus News
Fund Grace News
Country living News
Quinta Maria News
The Cuenca Dispatch
Week of April 21
With the “Yes” vote on 9 of 11 questions, constitutional and legal reforms in the popular consultation head to the Assembly.
Correístas’ Plan: Impeaching Salazar Amidst Trial for Metastasis Case.
Everything you need to know about the regulations to apply euthanasia in Ecuador.
Gran Colombia Suites News
