When I was younger, I spent a year with a team of artists, filmmakers and anthropologists documenting the Inuit culture of southwestern Alaska. Our autumn trip was to a remote inlet to record a seal hunt. It was late September. When the weather unexpectedly turned...
Expat Life
Cuenca celebrates the popular arts and culture of Latin America –and the world– at the CIDAP museum
By Stephen Vargha Many people walk by one of Cuenca’s art treasures in El Centro and probably do not realize it. “CIDAP was founded in 1975,” said Gabriela Vázquez, the Executive Director of Centro Interamericano De Artes Populares, otherwise known as CIDAP. “It...
Mixing fantasy and reality, Cuenca artist Kleber Moscoso records the lives of his rural heritage
The argentine canvas tacked to the sky was hung nearly a week ago; whoever is in charge must have issued a recall of the color blue and put this up instead. It seemed a fitting time for the artist, Kleber Moscoso, to abandon his art studio for a spell and chat with me...
FAAN update: A visit to the local dog rescue mission and plans for the new animal shelter
By Heather Conley Two Saturdays ago, a busload of us were taken to Tarqui to see the FAAN dog rescue operation there. I was just an ordinary person on the bus and here’s what I saw... Our hosts were the advisory board of FAAN, one of the largest dog rescue groups...
Cuenca’s artists and artisans create a deep-rooted harmony of craftsmanship and purpose
Within a five-block radius of San Sebastian Plaza are two saddlers, at least five furniture makers, a knot of tailors, a sprinkle of goldsmiths, a colorful stained-glass studio, a thriving farmers market, more bakeries than I can count, and twice as many restaurants...
Why you’re not a failure if you try the expat life and it doesn’t work out
By Larry Welch I was an expat for six years — first in Spain and later in Cuenca — but I am no longer an expat. Having said that, I have to add that I have absolutely no regrets about my seven years living overseas. My wife and I had a blast and our lives are...
Why do so many men avoid doctor’s visits?
By Jancee Dunn Last year, my husband Tom received this memorable text from his father: “FYI, getting brain surgery tomorrow. Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.” This was the first we had heard about his brain surgery. When Tom phoned his dad and asked why he wasn’t told...
Venezuelan nomads return to Cuenca, bringing their native favorites with them to Nómadas Bistró
By Stephen Vargha Expats who have lived in Cuenca for several years are telling Kelbert Bortone, “Welcome home.” “People were very happy when they found out I had opened a restaurant,” said Bortone. “It’s so good to see my friends again.” Bortone is talking about...
Transferencia Project Update: Meet the women artists making a difference for abused women
By Tom Larsen What is Transferencia? Transferencia: Impressions of Our City, is the brainchild of Janda Grove, a North American artist now living in Cuenca. The project began in May of 2022. As Janda wandered and explored her adopted hometown, she decided she wanted...
Former New Yorker editor returns to Cuenca to enjoy the charms of a ‘great walking-around city’
By Calvin Trillin "But haven't you been there before?" That's what people tended to say when they heard that I was about to spend a week or so in Cuenca. "Funny, I never get that sort of response with Paris," I would reply. If I mentioned that I was about to spend a...
More air passengers request wheelchairs for early boarding but recover miraculously inflight
By Jay Ratliff Recently, airlines have seen a drastic increase in the number of wheelchair requests. In fact, 25 passengers requested wheelchair assistance on one recent Southwest Airlines flight. And these numbers are growing. As we study the question of why more...
Devastating accident led to an award-winning career in Rolfing for Cuenca therapist Roosvelt Rojas
By Stephen Vargha A career in Rolfing for Roosvelt Rojas began by accident. Literally. "I was living in Loja at the time, and I was rushing to Catamayo City Airport as I was late for my flight,” said Rojas. “I crashed and had major injuries as I could not move my...
Julio’s story and why I decided to visit Ecuador
One of the many joys of living in Cuenca is meandering through centuries-old neighborhoods on Sunday mornings. Booming cannons call people to prayer as streams of families pour onto sidewalks worn to bedrock by shoe leather and bare feet. Little girls, clutching...
Coming soon: Art by women to benefit women — the Transferencia Project will provide needed funds for a Cuenca women’s shelter
By Tom Larsen Transferencia (Sp.) — an act, process, or instance of transferring. March 2023 in Cuenca will see the culmination of nearly a year’s work as local women showcase their art to benefit Mujeres Con Éxito, the Cuenca organization that plays a critical role...
Bustin’ popular sports nutrition myths!
By Nancy Clark Keeping up with the latest science-based sports nutrition recommendations is a challenge. We are constantly bombarded with media messages touting the next miracle sports food or supplement that will enhance athletic performance, promote fat loss, build...
La Yunta restaurant and store survives the pandemic and finds magic in its new Cuenca location
By Stephen Vargha Owning the popular restaurant, La Yunta, was not the original goal of Sole Riquetti. Nor was it the long circuitous global route Riquetti took to end up at Ave. Primer De Mayo. “My dad wanted me to learn English. I always hated English as a kid,”...
Forever punishing and replenishing, the magnificent clouds of Ecuador are a cloak woven of dreams
I watched quietly as the swollen Paute River carted away dirt, stone, and scoured human debris from a recent rainstorm. It was a strong reminder that the gods of Fertility and Loss, when absorbed in their enthusiasm for being unequalled, will occasionally flood...
At my Nana’s house, my first love affair was with her Chippendale full of leather-bound books
By Jan Dynes Books were the stepping stones of my life, they became each decades touch stones and they formed me. My choices were an education that allowed me to become and embrace being everything from a queen or princess to being a slave, angry militant, migrant...
Azuay Community Theater celebrates February with four distinctly different comedies; The theater needs your help moving to its new location in El Centro
By Rick Snyder It’s time to enjoy some famous comedies at An Evening of Short Plays, opening Friday, February 17 at 4 p.m. at the Azuay Community Theater. Following ACT’s first 2 first success productions of the 2022-23, It Had To Be You and It’s A Wonderful Life, the...
Battling expat stereotypes: How your country of origin is seen by the natives in other countries
By Anastasia Piatakhina Giré We all come to our new country with some kind of luggage. Sometimes we bring with us some heavily charged suitcases, sometimes just a few books and a backpack. Even if we like to travel light, we still carry some pieces of our reality, the...