By Katie Benson The Galapagos Islands may be best known for the unique animals that live there and the incredible landscape, but the Galapagos beaches are pretty damn incredible too. In fact, the Galapagos Islands are home to some of the most beautiful beaches in...
By Andrew Miller California residents are fleeing to Portugal and in many cases bringing problems that have made life more difficult for natives, according to the Los Angeles Times report. A story titled "Welcome to Portugal, the new expat haven. Californians, please...
By Randall Morrison Regardless of what country you move to, you'll face problems and challenges that expats face the world-over. On the other hand, there are problems that are specific to the country, some of which are deadly serious. Moving abroad is a huge decision,...
By Slow Train I was eight, maybe nine. I was glued to the TV. On it, in that crazy time before streaming, was a show about someone who had been traveling the world for months. My little mind was blown. I thought people only went on vacation for a few days at a time, a...
By Joshua Summers Outdoor activities and discovering the landscape of Ecuador may be fun things to do when you visit this nation in South America, but traveling to this country without experiencing its unique traditional festivals will not make it as colorful as it...
By Einna Búho Sacred Plant Medicine Ceremonies are a staple in Latin America. You probably have heard or even participated in a Cacao Ceremony or sacred ceremonies with Ayahuasca, the Grandmother, Huachuma, the Grandfather or maybe even Huilco, the Mother Medicine....
By David Morrill and Deke Castleman “Los precios gringos” or gringo pricing, also known as the “gringo gouge” and “gringo tax,” is a hot topic in virtually all Latin American expat communities. Even in the times of the coronavirus, the subject can raise a stir. The...
By Liam Higgins A graduate school research project shows that expats living in small towns and rural areas of Ecuador are more vulnerable to serious crime than those living in cities. The research, by University of Edinburgh doctoral student Kelly Fowler, focuses on...
By Jackson Holtz Mindfulness meditation is a stress-management practice with ancient lineage that cultivates nonjudgmental awareness of the present moment, often by directing attention to the physical sensations of breathing. Initially inspired by centuries-old...
By Jan Dynes My mother would be 104 this month if she was still with all of us. Mother's Day always followed just after her birthday. So she is on my mind. Mary Jane Seibertz was born during the Spanish Flu Epidemic in 1918. She brought 3 daughters into this world,...
By Lauren Covino-Smith Before our family relocated to Barcelona to start our expat life, I would listen in awe to my husband share stories of other expat families. At the time, Tony worked in the Global Mobility industry and was responsible for coordinating the...
By Julia Buckley It's time! Travel restrictions are easing, Covid infection rates are settling, you're fully vaccinated, and you're finally thinking about going on vacation. This is the year to make up for the holidays you didn't enjoy over the past two years. You've...
By Robert Bradley Casa Azul Galeria Cafe, on San Sebastian plaza, was my first favorite cafe in Cuenca. Several mornings a week I would wander down, plop into one of their comfortable chairs, and read for a couple of hours while sipping coffee, or dawdling over...
The news of late has been as gloomy as the weather. Eduardo Stein, the special representative of the UN refugee agency, International Organization for Migration (IOM), recently referred to Venezuala in this way, “The IOM has never faced such movement of refugees out...
By Stephen Vargha A city with a university is usually a big cultural arts center for a region. When there are four universities, it makes it easy to become an arts capital. That is what Cuenca is as it has been called by native Ecuadorians and expats, “The Arts...
By Kevin Gilbert Growing up, for me, the Easter period meant family time interspersed with Mum’s visits to church, playing ‘‘conkers’’ with Dad, and learning how to make hot cross buns as well as how to dye eggs. And then there was feeling ill after eating what should...
By Sylvan Hardy Ten years ago, there were only three restaurants on Cuenca’s Parque Calderon, with most diners opting for comida tipica at the venerable Raymipampa, next to the cathedral. Things have changed. With the opening of Calle Santa Ana, the alleyway between...
By Liam Higgins A few years back, a couple from the U.S. checked into a motel near Riobamba. They had flown into Quito early in the afternoon, rented a car and were on their way to Cuenca when they decided to call it a day. A week later, they mentioned their overnight...
By Leita Hulmes I know I have already written a few stories about the Hearts of Gold Foundation but today I want to tell the story about a man with a heart of gold. David McDevitt has started his own campaign to help, not just Hearts of Gold and the Cuenca Soup...
By Heather Conley Let’s say you want to open a small business in Cuenca. Why not? It’s a great city, arguably the best in Ecuador, and you want to contribute. ou have dreams, you have skills – you want to give back. But if your business idea depends on staff, STOP!...
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