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A series of earthquakes centered off the coast of Manabí Province has kept coastal residents on edge since late last week. Sunday’s 5.4 and 4.9 magnitude quakes, felt strongly in Manta, Bahía de Caraquez, Jama and Portoviejo, were the most intense so far, causing...
By Stephen Vargha In the United States, there has been a long-standing discussion within tourism circles about the value of policing services at popular tourist destinations. Some argue that the local police can handle tourism duties as part of their workload. Others...
By Stephen Vargha Though sushi is synonymous with Japan, it can be found 9,000 miles away in Cuenca. Sushi is bite-sized and rice-based, often involves raw fish, and is accompanied by sliced ginger and wasabi (Japanese horseradish). It originated as casual food served...
By Martin Simmons As someone who has spent five or six months a year in Cuenca since 2003, I always appreciate the fact that I’m able to see the city with fresh eyes every time I return. For me, it’s like viewing a series of snapshots, taken in chronological order. It...
Residents of the El Cebollar / Mutualista Azuay neighborhood are blaming Mayor Pedro Palacios for the partial demolition of a community education center. Heavy equipment began knocking down walls of the center before daylight Tuesday but were stopped by angry...
By Stephen Vargha There is a sport in Ecuador that you will not see being played anywhere else in the world: Ecuavóley. Originally considered a sport for the lower class or “lazy people,” ecuavóley has greatly expanded since then as you can see it being played...
The long-delayed Quito Metro subway project faces new delays following the rejection of a management contract signed last week with Colombian and French companies. “This project has been one disaster after another for 12 years and this is just the latest,” said Quito...
The Network of Free Journalists is the latest non-profit organization encouraging President Guillermo Lasso to veto the Organic Law of Communication passed in July by the National Assembly. “If allowed to go into effect, this legislation would be an instrument for...
Editor’s note: Beginning in 2008, students at the University of Cuenca have conducted surveys of what Cuencanos think about North American and European expats and their impact on the community. The survey was repeated in late 2021. Graduate student Silvia Lara, who...
Ecuador geophysicists say there is no scientific connection between the appearance of a rarely seen tropical fish and the recent rash of earthquakes. They add that the story that oarfish sightings are predictors of a major earthquake is a “folktale, part of popular...
By Ray Horsley This is a countdown of what I've come up with as the ten most prominent “Sounds of Cuenca”. You might also call them “Noises of Cuenca”. It depends on your perspective. I've spent my life and career as a musician. Although I don't think I have any...
The Sangay volcano erupted late Saturday night and the accompanying explosions could be heard in large portion of central and southern Ecuador, including Cuenca. On Sunday, Ecuador’s Geophysical Institute said the eruption was in the “small to moderate” range but said...
By Stephen Vargha There is an ancient Chinese Proverb that says, "To the ruler, the people are heaven; to the people, food is heaven." Owner of Cuenca's Lamian China restaurant on Av. Florencia Astudillo, Tan has imparted that philosophy with his top-rated Asian...
Noise levels in Cuenca have returned to pre-pandemic levels and some residents are complaining that the city government is not doing enough to control it. “They passed a noise law years ago but are not enforcing it,” says Juan Gutiérrez, owner of a metalworking shop...
The number of earthquakes has increased throughout Ecuador in recent months, including those felt in Cuenca and the southern sierra region. According to the Austro Seismic Network at the University of Cuenca, the number of perceptible earthquakes in Azuay, Cañar and...
The United States Customs and Border Protection Agency reports that 10,527 Ecuadorians were arrested in first half of 2022 at the U.S.-Mexican border. The number represents a dramatic drop from the 67,000 arrested during the same period in 2021. According to immigrant...
By Stephen Vargha Little did he know that playing in his father’s guitar workshop as a child would lead him down the family path. For years, Pablo Uyaguari had other plans for himself. “I studied medicine for three years at the University of Cuenca,” said Uyaguari....
Although the rapidly rising value of the dollar means vacations and imported items are cheaper, it’s bad news for Ecuador’s export sector. “This is hitting us very hard and the situation is made worse because of the pandemic and the indigenous strike,” says Felipe...
By Liam Higgins Around city markets they take up space on sidewalks, selling fruit and vegetables and sometimes household goods. On historic district streets they push wheelbarrows of produce or food carts, some with gas-fired grills for cooking. Some simply walk,...
Administrators of Ecuador’s public universities were taken by surprise Friday when President Guillermo Lasso announced he was eliminating the Senescyt exam used for student admissions. Under executive order, each of the country’s 33 public universities will now be...
