By Mark Mahoney I recently had the opportunity to travel with a group of musicians (who played at a number of venues in Havana) and other interested folks with a focus on attending the yearly International Jazz Festival in Cuba. This was a unique opportunity to experience both this island’s culture through residing with Cuban […]
Editor’s note: This is the third of a six-part series by Don Moore, a former Peace Corps volunteer in Honduras who developed a fascination with northern Peru — and wrote a book about it. Don spent most of January in Cuenca. To see part one, click here. For part two, click here. By Don Moore […]
By Jaime Moreno Zoonoses cross the species barrier. Let’s remember Neil Armstrong when he had the first moonwalk in 1969 and pronounced his famous phrase, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” He took another “second small step” when he went to the Tayos Caves, Morona Santiago in 1976. With minor […]
By Rob Bell I am constantly raving about the quality of food here in Ecuador. In the U.S. they make a big deal about organic food, along with a hefty price tag. I’m probably being a bit naive, but here in Ecuador it seems like practically everything is organic, from the fresh fruit and veggies […]
By Kate Murphy “You’re not listening!” “Let me finish!” “That’s not what I said!” After “I love you,” these are among the most common refrains in close relationships. During my two years researching a book on listening, I learned something incredibly ironic about interpersonal communication: The closer we feel toward someone, the less likely we are […]
Whatsup with all the media addicts? I walked from San Sebastian to San Blas the other day and couldn’t help but notice the large number of folks yakking into, staring at or scrolling through their cell phones. What was striking is this that almost every bench in Plaza San Blas had at least two people […]
When contemplating their relocation to Ecuador, or even when already here, it’s common for Expats to overlook or consider as an after-thought the issues related to Health Insurance in Ecuador, and the still fairly new requirement of the Ecuadorian Government by virtue of the 2017 law known in Spanish as the “Ley de Movilidad Humana” […]
By Daniel Williams This past weekend, I had my views challenged during a graffiti removal celebration for a campaign called “Keep Cuenca Beautiful.” To be clear, I don’t do any tagging, but I am a visual artist. Around noon on Sunday, I was told by a good friend that we’d meet at the venue and […]
By Nancy Clark I’ve started eating clean; quinoa and brown rice. No more white rice. I haven’t had cookies for ages. I’m eating clean—no added sugar. When I visit my parents, I bring my own food. It’s healthier…. The clean eating movement has raised a lot of questions about what you should and should not […]
Like many of you, I’ve been advised to take calcium supplements. As I aged into my 50s I received a number of vague recommendations from doctors to “take calcium” after a bone density exam showed bone loss. People who have osteopenia (low bone mineral density) have a greater chance of developing osteoporosis, a condition where […]
Early in the morning, shortly after light and while most of you are still asleep, I ease my cross country bike, the Blue Rocket, from his berth at my home in San Joaquin. I keep him well maintained with air and oil and he’s always ready to go at a moments notice, just like me. […]
By Robert Bradley The alfresco restaurant, Casa Azul Galeria Cafe, on the plaza of San Sebastian church, was my first haunt in Cuenca. Several mornings a week I would wander down, plop into one of their comfortable chairs, and read for an hour or so while sipping their delicious coffee. Because I was so fresh […]
Editor’s note: This is the second of a six-part series by Don Moore, a former Peace Corps volunteer in Honduras who developed a fascination with northern Peru — and wrote a book about it. Don spent most of January in Cuenca. By Don Moore Tramping down the Andes is like walking on the ridge of […]
Ecuador is famous for its vibrant woven textiles, especially from alpaca wool, which has an exquisite texture that gives extra lightness and warmth. The alpacas from the Chimborazo region are known as the ‘Ladies of Chimborazo’ for their especially soft fur and elegance, and the textiles made by indigenous artisans in Otavalo and other areas throughout the Andes are world-renown. Continue reading
