Expat Life

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...

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...

By Stephen Vargha In the last ten years, Cuenca has become more of an international city with its restaurants. A decade ago, the choices were very limited. Since then, the choices of food and drinks have exploded upon Cuenca’s culinary scene. “When I came back to...

Martin Deschenes describes the cuisine of his new El Centro restaurant, Resto Maple Bar & Lounge, as mostly North American but with a Canadian accent. In fact, Martin just brought back 15 liters of North Country maple syrup from his native Ottawa / Gatineau. “We...

I spent the entirety of one day last week visiting with old friends and enjoying the parade of people strolling by my traditional haunt, Casa Azul Galeria Cafe on San Sebastian Plaza. I arrived shortly after noon for lunch and left for dinner at Raymond Huntley’s...

By Stephen Vargha The Municipal Museum of Modern Art has a long and colorful past. Of course, the Catholic church had a big part in it. It started with Cuenca’s Archbishop Bishop Miguel León y Garrido, who saw a lot of people were drinking and lying on the streets,...

We live in a pleasant house on an obscure unnamed dirt road; a pencil thin scar that also portions patches of farmland a couple of thousand feet  above the Paute River. The homes here have no addresses. The route we give to first-time visitors includes carefully...

By Olivia Nolan Cuenca’s supermarkets are a thing of wonder. Their convenience is unparalleled, and if you squint, they might as well be your local Stop & Shop or Safeway. For a peanut-butter addict like myself, I was thrilled to discover that they carry Jif, and...

By Jan Dynes I enjoy word-jams bursting free into a deluge of unrelated thoughts...they increase my gratitude for my life in this beautiful country. I like my simple life and have made peace with all the roads that I took to arrive here. Gypsy spirits roam in wonder....

By Stephen Vargha Less than a decade ago, most Cuencanos did not know what a bagel, the doughnut-shaped yeast-leavened roll that is characterized by a crisp and shiny crust with a very a dense interior, was. “Cuencanos asked me if they were doughnuts. They wanted to...

By Kathleen Wong Lee Harrison never thought he'd retire at the age of 49 – 13 years earlier than when he had planned. He definitely didn't expect that he'd be retired in Ecuador of all places. But at 70, he's happier than ever with his decision, he said. "My father...

Editor's note: This is the second of a two-part series about Wilson Suquitana, Paute’s favorite facilitator. To read part 1, click here. When Wilson Squitana’s father turned his back on him, he knew that the family would never again be whole. He was as confused as the...

By Rosemary Rein Since our first article appeared in CuencaHighLife about (FAAN) Familia Amor Animal Foundation in October, the expat community of Ecuador has demonstrated not only their love of animals but their generosity. For 8 years, FAAN has served as a sanctuary...

Editor's note: This is the first of a two-part story about Wilson Suquitana – Paute’s favorite facilitator. Part one: Loss It was a very special December morning for the Suquitana family of  Paute, Azuay Province  --   a perfect day for welcoming Wilson, the third of...

By Stephen Vargha One could say the French neoclassical former home of one of Cuenca’s most famous residents has a huge story to tell. Or a hundred. “The museum is 75 years old and that is why we did this exhibit,” said Ximena Pulla, Coordinator of the Remigio Crespo...