Expat Life
By Rhett Butler In 1997, ornithologist Robert S. Ridgely discovered a previously undocumented bird species, the Jocotoco Antpitta (Grallaria ridgelyi), in the tropical montane forests on the Amazonian slope of the Andes in southeastern Ecuador. This ground-dwelling bird was immediately recognized as critically endangered due to its very small range and the threats to its...
By Weronika Strzyżyńska and Iñigo Alexander “Instead of eating a bag of crisps or Cheetos, I’ll go to the fruit section of the supermarket,” says Liliana Cano, a 43-year-old shopper at a supermarket in Bogotá. “But sometimes I still have a soft drink, as a little treat.” Colombia became one of the first countries in...
By Garnett Stewart For our new 2024, I propose a well-known poem known as “Desiderata.” It was discovered on the wall of the Episcopal Church of my family in Baltimore, Maryland. Unsigned and dated 1692. My family’s plantation was established on land that is now part of Johns Hopkins University and Hospital. Despite suffering severe...
By Mark Travers Have you ever wondered what your life would be like without a smartphone? Some may envision a life of peace without distraction, whereas some may see a life with less convenience and connection. Others, however, may feel terrified of the idea entirely. Psychological research has uncovered a new fear: “nomophobia”—where individuals become...
By Sylvan Hardy A crowd estimated at 100,000 lined the streets and balconies of Calle Simon Bolivar Sunday to watch Cuenca’s Christmas Eve parade, the Pase del Niño, or the Passing of the Child. In addition to onlookers, the event featured about 50,000 participants, mostly children, who walked and rolled from San Sebastian Plaza to...
By Robert Bradley Evergreen trees and plants have been used to celebrate winter festivals for thousands of years, long before the advent of Christianity. Pagans in Europe used branches of evergreen fir trees to decorate their homes and brighten their spirits during the winter solstice and early Romans used evergreens to decorate their temples at...
By Aimee Robinson The British are huge fans of travel, with the latest data revealing that 5.5 million British people live permanently abroad. Some locations, however, are far more expensive than others and the drop in the value of the pound hits British expats particularly hard. New research has revealed that Britons opting to move...
By Garnett Stewart Are you feeling sad? At this time of year, there are a lot of SAD people! What I am talking about, of course, is Seasonal Affective Disorder, commonly referred to by its initials, S.A.D., and several of my acquaintances tell me that they suffer from it this time of year. S.A.D. is...
Editor’s note: Garry Vatcher is the founder and director of Hogar Esperanza, a Cuenca-based charity dedicated to providing services and support to Ecuadorians and migrants who need assistance. Their services include medical support, disaster relief and financial relief. By Garry Vatcher We receive many calls from the Amazon. It is a region that is very...
By Jeremiah Reardon Dedicated to my sister Alima Dolores Reardon, September 1948-November 2023. Birds dart past me as I stand on my terrace in Cuenca. The early morning’s air and sunlight had energized them. Perched upon our building’s rain gutter, a small pair preened their dark feathers and white underbellies. Once in flight their blue-green...
After a grim and grueling year, our well-deserved December holiday is finally here. We will don pointy red hats, exchange gifts, and eat too much. Drink we must and drink we will. Time to party like it’s 123 A.D! The festival of Saturnalia starts on December 17 and culminates with the birthday of our glorious...
By Steve Fink Binge drinkers are three times more likely to suffer liver damage compared to individuals who consume a couple of glasses of wine a day, new research reveals. Scientists in London say the pattern of alcohol consumption is a more accurate predictor of liver and other disease risk than the total amount consumed....
Dani News
The Cuenca Dispatch
Week of April 21
With the “Yes” vote on 9 of 11 questions, constitutional and legal reforms in the popular consultation head to the Assembly.
Correístas’ Plan: Impeaching Salazar Amidst Trial for Metastasis Case.
Everything you need to know about the regulations to apply euthanasia in Ecuador.
Fund Grace News
Country living News
Quinta Maria News
Hogar Esperanza News
Gran Colombia Suites News
Thai Lotus News
