Posts:
By Stephen Vargha Happenstance from 12,000 miles away has brought a new and delicious type of ethnic food to Cuenca. “We had a party in 2008 for our October Memorial Day outside the hotel where Joe was,” said Streymom Un. “Joe came by, and I told him to come over and...
A survey of expats by InterNations ranks Ecuador first overall in the world for making friends. Titled "Inside and Outside the Expat Bubble," the survey compared expats' ability to make friends among the local population as well as with other expats. Countries...
By Stephen Vargha Look up what chemistry means, and you will find it is the branch of science that deals with the identification of the substances of which matter is composed; the investigation of their properties and the ways in which they interact, combine, and...
By Liam Higgins The mayors of Nabón and Oña say the valley between their towns is the perfect location for a new Cuenca airport. The site, off the Pan American highway south of Cuenca, is flat, at a lower elevation than Cuenca, and has a dry, fog-free climate. The...
As many as 8,000 are expected this weekend for the first annual Festival de Quesos y Bebidas (cheeses and drinks) at Cuenca’s Mall del Rio convention center. The three-day event, which begins Friday morning at 11, features national and international cheeses, wines and...
By Stephen Vargha Labor Day week is the traditional kickoff to the political season in the United States. It gained the distinction due to the fact that the summer vacation season is over, kids are back in school and it is only two months until the November elections....
Moderate rain had forced me to take shelter under a large avocado tree near the Rio Yambala in Vilcabamba. I had closed my eyes so I could concentrate on the air-born smell of petrichor, that universal scent that wafts up from the soil and plants during a rain. It...
By Mauricio Olmedo-Perez When I was mugged by a gang of teenagers in Panama City it was a surprisingly civil transaction, and it was all over in less than a minute. I was a tour guide and had worked throughout Latin America for a number of years, traveling to some...
By Maria del Pilar Cobo Ecuadorians are generally known for their formal courteousness, especially when it comes to welcoming foreign visitors. Most of us avoid confrontation if we can (except when we're behind the wheel of car, when we metamorphize into another...
By Tom Larsen Artist Janda Grove is a North American Expat who lives in Cuenca. She has created an impressive portfolio of work, primarily using oils on canvas, linen or gessoed boards. She is also an accomplished photographer. Her latest initiative, Transferencia:...
If you ask Heather Steyn about sheep, don’t expect a short answer and if your question is about sheep’s milk cheese, expect to sit a spell. Heather's and her husband Phillip’s immersion into artisanal cheesemaking began as a hobby at their ranch in Colorado. Although...
By Andrea Kluth The U.S. Supreme Court has lately polarized Americans with controversial verdicts on abortion, guns, climate change and more. Another case on its docket, by contrast, will get intense scrutiny mainly from millions of Americans living abroad. Alexandru...
By Lee Harrison I’ve spoken with lots of potential expats who are trying to choose between Cuenca, Ecuador, and Medellín, Colombia, even though these two cities are actually very different in key ways. But, as I’ve lived in both places (and both are among my favorites...
By Sylvan Hardy They’re coming in from all over the world. That’s what Australian Kendall Barnes says about other recent arrivals to Cuenca. “I’ve met people from Belgium, Israel, China, Russia, Argentina, Portugal, the U.S. and England since I moved here last year,”...
By Stephen Vargha In the United States, there has been a long-standing discussion within tourism circles about the value of policing services at popular tourist destinations. Some argue that the local police can handle tourism duties as part of their workload. Others...
By Diana Hubbell In addition to being an accomplished poet, playwright, and royal spy for King Charles II, Aphra Behn threw a hell of a party. A cultural maverick in 17th-century England, Behn didn’t care much for the norms imposed on the women of her day. She was...
By the SciTechDaily staff Strengthening your immune system can help reduce your frequency of catching colds, and even reduce their severity. There are tons of supplements marketed as immune boosters, but what does the scientific literature say? Research shows when you...
By Stephen Vargha Though sushi is synonymous with Japan, it can be found 9,000 miles away in Cuenca. Sushi is bite-sized and rice-based, often involves raw fish, and is accompanied by sliced ginger and wasabi (Japanese horseradish). It originated as casual food served...
By Martin Simmons As someone who has spent five or six months a year in Cuenca since 2003, I always appreciate the fact that I’m able to see the city with fresh eyes every time I return. For me, it’s like viewing a series of snapshots, taken in chronological order. It...
By Kathleen Peddicord You may be surprised to learn of the two biggest expenses expats often face. Most of us think of rent. Food and entertainment. Taxes maybe. But, in my experience, many expats spend more on two other expenses. These two costs rarely show up in...
