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On the spring of 1974, at the tender age of 21, I had my first encounter with "the light." This encounter came in the form of a Voice which informed me with great authority that I was to radically change the course of my young life. My willingness to follow this...
By Ute Kreplin Among the promised psychological and physical benefits of meditation are the elimination or reduction of stress, anxiety and depression, as well as bipolar disorder, eating disorders, diabetes, substance abuse, chronic pain, blood pressure, cancer,...
By Stacey Colino Doctors don’t usually prescribe spending time in nature to their patients but perhaps they should. A robust body of research shows that being in green spaces — such as parks, woods, forests, mountains, and the like — is beneficial for people’s...
In 1994 Dr. Sherwin Nuland's book, "How We Die", was published. It is a fascinating read on the exact nature of death. This essay is not informed by Dr. Nuland's work. It is more in line with the recently published book by Buddhist nun and Dharma teacher Pema Chodron,...
By John Olson Is it ever too late for love? 80-year-old New Jersey widower Ralph Bellini doesn’t think so. In ACT’s The Last Romance, Ralph spots the attractive Carol in a dog park on one of his daily walks. And the chase is on. Ralph becomes determined to meet Carol,...
By Stephen Vargha The late U.S. Supreme Court justice Oliver Wendell Holmes said, “I hate paying taxes. But I love the civilization they give me.” Taxes are nothing new for civilizations. The first known taxation took place in Ancient Egypt around 3000-2800 BCE. The...
Editor’s note: This column is the second of a two-part series. To read the part one, click here. On the day Kane Flambures retired, he packed his duffel bag with salty clothes and dragged them down a grungy gangplank to a dumpster where the grease-stained overalls...
By Robbie Lisa Freeman Not long ago, I travelled to Ecuador on a mythic quest to see as much of the country, its natural wonders, and its 1,600+ species of birds as possible over a 28-day trip. In short, to find my Shangri-La, my Utopia, my Garden of Eden! But where...
By Deke Castleman and Sylvan Hardy The concept of punctuality is one distinct example of the differences between the Ecuadorian and North American cultures. Most expats tend to be compulsively prompt and even, by Latin American standards, ridiculously early....
Editor's note: This column is re-posted from February 2021. It is the first of a two-part series by the author. Literature has always been illuminated by constellations of memorable characters. One of my favorite stars is Dean Moriarty, the brilliant, adventurous and...
When you visit the tiendas, mercados, and supermercados of Cuenca for the first time you’ll find a number of fruits that are familiar to North Americans and, for the most part, people all over the world. On the other hand, you'll discover fruit you've never seen...
By Brooke Steinberg Here’s to heart health — and a much-deserved moment to unwind. A new study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology revealed that light to moderate alcohol consumption can lead to a long-term reduction in the brain’s stress...
Diego arrived at the bus station nearly an hour before the scheduled 5 a.m. departure. He was too nervous to sleep. His entire family joined him, but only as far as the floodlit parking lot, and only long enough to offer words of encouragement to sustain him. He alone...
By Sylvan Hardy Cuenca's expatriate community is changing before our eyes, growing in size and becoming more multicultural. That’s the assessment of University of Edinburgh researcher Calvin Evans, currently in town conducting interviews. “The changes are happening...
By Stephen Vargha Ecuador’s biggest distributor and seller of wines has opened its first outlet in Cuenca. “We have 43 percent of the market of wine in Ecuador,” said Cathy Amoroso. “We have 11 stores, with five in Quito, four in Guayaquil, one in Manta, and now one...
History reveals that for countless generations, a practice of remarkable simplicity commandeered the ebb and flow of urban life throughout Europe and large swaths of the developing world. It was a principal source of immeasurable personal comfort while simultaneously...
By Louis Bourgeois I have learned over a lifetime of study and experience a most valuable lesson. This is about our function, which translates to the all-important "meaning of life." I was quite young when I had my first "encounter" with God. I actually had no belief...
By Jordan Pandy Dan and Michelle Bagby were worn out. They had succumbed to the United States' round-the-clock work mentality, pulling extra-long days in their digital marketing and project management jobs. They wanted a more laid-back lifestyle and decided Portugal...
Nearly every trip I’ve made to Cuenca recently included visiting IdiomArt (Marscial Lamar y Estevez de Toral), for good reasons. I first went there to shop for a very special gift: a Nancy Galloway fiber art piece. I next caught a truly extraordinary show by many of...
By Stephen Vargha It has been said that Cuenca is a dog-friendly city. Unlike most cities in the United States, a vast majority of restaurants in Cuenca allow and welcome your canine friend onto their premises. A good number of stores welcome your dog too. Seeing...
