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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...
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...
By Jeremiah Reardon The New Theater (TNT) is Cuenca’s recently formed English-language theater. A group of theater, design, and marketing professionals have come together with the express goal of adding to the rich cultural life of Cuenca by creating this new theater...
By Stephen Vargha Cuenca’s Municipal Museum of Modern Art’s latest exhibit is truly a family affair. “It was originally only going to be my exhibition,” said the 55-year-old Cuenca native Catalina Carrasco. “But I invited others to be a part of it.” “Alquimia”...
As many of you already read in CuencaHighLife, a magnificent hacienda in the lovely hamlet of Uzhupud near Paute is completing a years-long $5 million renovation. It is now under new management and serves a new purpose. When it officially opens on June 15, it will...
By Deke Castleman How do Ecuador expats feel about learning Spanish? Before the Covid-19 pandemic, CuencaHighLife conducted a survey of attitudes about learning Spanish among expats: 352 readers responded. While we are preparing an updated survey for readers, we...
By Jancee Dunn Dicey health claims and wellness programs have been around for centuries, from the snake oil of the 1800s to the “master cleanse” of the early aughts. Even as a health journalist, I have tried supplements that claimed to curb a raging sweet tooth...
Updated from September 5, 2021 It was yet another fortuitous day in Cuenca. As I wandered along Calle Larga towards Inglesia Todos Santos, I realized that I had stopped in front of a store I passed a gazillion times without ever paying attention to its purpose, Tattoo...
By Deke Castleman and Sylvan Hardy The Spanish verb “to eat lunch” is almorzar. The noun is almuerzo (ahl-MWAIR-so). You notice the Arabic influence of the term in “al”; in addition, any Spanish spelling with a “z” in it is also a hand-me-down from the Arabic...
By Berkeley Lovelace Eating fewer calories appears to slow the pace of aging and increase longevity in healthy adults, according to a study published Thursday in the journal Nature Aging. The study, which was funded by the National Institute on Aging, part of the...
By Christopher Lux General Villamil Playas — better known simply as Playas — is a small coastal city southwest of Guayaquil known for its fishing industry and seafood. Every morning, small wooden fishing boats leave the shore equipped with coolers for storing their...
I recently visited Claudio Alberto Soriano Vitorino, perhaps the most famed artist in Cuenca’s expat community. We met in his studio at IdiomArt. It was readily apparent that his sanctuary is not a gallery; it is a launchpad for the formidable creative energy that...
By Dorothy Spears Illustrations by Alexis Rockman On our first morning in the Amazon, we awoke in total darkness. After a 4:30 a.m. breakfast at the Sani Lodge, where our group was staying, my husband, Alexis, and I pulled on our rubber boots. Our birding guide,...
By Steven Casals After 20 years in the U.S. military, James Cummiskey was divorced and looking for a change. Relenting to his buddy's request, he flew to Medellín, Colombia, for a visit. He looked, he saw, and, by dinner time, he decided to stay. Permanently. "After...
