Expat Life

Cuenca’s 3 De Noviembre celebrations are just a blast! We’re excited to enjoy this third year in Cuenca, and love the art and music. Street food is often a part of the celebration, so let’s celebrate in style, con salud en mente. Remember, “diet” is not a four-letter...

In mid-September, Edie and I were traversing part of the countries lowlands as we worked our way up the coast from Salinas to San Lorenzo. As usual, we were on the look out for photo-ops but the atmospherics weren’t too accommodating. Eleven days of travel yielded...

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This is an annual international health campaign organized by major breast cancer organizations, with a mission to increase awareness and to raise funds for breast cancer research into the cause, prevention, diagnosis,...

Does it seem to you that the only colds you get are after taking a plane ride? Me too! It may not be our imagination. SmarterTravel.com cites one study that showed a 20% increased risk of catching a cold after flying, while another study found that colds may be more...

I apologize in advance for my rant redux today, but I’m just fed up…again! Here are my second bunch of worst of the worst manufactured foods that have no place in a healthy diet. For the previous four worst foods ever, click here, and weep. #4: Salad Dressings. Not...

By Samantha North Annual leave is a foreign concept for branding strategist Julian Stubbs. He can travel whenever he feels like it and manage his business uninterrupted from anywhere in the world, including beaches, airports and parks. Originally from Cheltenham,...

Heart disease is the number one killer of middle-and upper-income men and women in North America, Latin America, and throughout the world.  An epidemic of obesity and its resulting complications, most importantly type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, increase the...

What memories do you have of your father’s touch? Or did he ever even touch you? Perhaps you knew his touch through physical discipline. Or, maybe he used his hands to demonstrate his love. Did he guide you with his touch? A father's touch is very powerful. It’s an...

By Lisa Grainger As if on cue, the marine iguana lifted its stumpy nose from its black-scaled body and sneezed, sending a shower of droplets onto the feet of our guide, Morris Garcia. “As I was saying,” he grimaced, wiping his ankle, “these are the only iguanas in the...

By Arlene Anderson "The time for a complete change was long overdue," says Gloria Gilbere, a single 70-year-old, who made her move to Ecuador in the summer of 2016. Even though previously thriving in large, action-packed cities, she now wanted to live in a small...

  My clothing was soaking wet but I wasn’t on that cold and rainy day. I had donned rain pants and jacket prior to entering the high grass mid-afternoon. It had been raining lightly when I left my truck, striking out for one of my favorite front range locations,...

A reader wrote to ask where in Cuenca he could buy “ketosis strips” to test his urine for ketones since he had decided to “pursue a ketosis diet.” He noted that purchasing a ketone testing machine is much more expensive, so I assume he’s looking to save money. Well, I...

By Lee Shrader A few thoughts about interacting with government agencies in Ecuador. First, let me say that this will be old news to those of you who have been in Ecuador a while, but might be helpful to those newly arrived or looking to come to Ecuador. My thoughts...

By Robert Bradley The tragedy of natural catastrophe we witness in the news is a stern warning to prepare and appreciate our bounty every day. Too clearly we have seen that generations of memories and the accumulation of centuries can be swept away ... like water. It...