Thomas Ives

The obituary: A balancing act between reverence and candor

November 1st, 2023

My older brother passed away six years ago. I wrote the following obituary in one sitting, relying on a flood of memories that poured forth sculpting the character of a […]

Fall in love with your eyes closed

April 10th, 2023

I’m occasionally asked, “How did you meet your Ecuadorian wife?” This question always triggers a reflection on why I had come to Ecuador, not to find love but to find […]

Reflections on the digital age, cleanliness, and the voice of the oppressor

January 27th, 2023

It’s 6:04 AM. I’ve been up reading the wonderful anthology of travel essays: Unforgettable Journeys: Great writers on great places,” wherein I discovered two bookmarks, one a photographic print of […]

The rain that brings acceptance and letting go

September 4th, 2022

Moderate rain had forced me to take shelter under a large avocado tree near the Rio Yambala in Vilcabamba. I had closed my eyes so I could concentrate on the […]

New York Yankee fans in Vilcabamba

July 12th, 2022

Two of the most ubiquitous items seen daily on earth are on display in this quick snap taken at a local tienda here in Vilcabamba. One of my campesino neighbors […]

New paint job on the fountain in Parque Central

March 26th, 2022

(Yeah I know … not much happening here in the pueblo today.) Sprucing up for the celebration of the founding of the parroquia de Vilcabamba. I was curious as to […]

Cuenca kids at dusk

January 13th, 2022

There I was up in Cuenca on official business with the Ministerio de Franz Kafka. It hadn’t been pretty …. I had to return to GO and not collect $200. […]

Gringo of the Year for 2021

December 30th, 2021

His Spanish is pretty good except for those pesky irregular verbs. He’s clever enough to mumble them hoping the tense remains clear through context. He carries a well-thumbed mini-English/Espanol dictionary, […]

Straight from the heart

August 17th, 2016

Tranvía de Cuatro Rios worker’s hands Not for want of hard labor! — Thomas Ives Photo created August 16, 2016 in Cuenca; Copyright, Thomas H. Ives 2016, Contact: codexoceanus@gmail.com ________________ […]

Straight from the heart

August 3rd, 2016

Styling in the Parque Central, Vilcabamba — Thomas Ives Photo created in Vilcabamba, 2014, Copyright: Thomas H. Ives 2014, Contact: codexoceanus@gmail.com ________________ Thomas Ives is an American-born photographer who has worked […]

Straight from the heart

July 20th, 2016

‘Tis the gift to be simple, ’tis the gift to be free — From: Simple Gifts. (Traditional Shaker song) A summery country road, a farmer with his dog returning […]