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If you are living in Cuenca and want to improve your Spanish language ability, there are a number of ways to do it. One no-cost way is to visit “Spanish Conversation over Lunch,” an informal gathering of people that meets weekly at the Zona Refrescante restaurant on...
By Brian Buckner Unique architectural elements are something I thrive on. My interest began when I owned and operated a window manufacturing plant in the United States. We became quite adept at fabricating historically correct window products that were used to...
By Susan Burke March If you’ve not yet visited Vilcabamba, now is the time. While Cuenca’s weather reflects the few degrees cooler temperatures during these “winter” months (June, July and August), in Vilcabamba, it’s eternal spring. Located at 5,000 feet elevation,...
By David Fagerlie Moving to Cuenca was not a spur-of-the-moment decision for my wife and me. Our journey of coming here was born from what I learned from older people I worked with for the first eight years of my career as a social worker. When I first started this...
'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free — From: Simple Gifts. (Traditional Shaker song) A summery country road, a farmer with his dog returning to the village after collecting chilena grass for his cuy, a campesino mounted on his...
Most of us would have never made the move to Cuenca if it were not for the Internet. Being able to keep in touch with friends and family, not only with words but photos and videos is essential for many of us. The online tool I use most is Facebook. For me, Facebook is...
Travel is so important to writers. We get inspiration for stories as we experience the world. Of course, travel is also important for anyone who likes to learn in the “field” about life and culture. Last year’s trip to Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Istanbul and Greece came...
By Scott Fugit All photos by Dee Fugit I always get nervous when I suddenly see flashing police lights, right on our bumper, at two in the morning. It’s natural. After all, I AM an American. Adding to the excitement, I’m with my anxious wife Dee, wedged into a taxi...
“La Mordida” (The Bite) Image created August 7, 2013, Vilcabamba, Ecuador, Copyright 2016, Thomas H. Ives. For sale: Size 30cm. x 40cm., Edition of 5; Medium: Fuji Crystal Archive paper, Matte finish; Unframed, print only; Price $350 Contact:...
By Martin Simmons For anyone reading or watching the news during the past 24 hours, the headlines are alarming. For those living in foreign countries, they are terrifying. To pick only two, they read: “Expats targeted in Jihadist restaurant siege,” and “Foreigners...
By Jeff Van Pelt Are you thinking about moving to Ecuador? If so, it might be wise to ask why approximately 50% of expats who move here eventually return to their home country. After more than three years in Cuenca, I have seen many people repatriate — or move into...
The saga of my toothly adventures ended with a tooth extraction a couple of days ago. Maria Elena had a baby boy on June 17th and she and the baby are well. Now I can finish my ode to Cuenca. On one of the nights of the seven day Corpus Christi celebration I went to...
From our humble beginning in 2008, CuencaHighLife has grown to be Ecuador's leading online expat publication. Every day, thousands of subscribers look forward to the latest news and features from our vibrant city and country. One big reason for CuencaHighLife's...
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As usual, I find myself near the cliff. When I approach it, I don't know if I should jump because, after the fall, I may get hurt and so too will some of the people around me, and I hate that feeling. I wish it could be only me. Let me explain something. I’m not...
By Susan Burke March We take our feet for granted. They’re always secondary when we’re considering what to wear. We buy shoes to go with the suit or dress, instead of the other way around. It’s always “from your head to your toes”, when really, without our feet, we’re...
Ouch! Not again! Canker sores are such a painful bother — bad ones can interfere with your ability to eat, and even compromise your health. Wouldn’t it be great if you never had to deal with one again? Canker sores are small, shallow lesions that develop on the soft...
Work hard, play hard! Saturday morning finds this worker sleeping on a pile of empty cement sacks at a construction site in Vilcabamba. His young co-workers smiled when they saw me quietly studying him: his gentle posture, beat up hands, broken fingernails, strong...
Please don’t call me an expat. I’m an immigrant. Maybe that realization came to me because I grew up with three of four grandparents who emigrated from Europe to the United States in the early 1900s. While one grandmother was born in the U.S., her parents emigrated...
By Edd and Cynthia Staton Looking for a dining spot with good food, affordable prices, and a fun atmosphere? The brightly colored flags flapping over the street side courtyard of El Jalepeño, a new Mexican restaurant on Av. Paucarbamba — in the former location of...
