Posts:
By Kristen Rogers You may know that being adequately hydrated is important for day-to-day bodily functions such as regulating temperature and maintaining skin health. But drinking enough water is also associated with a significantly lower risk of developing chronic...
By Stephen Vargha Cuenca’s garden secret is on pace to triple in size. “I'm amazed at how few people know about the place,” said an American expat who has lived in Cuenca for several years. The American expat is referring to the Cuenca Botanical Garden. Located on the...
By Nicolas Caram Like many travelers, the first time I visited Ecuador, my itinerary included Quito and the Galapagos. Fifteen years later, in November 2022, I returned to the country – this time as an Adventure Travel Trade Association representative joining a...
Editor's note: This is the fourth article in a four-part series "Saving the World – One Ecosystem at a Time." By John Keeble Rene Rivas is an expert in repairing the damage that waves of human agriculture have done to wildlife habitats and ecosystems. Under his...
Editor's note: This is the third of a four-part series "Saving the World – One Ecosystem at a Time." Next, Article 4: "The human dimension of successful conservation." By John Keeble The beauty of nature affects people deeply – especially Ecuador’s rare and stunning...
Editor's note: This is the second of a four-part series "Saving the World – One Ecosystem at a Time." Article 3: "A trip among ecosystems and species brought back from the edge of extinction." By John Keeble A tangle of forest near Ecuador’s border with Peru closed in...
By Stephen Vargha Cuenca appeared to have rebounded from the Covid pandemic with its Christmas celebrations and decorations. And Christmas was a huge and welcomed source of revenue for Cuenca businesses. The city announced that visitors to Cuenca for the Christmas...
Editor's note: This is the first of a four-part series "Saving the World – One Ecosystem at a Time". Article 2: "Your opportunities to connect with nature on an ecotour." By John Keeble In a skeptical world coming to terms with the recent 190-nation agreement to save...
By Andrew Van Dam We all know that America is a nation of immigrants (with the obvious exception of its long-marginalized native population). But every so often, it feels like it’s on the verge of becoming a nation of emigrants. After the 2004 reelection of George W....
“This is the biggest and best Pase del Niño ever,” is how Carmela Llivipuma described Saturday’s Christmas Eve parade through Cuenca’s historic district. The granddaughter of the event’s founder said 120,000, maybe more, watched or participated in the parade that...
By Stephen Vargha Being an ecologically or environmentally responsible person is becoming more popular as climate change has become more evident, and our oceans get filled with plastics. Many people are trying to reduce their own adverse influence on ecology and the...
By Jeremiah Reardon From the vantage point of our fifth-floor apartment and its ample patio, I enjoy the panorama of the Andes’ green hills to the west, changing from sun lit to shadows cast by clouds. They give me a secure feeling because our water comes from its...
By Stephen Vargha A three-month long art exhibit just opened up in Cuenca that Boris Ordóñez considers to be the most important one his curated gallery, OFF Arte Contemporáneo, has ever had. “Of all of the artists that have been exhibited here, Garry is in a class all...
By Stephen Vargha Family is the root of a Cuenca restaurant’s name. Many misinterpret its true meaning. “Co. means companionship, friends,” said Jose Ibañez. Jose is the owner of Calvo & Co., a west side restaurant that is famous for its gourmet hamburgers. “Calvo...
By Laura Brown Vegan diets have become increasingly popular over the years, especially among people looking to improve their health. Indeed, a growing body of evidence shows that plant-based diets (including vegan diets) can have many benefits for health, and have...
By Bani Amor “What time are we headed to Playas tomorrow?” I asked my mom at her cousin’s house in Guayaquil. “Seven in the morning,” she replied. “So eight, Ecuador Time,” I quipped back. She looked up at me for a moment from the mountain of luggage she was...
By John Keeble Cuenca expat Jean McCord, caught in limbo between Cuenca’s hospitals before being helped by Ecuadorian and expat communities, is recovering from surgery and beginning the long road back to full health. Her experience is a warning for every expat. She...
By Susan L. Hart Twenty-plus years of traveling and living abroad have taught me that the world is full of surprises, and it’s the incongruous bits you discover in unexpected corners of it that are the real travel treasures. This was absolutely the case this past...
By Stephen Vargha Cuenca is becoming a more diverse city. And that includes its music. “I was surprised how many people are following us around,” said Anayvis Beltrán. “People have told us how impressed they are with our music.” Anayvis is part of Trio NoAn. The...
By John Keeble One of Cuenca’s most respected American residents has been caught in an agonizing health trap that is a warning to every expat. Jean McCord, well-known in writing and church circles, has been left, through no fault of her own, with only the generosity...
Week of September 20
Ecuador turns to industrial power cuts to protect Mazar and keep homes from going dark.
Ecuador raises its 2026 growth forecast, but El Niño could spoil the outlook next year.
Cuenca retirees challenge medical and therapy changes at IESS senior center.
