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Claiming that the risks of the Covid-19 virus are declining, the National Emergency Operations Committee (COE) relaxed many of the health emergency restrictions that have been in place since mid-March. "We have endured 77 days of isolation and extreme restrictions on...
In two days of transporting passengers, Cuenca's tram has put at least one skeptic's prediction to rest -- that no one will ride it. "We have more than twice as many passengers than we expected and have to ask some people to wait on the plaform for the next train,"...
By Jeff Van Pelt I first wrote this article while confined to a hotel room in Quito 24/7, after being stranded in Argentina for 7 weeks. My emotions inevitably colored the message. It was titled “Exiled and Abandoned.” I decided not to publish it as it would have been...
By Jan Dynes I was asked to write a short piece by a very reputable magazine about how anyone can find happiness in today’s world -- the one of pandemics, war, starvation, ‘dog eat dog’ politics and ‘man’s inhumanity to man’. I couldn’t write that article. I had to...
For the first time in more than two months, health emergency restrictions are being relaxed in Cuenca. The city joins eight other municipalities in Azuay Province in moving from "red light" to "yellow light" Covid-19 protocols. Among the changes under yellow light...
As part of preparations for the beginning of commercial service, Cuenca's tram system is offering free rides to the public beginning Monday morning. Passengers can board the train at any of the system's 27 stations from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. According to tramway...
As we gradually reopen businesses and the curfew is relaxed, it is not a time to relax our vigilance and safety measures that have allowed us to reduce the infection and death rate from Covid-19 — in Cuenca — and in those parts of the world that have taken measures to...
The Cuenca Emergency Operations Committee voted Friday night to change from "red" to "yellow light" the city's health emergency status beginning Monday, May 25. "We made the determination that conditions are favorable to begin easing the emergency restrictions," Mayor...
Jueves, 21/5/2020 Hola, Todos - Actividades - De la pagina cultural - Búnker Escénico - This organization formed by local artists and residents of Azuay has scheduled various activities on Facebook. Every lunes a las 20:30, it broadcasts "Lunes de tretro leído" in...
By Robert Bradley The GoFundMe campaign to raise money for my medical needs reached its goal in a mere three days and I am overwhelmed with gratitude to all those who came to my assistance, dear friends as well as dear strangers. I am truly astonished at the kindness...
Miércoles, 20/5/2020 Hola, Todos - Starting next week, I'm going to take a week's vacation. No, I don't have any secret knowledge or contacts, so I'm not going anywhere. I just need a break. Actividades - De la pagina cultural - Maratón de Cuento - The...
I stood in a fairy-like glen, its grasses partially shrouded by the low hanging branches of paper trees. A mountain brook halved the narrow valley, the source of its gurgling waters a ridge on the Continental Divide less than a half-mile away from whence I had come. A...
Reaction to President Lenin Moreno's deep budget cuts range from high praise from business interests to threats of national strikes from labor and indigenous groups. The cuts, the deepest since the 2000 financial crisis, make dramatic reductions to the public payroll,...
Martes, 19/5/2020 Hola, Todos - Actividades - Nada. Otras cosas - Titular - Comercio, en amarillo; autoridades discrepan (Commerce, in yellow; authorities disagree) - The economy and unemployment are in the red numbers. Merchants have taken on the yellow light, and...
The coronavirus health emergency is putting "catastrophic strain" on Ecuador's largest provider of health care, the Social Security (IESS) system. According to unnamed officials, the system faces collapse without a substantial infusion of funds. Monthly contributions...
By David Morrill A mainstay of the Cuenca expat community since he moved here from the U.S. Pacific Northwest in 2016, Robert Bradley has suffered a series of devastating medical crises since late last year. In October, he had a bad fall, breaking four ribs and his...
President Lenin Moreno has withdrawn a proposal that would have taxed individuals and businesses to support Ecuador’s beleaguered economy. The proposed Humanitarian Support Law, currently being debated in National Assembly, would have raised $1.5 billion, but Assembly...
Jueves, 14/5/2020 Hola, Todos - Actividades - De la pagina cultural - Free on-line classes - El Instituto Superior Tecnológico del Azuay has 5 free courses this month - marketing for artesanos, vehicle technical inspections, basic kiwcha (sic), 3D mechanical design on...
Author's note: This is the second in a multi-part series on fats (updated) — in a recent column about trans fats, we see that in many, but not all countries, trans fats have been eliminated, due to their known health hazards — read Part I here. In Part III I'll...
Although much of it is technically illegal under health emergency restrictions, public market areas of Cuenca have reopened for business. "We don't have the personnel to enforce all the rules," says a member of the city's Citizen Guard who asked not to be identified....
