The Municipality expects to begin construction of a Municipal Botanical Garden in June as part of the Cinturon Verde, or green belt, project.  The project has the mandate to help fulfill the goal of providing at least 12 square meters of green space per each citizen by 2019. (currently, there are 9.3 square meters […]

Six graffiti collectives joined together to create,“La Colecta” (The Gathering),  in Paul Cezanne Hall, Alianza Francesa of Cuenca The graffiti mural is the centerpiece of the First Urban Cultures Festival  11 May to 21 May. The collective is comprised of six graffiti crews: Wazy Style, Otem, PXC, DNG, Zona PSF and Zoo Style; each with […]

Ecuadorian Cristina Jiménez has been named to Time magazine’s list of the world’s 100 most influential people. Jiménez, who moved to the U.S. with her parents when she was 13, is the founder of United We Dream, an organization dedicated to the rights of young immigrants to the U.S. According to Time, her efforts were […]

I typed “superfood” into my browser and got 55 million ‘hits’! What’s a “superfood?” According to the Oxford Dictionary, a superfood is “a nutrient-rich food considered to be especially beneficial for health and well-being.” But, the word is used to promote more than healthy eating — it’s being used to promote and merchandise foods, often […]

The local taxi cooperative hopes that larger taxis will soon be cruising Cuenca streets. “We’re waiting for the National Transit Agency to give us approval to replace some of the current taxis, which are compacts, with SUVs capable of carrying larger loads,” says Bolivar Sucuzhañay, president of the Cooperative of Taxi Transports of Azuay. Among […]

An expat-supported soup kitchen to feed the poor opened Thursday in Cuenca’s historic district as concerns grow about the well-being of thousands fleeing instability in Venezuela and Colombia. The free eatery feeds 60 people in two sittings on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and its organisers hope the generosity of donors will enable it to expand to […]

  Azuay province is well recognized as a region that quickly grows and distributes a broad variety plants. Mild temperature and ample rainfall are ideal conditions to raise a wide variety of shrubs, perennials, and annuals, many of which have been used for centuries for medicinal purposes. Farmers and people living in the country plant […]

Writing has been difficult these last few weeks. I’ve been distracted by daily life. Rather than wander Cuenca viewing life through my camera, I’ve been busy shopping for a new lamp shade, and someone to repair a tablet. Where once I felt as if every moment was a dream of the imagination, my routine is […]

Three cups of talent, 2/5 cup of laughter, three spoons of family drama, four cups of love and five of bad words. With the premiere of Kitchen Witches, Azuay Community Theater has proven that it is recharged! The first day of the show at its new location was a total success. All 80 seats sold, […]

The city of Cuenca has officially agreed to shelter migrating refugees who were forced to leave their home country. Marcelo Cabrera, Mayor, City of Cuenca,  signed an agreement authorizing the Municipal Social Development Direction and the Posada San Francisco that will benefit more than 1,200 migrants each year by giving them temporary shelter and food. […]

The Archdioceses of Cuenca opened their doors this week with a simple message for the gay community. “As long as you respect our position and we respect yours, we can all be accepted in the church,” said Father Joffre Astudillo, Secretary of the Cuenca Archdioceses. Father Astudillo said members of the LGBTI (Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, […]

The Citizen Security Council of Cuenca has initiated the “Enjoy Your Park with Safety” campaign to promote crime -free cityparks. “With this initiative, we’re looking to reduce insecurity in the neighbourhood parks of the city,” says Romulo Montalvo, head of the Council. “This will be a communications campaign to improve citizen participation in this effort […]

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), a long-distance flight is a nonstop flight lasting 6 or more hours, and more than 300 million travel long-distance every year.  And unless you’re fortunate enough to fly first or business class, your seat is guaranteed to be pretty cramped. As Popular Science writes, “Sitting in […]

  For a taste of something different, you must try Namaste India, at Calle Larga 8-81 y Benigno Malo. The entrance is very modest, with typical Cuencano small café signage out front, but the inside is a delightful surprise. A short hallway opens up into a modern dining area with a dozen or so tables, […]

Few activities for me are more satisfying than to have music playing, a glass of wine close at hand and preparing dinner.  Savoring the finished product is excellent, but the act of cooking is equally enjoyable to me. We are challenged to consume to live — but we are graced with the gift of appetite.  […]

Cuenca ’s third annual  International Writers Conference will be held from 28 May through June 1, 2018. With two years of experience, and an impressive national and international line-up of speakers, this year’s conference promises to be a success. “Over 25 expat writers worked on the planning for over a year to make this event […]

“Cuenca Siembra Vida” is the new mingas (collaborative work projects) program from the EMAC EP to promote reforestation throughout the city. EMAC is the municipal company responsible for sanitation and maintaining Cuenca’s parks and other public areas. “We will sow 10 seeds for each tree the EMAC EP cuts down in public spaces around the […]

Are you passionate about history? Then you are in the perfect place.  Cuenca is one of the few Latin-American cities able to preserve its “City Charter,”  or Foundation Document. The 461 years old text is part of the City Hall Book, which includes a portrait of  Marqués de Cañete Andrés Hurtado de Mendoza, the founder […]

My writing assignments often evoke in me a feeling of inadequacy and, at the same time, the recognition of great fortune.  This is not a new sensation, it is a lasting collection of emotions that visit me often and reveal their intentions as I fidget in trepidation prior to writing. It is a state of […]

The Tsáchila community of Santo Domingo Province, has learned the hard way about what it is to lose some of their culture and customs to deforestation. A year ago they started a tree planting initiative to regain the nature they have lost in the last decades. The Tsáchilas or “Colorados” (meaning reddened, or red-colored) are […]

Personal care products and cosmetics have the potential to harbor bacteria. Chemicals meant to protect you breakdown over time and are rendered ineffective, or worse, potentially irritating or infectious. Maybe you have some old favorites sitting in your makeup bag, but how old is too old? It’s time for some spring-cleaning. Toss out the old […]

There is something endearing about seeing eight-year old boys all dressed up in their Sunday best for church. Unlike little girls who tip the cuteness scale almost sideways, boys seem to be competing whether they or their clothes will grow up first. The kid almost always wins. The shirt is a little too large — […]

While most expats who move to Ecuador simply desire a stress-free life or restful retirement, some feel the urge for creating commercial products or services in their new “home away from home.” If you are one of those energetic types not ready for retirement, the following information is for you. To legally do business in […]

Like many aspects of life in Cuenca, the weather is a source of continuing befuddlement for expats. The locals don’t understand it either, they have just accept it. You’ll notice that there’s no “news, sports, and weather” on the six o’clock TV news broadcasts in Cuenca — there’s only news and sports. Neither will you […]