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An overflight of the Cotopaxi volcano Saturday afternoon confirmed the presence of small pyroclastic flows from the crater but showed there was no immediate danger of ice melt and the formation of lahars. Lahars are avalanches of mud, rock, and ash that are usually...
By Walter Panko August 13th was scheduled to be National Strike Day in Ecuador and my wife and I didn’t know what to expect. We had arrived in Cuenca only 10 days earlier, moving into temporary housing in the historic district while we searched for something...
Thanks again to Davidsbeenhere for uploading this video of Turi. From nearly anywhere in Cuenca, look south (toward the rivers), then raise your gaze and you'll see a big white church on a hill. The Church of Turi, offers a commanding view of the entire Andean valley...
Take a walk through the hat factory at El Barranco. Thanks to Davidsbeenhere for uploading this great video. It’s one of the world’s classic riddles and abiding ironies that Panama hats are, and have always been, made in Ecuador. Read more about Panama hats here....
New explosions in the crater of the Cotopaxi volcano are showering communities south of Quito with a light ash fall, prompting residents to don paper breathing masks. Two early morning blasts on Friday were followed by four more in the afternoon and early Saturday...
The House of Representatives has passed a bill that will allow the government to seize passports from anyone that they feel may be a threat to national security. Although the bill's stated objective is to restrict potential terrorist movements, opponents say it is...
The intensity of nationwide anti-government protests was dramatically lower on Friday as Thursday's sometimes-violent confrontations between protesters and police did not repeat. Although there were marches and speeches in Quito, Cuenca and other cities, there were...
Two explosions were recorded at the Cotopaxi volcano early Friday morning and falling ash and a strong odor of sulfur were reported as far north as Quito. The explosions occurred a few minutes past 4 a.m. and set off a swarm of small earthquakes, the largest a...
By Christopher Lux When Lindsay Burton began planning San Sebas Café, she envisioned a place where university students would drink good coffee, talk, read and work. The café was inspired by the eclectic coffee-shop scene she fell in love with while living in Austin,...
A national strike sponsored by Ecuador indigenous groups led to clashes between anti-government protesters and police in several areas of Ecuador on Thursday, and several dozen injuries were reported. Roads were closed in many locations although army personnel and...
By Susan Burke March, MS, RDN, LDN, CD A low-functioning thyroid is often blamed for weight gain and/or the inability to lose or maintain a healthy weight. Take this quiz to see how much you know about your thyroid and health. Answer True or False, then check your...
If you think the tram construction mess is bad now, you haven’t seen nothin’ yet. On Tuesday, city officials said that work on Cuenca's new light rail system will be completed on schedule, in July of next year. To achieve this, construction will intensify, affecting...
President Rafael Correa says he will hold an online auction to sell off several gifts he and his son received during official trips abroad, including a shiny gold Rolex watch given to him by the emir of the oil-rich Gulf country of Qatar. During his Saturday...
On Tuesday, when guards at Costa Rica’s La Reforma Penitentiary observed a pigeon acting strangely just outside the prison gates, they took a closer look. The pigeon, who was perched on a low branch of a ficas tree, had a small pouch attached to its belly. On...
Bank of America announced on July 28 that it was suspending international wire transfers to and from banks in Belize. According to its statement, Bank of America said it is exploring other options for transferring funds to Belize but didn't provide details. The reason...
As indigenous marchers approach Quito from the south and north, the question on everyone’s mind is how effective will the national strike that begins on Thursday be. President Rafael Correa gave his verdict on Monday at a Diez de Agosto independence day commemoration...
Sound too good to be true? In most cases it probably would be. But many takers disagree. The small Sicilian town of Gangi is nestled in a lovely central part of the island and needs new residents to replenish its dwindling populace. The local government decided to...
Editor's note: The following is a response to a response. Over the weekend, Ecuador's ambassador to the U.S., Francisco Borja Cevallos, responded to a New York Times article about Ecuador's economic dependence on China. Below, Steve Hanke responds to Borja's letter to...
Police shut down four bars on Saturday night for a variety of violations, including excessive noise. The bars are on President Cordova between Hermano Miguel and Mariano Cueva. In addition to high noise levels, Cuenca’s Citizen Guard and the national police also found...
It only took about three minutes for two men to steal Francisco A.'s truck at the intersection of Octava and Orientein in Guayaquil, last Wednesday. According to his complaint, Francisco was opening his garage door when two men on a motorcycle threatened him with a...
