People

Matt Scherr, a councilman in Minturn, a small town outside of Vail, Colorado, is packing up and moving to Ecuador. Scherr plans to spend about two and a half years in the South American country with his wife, Diana, 6-year-old daughter, Piper, and 4-year-old son, Duncan. “For me, the primary drive is the kids — spending some...

As he leads 100 children to the glacier of Ecuador's highest mountain, Chimborazo, Fabian Zurita does not utter a word. The inactive volcano tops out at more than 6,300 meters (20,718 feet) above sea level, and the wind is strong. Like any sportsman, Mr. Zurita believes that the key to success lies in concentrating. Even...

Marco Tapia, the 31-year-old mayor of Gualaceo, a town of 40,000 in the outskirts of Cuenca, wants his people back. "Basta, Gualaceños! You've made enough money,'' said Tapia during an interview last Sunday in the modest home a relative in the United States has lent him in the center of town. "It's time to come...

Editor’s note: Curves Gym is one of Cuenca’s growing number of expat-owned businesses. Owner Jon Wright, a three-year Cuenca resident and former personal trainer, explains his approach to achieving positive exercise results – and why a program like Curves can help women live healthier lives. According to former personal trainer and owner of Cuenca’s Curves...

EDITOR’S NOTE: Something that Ecuadorian expats learn early is how difficult it is to get accurate information in their adopted country. Anecdotal information, often wildly inaccurate, seems to rule the day for expats and locals alike. Ecuador Fact Checker is an occasional feature of Cuenca High Life which attempts to set the record straight on selected...

A shaman blows a bull's horn on festival day and pivots to clouds of burning incense in a purification ceremony, all shot on video. The snapshot of native American life in Latacunga, opens "Nukanchik Yuyay," a twice-daily newscast in Quechua, the language spoken by millions of people across the Andes and enjoying a revival as...

Hey ladies! Need to shed a few pounds? Or just shape up? The recently reopened Curves, at the corner of Unidad Nacional and Gran Colombia, just below the Las Cuadras condominium complex, is the place to do it. Besides scrubbing and buffing the facility, new majority owner and Wyoming native Jon Wright has added new...

Police estimate that more than 20,000 gathered in Parque Calderon, Friday, Aug. 29, to honor Cuenca native son and Olympic hero Jefferson Perez. The celebration featured live music, dancing, food, reverly and an evening fireworks display. Perez won the silver medal Aug. 15 at the Beijing games, finishing second by 14 seconds to Russia´s Valeriy Borchin in the 20-kilometer walk. Perez, who had announced earlier...