showing her legendary movie musicals such as “The Sound of Music” and “My Fair Lady.” Since then, the 32-year-old has performed Mexified versions of classic Broadway tunes on some of the biggest stages in New York City, released an accompanying album and even produced her own musical she makes history as the first Mexican immigrant to originate a co-leading role on Broadway before obtaining U.S portraying Estela Garcia in the musical adaptation of “Real Women Have Curves,” which is currently in previews and opens April 27 We set down with Cuenca to talk about her trajectory her upbringing and what this role means to her The following interview has been edited for length and clarity I started performing literally when I was 3 years old with my dad I remember the first musical I ever saw was “Singin’ in the Rain” in Spanish “This is what I want to do for the rest of my life.” After my dad passed away when I was 9 Did you always have ambitions to come to New York City I graduated from high school and to study at NYU or AMDA (the American Musical and Dramatic Academy) was my dream and I felt like I couldn’t be so selfish and ask doing musical theater in Mexico City” … but always dreaming of coming to New York The tension between family and ambition is such a Latino thing What a strange parallel to “Real Women Have Curves,” which is about a young Latina caught between what she feels is her familial duty and her dream I thought to dare to dream that far is kind of like being a brat this was never something my mom mentioned to me Did you feel happy and content in the Mexico City musical scene I was just like this is the life God gave me He studied at NYU and he was the one who first brought you to NYC I was 22 and I told him my dream was to be in New York City in December like in the movies He proposed in front of the Richard Rodgers Theatre “I feel like our destiny is here.” He was really laying the groundwork for the future because you came back a year later for your honeymoon that never ended It wasn’t like a proper or fancy honeymoon “Can you imagine a life here?” I’d be like but I don’t know,” not serious or anything Then two days before we were supposed to leave he was like “I think we need to stay.” He said we needed to try because we were never going to be ready That’s the perfect balance of Jaime and me I imagine that time was both very exciting but also very nerve-racking and Jaime even asked me if I wanted to go back to Mexico and he thought maybe I needed my family for support Plus navigating the entertainment business You think you’re going to come and it’s going to be so easy Talk to me about “Broadway en Spanglish.” That kind of gave you the first taste of a little bit of fame and success online It came from a place where Jaime and I were like there’s no place for us here in the industry.” Or the things that were being written were very cliche and by white people So one of my day jobs right before the pandemic was to be a Spanish music teacher for pre-K kids We were working because we needed money to get our green card I remember I was listening to “Hamilton” on my way home and “Burn” came on this is a mariachi song like Lucha Villa or Alicia Villarreal I got home and I told Jaime that I had this crazy idea, and he loved it. As for the Spanglish, that’s what our son speaks, it’s just part of our life, so it made sense. He started doing the arrangement, and he’d ask people from all over the place to record the different parts, and when we released it in 2020, Lin-Manuel Miranda loved it and he was like yes We also realized there’s a lot of people who feel like us and turns out it resonated with a ton of people there are Latinos who love both traditional Mexican music and musicals Your husband has talked about how the musical “In the Heights” was a big inspiration point for him I remember in high school I learned about “In the Heights” from watching videos online I would download videos and put them on my iPod I’d know them word for word because I would watch them so much There’s a PBS documentary about “In the Heights,” and Lin says “every day has the potential to be the greatest day of your life.” I memorized all of those lines “One day I’m going to call you and I’m going to be on an album with Lin-Manuel.” It’s crazy when things started to happen in the past few years Sometimes you forget you said those things but my friends are like remember you said that So many people saw “In the Heights” and were like it’s possible to see stories of people like us onstage.” Is it crazy to think what “Real Women Have Curves” is going to do for other people and what you are going to do for other people it’s crazy that there’s a role that embodies everything that I am Even with “In the Heights,” I heard Spanish maybe there are girls in Latin America that are going to watch this and be like So many immigrants are confused and scared right now and yet here you are on the biggest stage It feels like this show really is meeting this moment I feel so proud to be able to tell this story right now in this body I have I get to tell our story how immigrants are hardworking people We’re so loving and so joyful and even in the worst moments keep working and also find a way to have fun we find a way to have fun and care for each other To portray that on a big stage is a political act I’m happy I’m having this platform now on Broadway and people can see me that just means I’m going to make more things for mi gente Rendon is a Tejano journalist who lives in New York City and writes about South Texas food and culture You can find him on Bluesky @louiegrendon and Instagram @lrendon Subscribe for unlimited accessSite Map This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Stephen and Joanna Vargha a married couple who moved from North Carolina to Cuenca Cuenca is located in the Andes mountains and has a population of about 600,000 people Their interview has been edited for length and clarity I checked it out for a week in 2011 and visited some people I knew there my work was taking a toll on me physically and mentally I had worked at a television station in North Carolina for over 37 years We already had a retirement house in a small mountain town in North Carolina The plan was to leave my job and look for a one at half the pay because we could afford it But after several months I couldn't get a job We also realized the Affordable Care Act coverage was going to cost around $1,900 a month for the two of us and we were too young for Medicare I didn't work my butt off for four decades to give my hard-earned money to the insurance companies "Let's move to Cuenca." This is a woman who had never been there grew up in a town of maybe 75,000 people when she left So I decided to retire at 61 when we moved to Ecuador Joanna: I retired around the same time at 56 and before that worked for an auto insurance website We started talking about moving to Cuenca in May of 2019 We visited in September and looked at places We moved in January 2020 and just barely missed the pandemic lockdown and I can emphatically say that the people in Cuenca are the friendliest people I have ever met Joanna: We have made so many dear friends here that we would never have back home We would've had to stay working and been too busy Now we do three-hour lunches here just catching up and having fun including art events and going to restaurants Stephen: Cuenca is becoming more of an international city It's considered the arts capital of Ecuador and is called the "Athens of Ecuador" because of its culture and education so we try to respect their culture and speak Spanish when we can Stephen: There are an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 foreigners living in Cuenca Facebook groups are a great way to meet people and the expat community is very helpful Stephen: It's a fraction of the cost of living compared to a good portion of the US Our electric and water bills are much lower Healthcare here is very affordable and good Joanna: There are some health things that you can't get done here But there's a lot of things here that you can get A pallet of 30 farm-fresh eggs is like $4.25 here Fresh produce at the market is also affordable A taxi across the city could cost you $6 including tip A lot of expats don't even own cars because it's very walkable It didn't take long for me to lose my American weight I went from 192 to 168 — just by the fresher food There is also a great respect for older folks Stephen: One drawback about Cuenca is there's not an international airport Communication can be terrible with vendors and government entities Finding real estate listings is a little more difficult here but we went to a real estate agent and she found our place for us There are certain things you just can't buy here Joanna: When we go back to the US to visit we load up our suitcases with stuff to bring back with us Stephen: For people thinking about moving abroad get more than one source and make sure they're reliable Joanna: Try to make some local contacts who you can talk to because they'll help you ease into local life And we would never suggest doing the visa process on your own You need a visa lawyer or a facilitator to help you because the rules can change quickly We used a group in Ecuador called Visa Angels Joanna: We don't plan to leave Ecuador soon but we are researching end-of-life continuous care right now Stephen: We may eventually have to move back to the US despite the high healthcare costs because they just don't have the same assisted living facility options here and one of the worst droughts in Ecuador's history There's good and there's bad in any place that you live but I like to say that when we knew we had to leave our home I would've never dreamed that we would be able to do this Have a news tip or a story to share? Are you an American who has moved abroad? Contact this reporter at kvlamis@businessinsider.com Best Dressed at Met Gala 2025 - Top 32 Red Carpet Looks Revealed! Rihanna Pregnant, Expecting Baby No. 3 With A$AP Rocky! Every Celeb at Met Gala 2025 - See All Red Carpet Photos & Full Guest List (Updating Live All Night) Real Women Have Curves opened on Broadway this week to some of the best reviews of the season The new musical, starring Justina Machado and newcomer Tatianna Cordoba celebrated its opening night performance on Sunday (April 27) at the James Earl Jones Theatre in New York City and empowering new musical that celebrates our shared humanity with humor and heart and Ana Garcia dreams of flying away from East Los Angeles But when her family receives a make-or-break order for 200 dresses Ana finds herself juggling her own ambitions and a community of women all trying to make it work against the odds The show just earned three Drama Desk Awards nominations including Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical for Tatianna the show also received three Outer Critics Circle Awards nominations including one for Outstanding New Broadway Musical A bunch of VIPs took a trip to see the show last week and appeared on stage to honor the cast Get tickets now to see Real Women Have Curves on Broadway and lived only a few years there before coming to New Jersey My dad and uncle are responsible for transmitting their love for football to me I’ve been able to keep close to my roots and culture throughout the years Through that closeness came this intense passion for football I always hoped that one day my life could revolve around the thing I was most passionate about but I felt that I had more to give and that I wanted to grow professionally When the opportunity came along to make a jump in my coaching career Coaching has become my biggest obsession since but because I realized that I have the ability to make kids fall in love with it too I feel a responsibility to make players understand and love the game while helping them develop as human beings and footballers Current position: Coach in Piscataway Soccer Club Joined Red Bulls Youth Programs: June 2023 Your pass to the ultimate experience at Sports Illustrated Stadium - with all the benefits of a Red Membership - including the remaining 11 Regular Season matches Playoffs and more - starting at just $99 per month Score the highly-anticipated Eastern Conference match against Inter Miami CF plus any three -- or more -- additional matches of your choice 2025Florencia Cuenca knows all too well that anything can happen on Broadway the 32-year-old star of Real Women Have Curves didn’t even tell her own mother that she was going to be making her Broadway debut until the show actually materialized “This dream felt so far away from me,” Cuenca exclusively told Parade the day before her opening night “It felt like when kids dream about going to Mars or space — it felt really Let's just keep it secret!’ And I didn't say anything for like three months because I was so scared ‘What's the update?’ And I would be like ‘I don't know.’” 3Gallery3 Images🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬  “I just wanted to protect her,” she said I don't know what's gonna happen.” That includes what was in store for her opening night Cuenca told Parade that her best-laid plans went astray and what she intended to wear for her big Broadway debut was stuck in Memphis 3Gallery3 Images“Originally I was supposed to be dressed by this amazing Mexican designer Benito Santos so I'm always looking for someone who can work with my body,” Cuenca explained “We've been back and forth with FedEx and trying to get to it The timing couldn’t have been worse “I was running around the streets of New York,” Cuenca explained admitting that she was in the middle of a full-on breakdown “I met my friend Wilberth [Gonzalez] who is a designer on Real Women Have Curves ‘What's going on?’ And I told him everything We're gonna make it work.’” 3Gallery3 ImagesIt was life imitating art for Cuenca whose character Estela opens the show with a number aptly titled “Make It Work,” about a group of women trying to fulfill their job expectations The dress Cuenca found while on the hunt in New York City and we're gonna make it work.’ and then we brought it to the ladies that are doing the costumes for the show it amazes me how a community always has your back “They are working on it in the shop,” Cuenca said a mere 24 hours before her show opened I am bummed that my original plan is not working Community is especially important in Real Women Have Curves a musical about fighting for your dreams and the power of family The show not only spotlights the Latinx community but also people with real bodies — people with curves 3Gallery3 Images“I think it's very important to have real bodies real people on stage,” Cuenca told Parade “I feel the fact that I'm on a stage — center stage — it's a political act and I feel like representation matters so much I didn't see someone like myself on a stage But now that I'm providing that for my community my hope is that the younger generation is like In the house at the James Earl Jones Theatre for her opening night on Sunday Cuenca had some very important familia in the audience “My mom and my grandma arrived yesterday from Mexico City,” said Cuenca who prepared for her big Broadway opening at the W New York Times Square … But because this is so important for me and it's like the biggest act of love that she can do for me so it feels amazing to gift this to them.” Related: Andrew Durand, Broadway's 'Dead Outlaw,' Is Dressed to Kill on Opening Night (Exclusive) It's so healing to switch to Spanish [in conversation],” Cuenca explained you can feel safe to switch to Spanish and do jokes… or the music or the food The ladies [who play the women at] the factory “This is for the community,” Cuenca said “I am doing this for my community.” 2Gallery2 ImagesSTYLE CREDITSStylist: Paulina CastroHair: Riad AzarMakeup: Jamie Harper The desire of hundreds of athletes and an entire country materialized a few days ago with the official inauguration of the new athletic track in the city of Cuenca Panam Sports contributed more than 150 thousand dollars for the remodeling of this facility The historic Jefferson Perez athletic track in the city of Cuenca In a brief ceremony attended by the highest sports authorities of Ecuador including the Minister of Sports Jose David Jimenez the President of the Ecuadorian Olympic Committee and member of the Executive Committee of Panam Sports which will surely help the development of sport in that country and why not say all of South America as this track has historically received great athletes of the continent either for competitions as well as for athletic tournaments The historic Jefferson Perez athletic track has been remodeled thanks to the joint effort of the Ministry of Sport Panam Sports and the private company represented by Grupo Ortiz It began 2019 with maintenance works without synthetic material the athletic ring and the 110-meter warm-up straight were repaired the installation of the synthetic material began and this year it was inaugurated with the country’s authorities “This has been a work that we have done as a team with other institutions and with the firm conviction of our president Daniel Novoa to give Ecuadorian sport the place it deserves With the unrestricted help of the Ecuadorian Olympic Committee and Panam Sports we have been able to carry out this work,” said the Minister of Sport of Ecuador although unable to attend because he was in Los Angeles for the LA2028 follow-up commission was also very happy with this step that Ecuadorian sport is taking with the remodeling of this track “It has been a long time since Ecuador’s athletes wanted to have world-class facilities That is why as Panam Sports we made an effort and collaborated with other entities to make the dream of this athletic track come true We hope that this track will continue to be the cradle of great athletes and the beginning of many successful results for Ecuadorian sports,” said the highest authority of sports in America a 100-meter flat race was held with young athletes from Ecuador who had their great sports idol cheering them on from the side of the track I invite the authorities to continue with this effort for the benefit of athletes from Cuenca and the whole country It should be noted that the next stage of the remodeled Cuenca track will include equipment for hammer We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings This website uses cookies in order to provide you with the best possible user experience. The cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as remembering that you have visited this page before and helping our team which sections represent a greater interest for you. More information on our privacy policy Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings we will not be able to save your preferences This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages. Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website. Also uses YouTube embedded videos that stores information about user preferences and collects information about viewed videos. You can get more information about the cookies used in our Cookie Policy Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences Norberto Cuenca is Head of Competitive Intelligence Market Studies and Strategic Analysis at Enel Green Power and Thermal Generation the Enel business line that focuses on power generation from conventional and renewable sources he served as Managing Director of EGP Korea and EGP Vietnam he worked as Head of Business Development for EGP South Asia Norberto spent six years in Enel's Carbon Strategy Division—the unit that manages Enel's compliance obligations for CO2 emissions under the EU Emission Trading Scheme—where he served as Head of Origination and Project Development Norberto built his career in a number of roles in the renewable energy and climate change sectors in China from 2003 to 2009 These included setting up China's first fully foreign-invested wind farm developer Norberto holds a double engineering degree from École Centrale de Paris and Universidad Politécnica de Madrid Norberto is an avid travel photographer and also loves cooking and freediving The TimesThe healer women come to Cuenca market on Tuesdays and Fridays sitting on plastic stools waiting for custom pleated velvet skirts and high-crowned straw hats a cultural cocktail evident in their magic But as she takes up a thick bunch of herbs and starts to beat me all over — from legs to head and under my shirt — she makes a strange “tsch presses it firmly into every crevice of my body before cracking it into a glass The egg diagnoses that I have a cold (true) and a bad case of evil eye The cure is a cross of ash daubed in my hairline and a plastic bottle of bitter The healers aren’t here for the tourists since few reach Cuenca — of which more later — but to serve locals who queue up Ecuador has a decent public health system but our tour guide modern woman comes here weekly: “I’m trying to sell my house and this might change my luck.” No odder than cupping candling or other western wellness woo-woo The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in CuencaALAMYIndeed Cuenca is the most interesting city I’ve visited in years people touch their hearts when it’s mentioned: Cuenca is the real Ecuador They tumble down in parallel from mountain lakes in the nearby Cajas national park giving Cuenca its famous pure water and pleasant river walks past grand houses and restaurants which hang over the precipitous banks (my husband and I ate at the superb El Mercado) • Read our full guide to Ecuador The city’s physical isolation has preserved its distinct character Until the 1960s there was no viable road from the coast and travellers had to trek for weeks from medicines to pianos transported on the backs of indigenous bearers While other cities were ripped down or overdeveloped during the philistine 1970s narrow streets and elegant squares were untouched the historic centre became a Unesco world heritage site with its 52 Catholic churches — one for every Sunday of the year — including the triple-domed new cathedral designed by a priest/amateur architect who cracked the tower by miscalculating the weight of the bells Outside Carmen de la Asuncion convent is a lovely flower market and a shop selling Agua de Pitimas A shop in the covered market at the centre of CuencaAustere colonial mission buildings — the Modern Art Museum was previously a temperance house — mix with merchant houses given fancy Parisian-style frontages and balconies during a 19th-century Cuenca fad for all things French The city has decreed no building may be taller than the cathedral and the new condos on the edge of town mainly for the 15,000 Americans who’ve retired to an enclave locals call “Gringo Land” must be red brick to blend in with ancient tiles where we ate brightly coloured soft meringue sold in cones are many new rooftop restaurants (have lunch in Negroni; mains from £11; sociedadgourmet.ec) to admire the magnificent cityscape • 14 of the best places to visit in South America Yet Cuenca’s historic centre is not a museum At its heart is the covered market where the healers ply their trade and you can buy 20 different types of potato and chickens are cut open to show they contain eggs the walls are covered in superb modern murals celebrating the Chola ladies There are witty and clever artworks all along the Calle Larga a street of restaurants (try Tiesto’s: cheery staff huge portions; tavolaecuador.com/locales/tiestos-cuenca) the climate a perpetual 16C to 20C (although at this altitude you will burn) and it even has a thermal spa a £3 taxi ride from the centre where you can lie in hot water all day coated in mud for £23 (piedradeagua.com.ec) Then there is a brilliant ethnographic museum documenting Ecuador’s many indigenous people and which contains — sensitively displayed — shrunken human heads (removed of bones and boiled they are completely to scale as when you shrink a jumper in the wash) So why were we almost the only tourists in town The problem began in the pandemic when the cocaine cartels kicked out of Colombia took over Ecuador’s Pacific ports Tour companies took fright at the horrific murder rate and now only fly from Quito to the Galapagos islands without a side-trip to Cuenca (just a 55-minute internal flight from the capital) even though it is peaceful and 80 miles from the coast Sea lions were among the animals spotted in the GalapagosFor me but then I’m more interested in people than animals Yet the greatest thing about the Galapagos is you don’t have to bounce around in a 4×4 at 5am to see extraordinary creatures As our airport taxi drove across Santa Cruz island the driver slowed down for a giant tortoise probably a female heading to a nesting site even a jail sentence — and drivers can hardly say it leapt into the road As we pulled up at the jetty in Puerto Ayora to take the launch to Finch Bay a sea lion was taking a siesta on a public bench • 16 of the best Galapagos cruises for 2025 Birds — of which there is such a profusion you see more species flying over your sunlounger than during a month of UK twitching — inspect you curiously without flying off Whole families of iguanas stare out at you from every rock and entering the sea is like joining an aquarium Although our favourite animal-watching spot was the Puerto Ayora fish market where the women chopping up tuna are pestered for scraps by a jostling crowd of pelicans The Galapagos islands have a “strange landscape”GETTY IMAGESMost visitors join island-hopping cruises to tick off blue-tailed boobies and penguins we took a scheduled day trip to the uninhabited South Plaza island where we stopped off to snorkel with (harmless) baby black-tipped sharks and sea lions swam so close one brushed the woman beside me with its moustache Be aware Ecuador is such a careful custodian of these unique islands no one — not even a billionaire in a super yacht — can pitch up on any beach at whim From Finch Bay we took a 6am hike out to Tortuga Bay pristine stretch of white sand where turtles nest and wondered at the billions that other countries would have made building hotels and condos here You can’t even hike into the national park to swim in Las Grietas without paying £15 to be accompanied by a ranger We visited in the rainy season (December to May) when temperatures and humidity are highest who came in the dry season — September 1835 — when the Galapagos would have been cold and parched brown The excellent Darwin Centre in Puerto Ayora reminds us that although the finches iguanas and tortoises he studied were key to his evolutionary theories the last of his giant tortoise sub-species who defied all efforts to get him to breed and whose stuffed remains are displayed in a climate-controlled chamber The islands’ current tortoises are not so bashful It was mating season and at the El Manzanillo ranch where you can walk among free range giant tortoises we came across a 200lb male mid coitus in a puddle with a much smaller female and (although tortoises are mainly silent creatures) emitting the most horrifying sound Strange to think a baby produced by that coupling could live well into the 22nd century The Choco rainforest is ideal for eco touristsAfter five days in the Galapagos we flew back to Quito then took a three-hour drive to Mashpi Lodge in the Choco rainforest If you want to eat excellent tuna ceviche or sit in a hot tub up a mountain smug in the knowledge you are helping to reverse climate change Mashpi was built on land bought back from loggers by a Quito businessman and as you bump over the still-rough terrain to reach it Eco tourist money has allowed the purchase of more rainforest and the employment of locals as staff Included in the hotel price are scientific talks night walks where you can see tiny but deafening glass frogs — several new species have been discovered here — and maybe a tarantula There is a glass house full of exotic butterflies and a hummingbird viewing centre where the tiny creatures perch on your hands Or you can take a zip wire high over the treetops perhaps because we’d been spoilt by the Galapagos there seemed to be a dearth of birds and animals (You see far more wildlife in the Amazon.) There is no more safe and luxurious way to experience the rainforest but it is not for the adventurous: you can barely set foot outside unsupervised at 2,850m one of the highest cities in the world where you may experience altitude sickness Quito is a long ribbon city walled in by the Andes and semi-active volcanoes On weekend mornings the sky is full of para-gliders descending from mountaintops The Mashpi Lodge is based within the Choco rainforestQuito’s historic centre is teeming by day with traders and tourists visiting the churches of Calle de las Siete Cruces (Street of the Seven Crosses) including the Jesuit La Compañía which has the blingiest gold interior I’ve ever seen the old town empties out: most of Quito’s action is in the rather anonymous new city of malls and apartment blocks which sprang up fast and is dissected by wide highways It does have pleasant parks where people dance salsa a little botanical garden and some excellent restaurants whose chef studied at Copenhagen’s famous Noma and applied its experimental techniques to Ecuadorian produce (mains from £65) And on our final night at the fashionable Somos we drank potent sugar cane cocktails and ate delicious dumplings of minced guinea pig (“cuy”) trying not to think about childhood pets (mains from £20) Ecuador may be a challenge to reach — without direct flights you must fly to Quito via Bogota or Madrid and then on to Cuenca — but it is that rare thing in our globalised age a country which is modernising without sacrificing its natural riches and unique culture Defy the cartels and see a truly special city: go to Cuenca.Janice Turner was a guest of Latin Routes which has 14 nights’ B&B from £9,699pp including one night at Casa Gangotena in Quito transfers and excursions (latinroutes.co.uk) This article contains affiliate links that can earn us revenue One of the 31 art deco-styled bedrooms at Casa GangotenaOn San Francisco Plaza the upmarket boutique hotel Casa Gangotena offers some of the best views of the old town from its third-floor terrace The building was once home to several presidents of the Republican era but now has 31 art deco-styled rooms over three floors plus a fine-dining restaurant showcasing traditional Ecuadorian dishes.Details B&B doubles from £380 (casagangotena.com) the recently opened Go Quito Hotel is in the upmarket neighbourhood of Bellavista minimalist design with stripped wooden floors Andes-inspired artwork and large picture windows framing either city or mountain views There’s an indoor pool and rooftop restaurant and the boating lake and bike trails of La Carolina park are within walking distance.Details Room-only doubles from £109 (goquitohotel.com) Finch Bay is the only beachfront hotel on Santa CruzThe sea is steps away at Finch Bay the only beachfront hotel on Santa Cruz island in the Galapagos The eco-friendly property has 33 simple-but-stylish rooms with biodegradable bath products free reusable water bottles and balconies strung with hammocks There are kayaks to borrow and an outdoor pool and the hotel has its own private yacht for exclusive day trips.Details B&B doubles from £490 (finchbayhotel.com) The Choco Rainforest is three hours from QuitoJust three hours’ drive from Quito but buried deep within the Choco Rainforest with its waterfalls and 400-plus species of birds and animals this contemporary lodge has 24 Scandi-style rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows for birdwatching from your bed plus an excellent restaurant serving communal meals an outdoor yoga deck and a hot tub overlooking the canopy Daily hikes and guided night walks are included and there’s an open-air cable car and 85ft observation tower for 360-degree forest views.Details Full board doubles from £1,206 including transfers and activities (mashpilodge.com) Hotel Cruz del Vado is a lavishly decorated boutique hotel in a former colonial house in Cuenca’s oldest neighbourhood The 26 elegant rooms have bare brick and chocolate brown walls but the hotel’s efforts to immerse guests in local culture are its real trump card Room rates include activities at the hotel such as chocolate tasting and ceviche-making classes with the chef as well as demonstrations of traditional musical instruments and the chance to meet and buy from local craftspeople.Details B&B doubles from £68 (hotelcruzdelvado.com) visit the neo-gothic Basilica del Voto Nacional with its soaring stained-glass windows and bronze statues (£3; basilicaquito.com) then wander the cobbled street of La Ronda with its pastel-coloured craft shops and courtyards The Ciudad Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World City) is 45 minutes outside Quito Nearby are great hiking spots that include the Pichincha volcano which has views across the Andes and Quilotoa Lake a vivid turquoise lagoon in a sunken volcanic caldera and the eponymous live volcano with its child’s picture-book shape Some come to conquer the snow-capped giant — as it’s 5,897m (19,347ft) acclimatisation and an expert guide are essential — but there are glorious lower hikes and alternative volcanic mountains too (national-parks.org/ecuador/cotopaxi) Become a subscriber and along with unlimited digital access to The Times and The Sunday Times you can enjoy a collection of travel offers and competitions curated by our trusted travel partners Registered in England No. 894646. Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, SE1 9GF. MexicoChevron Mexico CityChevron With only 10 rooms, a stay at Casa Cuenca is peaceful and intimate—a unique experience that’s located in the heart of Condesa, one of the fastest-growing neighborhoods in the ever-developing city. An ode to the bygone era of 1930s Mexico City—when aristocrats built expansive European-inspired estates in what is now the city’s premiere bohemian enclave—Casa Cuenca’s new life as a boutique hotel attracts aesthetes for many reasons, especially thanks to its whitewashed facade and spiral staircase in its outdoor courtyard. Originally built in the 1930s, this mansion in the Condesa neighborhood was revamped by the architecture firm Taller Ivan Esqueda and designed with made-in-Mexico goods like geometric textiles and Parota wood furnishings. Though the mansion was built in the 1930s, each of the 10 guest rooms features interiors inspired by art and design movements prominent in Mexico in the 1950s, from green, coral, and lime wall tiles evocative of modernist architecture to custom wood furnishings and handmade textiles. On the ground floor is Maleza, a restaurant designed by chef Christina Lecki that blends Mexican flavors with European cuisine. Plates are made from fresh and seasonal ingredients sourced from the country’s boutique farms. The hotel is located in the heart of Condesa, steps from the bustling Parque España where residents congregate for morning workouts and evening strolls. The staff can assist guests in confirming transportation, dining reservations, and more. From the open courtyard dotted with terra-cotta-toned tables to the colorful rooms, the hotel is like a time capsule of Mexico City’s leading design and architectural movements. All listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse We understand that time is the greatest luxury which is why Condé Nast Traveler mines its network of experts and influencers so that you never waste a meal or a hotel stay wherever you are in the world Tuesday 1 October 2024 will be a day to remember for Andrés Cuenca as he made his official debut for the Barça first team in the blaugranes' 5-0 win over Swiss side Young Boys in the Champions League in the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys The moment came in the 84th minute of the contest to take his place alongside Jules Kounde in the centre of defence Andrés Cuenca came to Barça from Sevilla in 2019 and is a left footed centre back who can bring the ball out and reads the game well he has made five appearances this season for the Barça Atlètic side The defender is also a Spain U17 international Another player who will not forget the win over Young Boys is Pau Víctor. The striker came on for the final 20 minutes of the victory to make his debut in the Champions League a feat that comes just days after his first official goal for the first team in the game against Osasuna in El Sadar The Atlético de Madrid Academy continues to strengthen ties with Ecuador After opening the first headquarters in Guayaquil over a year ago—an initiative that has expanded from overseeing around 2,000 children at its inception to over 10,000 today—a new project is now beginning in the southern city of Cuenca Enrique Cerezo inaugurated the Cuenca location at a ceremony attended by King Felipe VI Juan Xavier Cordovez from the Junta de Beneficencia director of the Atlético de Madrid Academy and international expansion deputy director of the Academy and international expansion The new location in Cuenca is the second collaborative project between Atlético de Madrid and the Junta de Beneficencia de Guayaquil which has experienced remarkable growth in just over a year The Club Atlético JBG competes in Ecuador's 1st Division B and mainly recruits players from Atlético de Madrid's youth system in Guayaquil The Guayaquil headquarters now involves over 10,000 children and young people making it the largest youth academy in Ecuador The goal of this Academy project is not only to provide athletic training but also to support education and overall quality of life for young people Enrique Cerezo emphasized in his speech that “our Project with the Junta is a Comprehensive Project aimed at educating through sport Atlético will always support those who use sport as a tool to educate and spread positive messages and values to build a better society This is our responsibility and our legacy.” and turns teammates into a second family.” He expressed his gratitude for the “direct investment in the future of the country by Atlético observing activities and listening to a speech by Rafael Parro one of Atlético de Madrid's coaches in Ecuador The visit was a high-profile event that left a lasting impression on those present.  Get tickets to cheer on Atlético de Madrid Femenino in Alcalá Looking for three more points at the Mendizorroza the hotly-anticipated new project from Mexican-born musical duo Florencia Cuenca and Jaime Lozano has finally arrived and it’s now available to stream on all platforms vocals by Cuenca and featuring the dynamic Mariachi Real de México released on the Concord Theatricals Recordings label proudly puts a unique Latin twist on iconic songs of the Main Stem Whether injecting Hamilton’s “Burn” with mariachi or interpreting Wicked’s “The Wizard and I” as a danzón the pair aim to showcase the universality of a showtune in an effort to communicate that stories are stories and we’re all connected through our ability to share them in whatever way we can celebratory album release concert earlier this month at Midtown hotspot 54 Below we spoke to Cuenca and Lozano all about their partnership and—por supuesto—the power of storytelling through song if you’re intrigued—start spreading las news—no pierdas tu oportunidad y go check out the album for yourself! Can you speak a little bit about your professional history together we have a personal history together (laughs) I have written a lot of songs that are not only inspired by her Our collaborations started with me as a songwriter and her as a performer but then evolved into writing songs together performing together in concerts… everything under the sun We believe in honest storytelling [and] in being ourselves and creating our own opportunities Florencia Cuenca: Before meeting Jaime in person that [he] was this authentic Mexican artist with a very peculiar way of thinking it was amazing [to discover] how we have the same ideas It was so crazy to find someone who was so similar to me knew way too much about me as well… it was like we were two minds connected support each other in our projects together Can you speak about the genesis of the Broadway en Spanglish project Cuenca: As a Brown Mexican immigrant artist it’s been challenging [for me] to navigate the musical theatre and Broadway industry There haven’t been a lot of opportunities for people like me in the industry so we have to be creative and create our own I was listening to “Burn” from Hamilton and I couldn’t stop thinking about this song being a Mexican ranchera with a very dolida [hurt] wife after learning her husband has been unfaithful to her I could imagine myself with a shot of tequila in my hand and singing with the mariachi I always love and support a Florencia Cuenca idea and we ended up producing the track remotely with all the musicians recording  from their homes [Hamilton creator] Lin-Manuel [Miranda] texted me about how much he loved what we did with it we decided to pick more songs that we love and “twist” them in a similar way What is it about Broadway and the musical theatre genre that speaks to you why is it the perfect genre for this album Cuenca: We are putting our together in this album the two things we love the most: musical theatre and our culture This is what we listen to… what we sing at home on a daily basis these two things are intrinsically together We are both things at the same time… literally And we’re just being ourselves… being honest with what we sing we are always trying to find ways to connect [back] with México and music and art definitely help us to do that I am sure my music and my stories would be very different if I weren’t now in this country The fact that I am far away from my original home has shaped everything I am as an artist and everything I do I love the power of music and lyrics together A story in a song can change someone else’s story I can understand why people get mad over how But I believe [having and hearing] the right song at the right moment is one of our most powerful weapons do you think Broadway and musical theatre transcends between English and Spanish so well Every country and culture have their own stories and storytellers We have always learned about each other through stories and sometimes Musical theatre reflects that – songwriters & musicians are also storytellers It doesn’t matter where a story takes place… we can all relate in some way that’s another layer of storytelling; a subtext even if we don’t understand the language of the lyrics It goes straight to our heart and our emotions Lozano: We are going deeper and more specific [in terms of outreach] Having the songs in these new styles with new arrangements in these new versions [allows it] to reach more people… for more people to connect with [the song] we may reach an audience who might never listen to these songs because they’re not familiar with Broadway or their [original presentation] We want our people to connect to the songs we love I myself connect with these songs in a different way [because of] these new arrangements and new Spanglish versions I feel even closer to the [ideas they’re presenting] on a more personal level If I connect better with the lyrics and the ideas Jaime and I have translated a lot of musicals and songs into Spanish but this project is different [in that] what we did was mix English and Spanish [into] Spanglish we sometimes forget the word in Spanish and other times we say the first word that comes to our mind no matter the language (laughs) What do you look for in translating a song Do some songs lend themselves to the Spanish translation more than others it’s easier to find the vocabulary to adapt the story Lozano: We chose songs that really mean something to us… that we feel connected to [The] arrangements and adaptations come from the heart because they tell our story You’re both accomplished musicians and performers in your own right Do you find your previous work helps to inform this project In what ways is it an extension of your work — or yourselves — as performers and individuals We speak about our people and our stories and and who we are each project is always [influencing] the next one And we build on that to make a better version – a better vision – of the project for the next time Lozano: I can never separate who I am as human being and as an artist – those two things are connected forever You’ve been performing these songs in concert settings for a while now Lozano: An album is a way to create a document with this legacy but being able to preserve these arrangements and Florencia’s beautiful renditions of these songs [to] share with people everywhere is really important for us as artists it’s a very different experience doing a long recording session versus singing live I consider myself a storyteller and I’m always focusing on delivering the story so that when someone is listening to the album always nice to have a document to preserve our work yes – a way to connect with even more people around the world Is there anything specific about the song choices that lend themselves specifically to this type of reimagining and reinterpretation How do you know what songs to cover and what to leave out Cuenca: It’s not about recording famous songs or beautiful songs It is about recording songs that are important for us in a deeper level and [it] means something to [us] personally Lozano: I write my own songs and my own music if I’m going to produce cover songs at all And the ones on the album are ones that [describe] my journey And then there’s the process of making them our own — we are not doing “karaoke” versions of these songs We are going deeper and reinventing them using who we are and our lens of what the songs mean to us and we hope that comes through in the listening [experience] You recently celebrated your album with a release concert at 54 Below What is it about that venue that makes it an ideal place to perform Cuenca: We are so grateful for 54 Below and all their staff because they have been so supportive of our work we are always [on the lookout] for those places that make you feel welcome all the time They always go the extra mile to make us feel loved and supported The album drops during Hispanic Heritage Month and your preceding concert at 54 Below was part of their month-long Hispanic Heritage Month celebration What does the month mean to you specifically We never celebrated it ‘til we got to America But any excuse to celebrate is always good (laughs) many from Latin American or Hispanic countries.. left their countries looking for a better life They not only fought for opportunities for themselves but for the [chance] to create a country for everyone with justice and fair opportunities for all Hispanic Heritage Month is to honor and celebrate those who have come before us trying to make a better life for themselves we continue to recognize and honor them every single day Cuenca: I always knew I wanted to be a performer When we arrived in New York and I got to know more about Broadway I realized not many people on Broadway looked and sounded like me have been fighting to create those spaces for us And we will keep fighting ‘til we have more opportunities and representation in this [arena] We hope we can say one day that Broadway is a place we can all belong we would love to see our work on “Broadway” someday it’s about the message… and it’s always about the people you don’t feel like you have many options onstage give someone who may be feeling the same way Lozano: What makes you different is your superpower Where do you see the concept going from here Lozano: This album is [presented] primarily in a mariachi style… a very specific Mexican kind of music We would love to produce a second volume… perhaps with all salsa arrangements Cuenca: Aside from eventually producing a second album we would love to visit the West Coast with this project We’ve been performing here in many venues in New York City and on the East Coast [but] we’d love to share this project and who we are with our people on the West Coast…… and then Jaime Lozano & Mariachi Real de México was released on the Concord Theatricals Recordings label on September 27th and is now available on streaming platforms Topics of Interest: Supercomputing Esperanza Cuenca Gómez is the developer relations manager for quantum computing at NVIDIA Esperanza sees applied science and engineering as ways to build new technologies Groundbreaking research underlines NVIDIA’s critical role in advancing quantum computing…. Read Article You don't have permissions to access this page See Cuenca record the Wicked anthem for the album Broadway en Spanglish now out via Concord Theatricals Recordings Feeling the Wicked energy in the air Florencia Cuenca and Jaime Lozano are getting in on the act with a bilingual rendition of the musical's "The Wizard and I." See Cuenca record the song for their album Broadway en Spanglish out now from Concord Theatricals Recordings giving a Mexican twist to a number of Broadway favorites including "I Miss the Mountains" from Next to Normal "Stars and the Moon" from Songs For a New World The release features arrangements by Lozano and Pavel Cal and orchestrations by Lozano and Jesús Altamira Jaime Lozano & The Familia are executive producers Stream or download the album here Gail Kriegel's new play follows a family affected by mental illness The Tony-winning Best Musical continues at the Walter Kerr Theatre Noah Himmelstein will direct Matthew Puckett's original musical Neumann is the Tony nominated choreographer behind Hadestown and Swept Away one Tony winner is playing the trumpet while the other is channeling Madame Rose Due to the expansive nature of Off-Broadway Thank You!You have now been added to the list Blocking belongson the stage,not on websites Our website is made possible bydisplaying online advertisements to our visitors Please consider supporting us bywhitelisting playbill.com with your ad blocker.Thank you keeping him at Craven Cottage until the summer of 2028 with a Club option to extend by a further year primarily operates as a left-sided centre-half but has also lined up at left-back on numerous occasions for Villarreal Speaking to FFCtv from the team’s training base in the Algarve I'm so happy to be here and to play for Fulham “The Club is an historical club and Craven Cottage is an historical stadium and I want to play in the Premier League.” Tony Khan added: “I'm happy to welcome centre-back Jorge Cuenca to Fulham we expect that he'll continue to develop under Marco's great coaching and believe that he'll be a great asset to the squad Cuenca came through the youth ranks at local side Alcorcón where he became their youngest ever player before moving to Barcelona at the age of just 17 After featuring regularly for the club’s B team he was handed his first senior start in a 1-0 Copa del Rey victory in October 2018 A multi-million euro move to Villarreal followed two years later though he went straight on loan to Almeria whom he helped reach the Segunda División Play-Offs and Copa del Rey Quarter-Finals where they were narrowly beaten by Sevilla.  After three goals in 37 appearances for Almeria Cuenca was a La Liga regular the following term playing 32 times while on loan with Getafe to help them preserve their top-flight status Cuenca was integrated into the Villarreal setup in 2022/23 playing every minute of their UEFA Europa Conference League campaign which saw them progress to the knockout stages But it was last season when he became a mainstay in the Villarreal backline missing just a handful of games as they finished eighth in La Liga and reached the Europa League knockouts He departs the club with 60 appearances and three goals to his name Cuenca has been capped by Spain up to Under-21 level whom he helped get to the Semi-Finals of the 2021 European Championship where he was named in the Team of the Tournament I often think back to the day I arrived in Cuenca, Ecuador, the Andean city that accidentally became my home and because of plummeting high-altitude temperatures Rows of Andean peaks stretched out for miles with no sign of civilization the bus climbed corkscrew roads cut into the mountains I tried to distract myself from my growing sense of unease but all I could think was that I should've gotten on that plane back to Toronto halfway through what was intended to be a yearlong adventure in South America I spent the first six months in Colombia but I'd just been kicked out of the country for accidentally overstaying my visa this was well-timed with a visit from friends We backpacked around Ecuador and after a couple weeks while I jumped on a bus to Cuenca to continue exploring I moved to Toronto in 2010 to study journalism The city has a lot to offer in terms of career opportunities and a vibrant arts scene During a short vacation to visit a friend living in Colombia I decided I wanted to go on a longer adventure in South America I noticed my friend's well-rounded lifestyle: She hiked to waterfalls My plan was to travel for a year and then relocate to another part of Canada I'd saved enough to cover a year of budget travel and had a few freelance clients I didn't know that my adventure would stretch far past 2018 I've enjoyed movies about women who quit everything and create a life elsewhere I gradually decided to move to Cuenca, about 200 miles south of Quito, Ecuador after extending my visas and eventually being granted permanent residency I've stayed in South America for the same reasons one might stay on any life trajectory and there's always something new about the culture to experience or understand The early days of my adventure were a trial period between climbing mountains and strolling through blooming countryside I thought this was a lifestyle I was excited to wake up for The smaller cultural nuances make living here special There's a formal politeness I value: Strangers say good morning everyone's greeted regardless of whether you know them They're not burning themselves out just to get the scraps I rent a one-bedroom apartment with a beautiful terrace for $320 a month Most locals pay a few hundred less on rent while higher-earning expats would typically pay more reported in May that the arrival of foreigners is pushing up local rent I try to contribute to the economy in a beneficial way I mainly support local businesses: the bakeries and restaurants in my neighborhood; artisan markets for furniture and decor; and Ecuadorian craft beer when I go out with friends Ecuador is a hot spot for North Americans who've chosen to relocate Reports on the 2022 Ecuadorian census found that 14,424 Americans lived in the country It's sixth on International Living's 2024 global retirement index But it's not just pulling those in their later years. In 2022, the country also launched a digital-nomad visa making it easier for younger workers like me to live and work in the country my generation moving back in with their parents and a shrinking middle class often dominate the conversation Living in Ecuador has nudged me to better define my personal values I wouldn't live in a place that required me to sacrifice any of those I've witnessed political instability and dealt with daily power outages due to drought My reality is running past goats by the river and finding energy in the Andean mountains Broadway Off-Broadway Off-Off Broadway Cabaret Dance Opera Classical Music Nashville Minneapolis / St. Paul Connecticut Atlanta Chicago Los Angeles WEST END UK Regional Canada Australia / New Zealand Europe Asia Latin America Africa / Middle East TV/Movies Music Follow Florencia Cuenca’s history making journey from Mexico to making her Broadway debut in REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES: THE MUSICAL becoming the first Mexican immigrant to originate a role on Broadway before earning U.S Her journey from performing in Mexico to making her Broadway debut is not only groundbreaking but deeply intertwined with the role she plays But Cuenca is the first Mexican immigrant to originate a Broadway role while still navigating the challenges of immigration status Cuenca had to navigate the complexities of visas and an industry that often favors those with easier access to legal employment we don't get to see a lot of immigrants on Broadway We don't have representation at all,” Cuenca reflects “It's very different being a citizen than an immigrant what you can achieve as a citizen than an immigrant Cuenca and her husband, composer Jaime Lozano took a leap of faith when they first arrived in New York nearly a decade ago Cuenca found herself unable to pursue theater due to her visa limitations confined to the role of a dependent spouse That was my role because you cannot do anything more You can study because you can give money to the city but you cannot do anything else," she explains It was only after years of navigating the immigration system and obtaining her green card that she was finally able to audition and actively pursue work as an actress In Real Women Have Curves: THE MUSICAL and kind woman who owns the García Sewing Factory and she fears applying for amnesty due to mounting debts this mirrors Cuenca’s own experiences navigating the American immigration system Both Cuenca and Estela have aspirations of making it in the United States but their dreams often feel just out of reach due to complicated and demoralizing systemic barriers Cuenca’s portrayal promises to be highly compelling because of the lived experience she brings to the role we see you,’” she says of her involvement in shaping the character From the early workshops of the musical she participated in through the current rehearsals for Broadway Cuenca’s advocacy for truly authentic representation has guaranteed that Estela is infused with genuine Mexican immigrant experiences This is not unique to her experiences though as her castmates have gotten to do similar work with their characters as well “is going to bring a lot of representation in a very authentic way At its core, Real Women Have Curves: THE MUSICAL is a story about love—love for oneself It explores the tension between personal ambition and familial duty Cuenca has had to balance her own dreams with the expectations and needs of her family it's very centered in the love of a family,” Cuenca explains “Sometimes we judge our parents for their decisions or the things that they said to us The show also highlights the power of female relationships The women in the García Sewing Factory may bicker and disagree but they ultimately uplift and support one another “We want to take care of Ana [the show’s main character] and say that doesn't mean that it's going to happen all the time.’” the musical also challenges traditional beauty standards and uplifts body diversity “Growing up in Mexico as a brown Mexican girl So body image has always been a struggle for me Even in Mexico,” Cuenca candidly acknowledges “Sometimes I talk about this and people ask the music fuses Latin pop with Broadway storytelling bringing an authentic Mexican and Mexican-American sound to the stage in a way that has never been done before “I actually grew up listening to Joy,” Cuenca reveals “I would be in high school singing her songs Cuenca describes the music as a unique blend of influences that will be equal parts familiar and new to traditional Broadway audiences “Latin pop sounds different than regular pop With Real Women Have Curves: THE MUSICAL Broadway is taking a significant step toward inclusivity—not just in terms of racial and ethnic diversity but in presenting an immigrant’s story with authenticity and heart Cuenca’s journey is proof that representation matters For young Mexican and immigrant performers who dream of the Broadway stage and experiences deserve to be seen and heard this milestone is both an ending and a beginning and never stop working because when those two meet in the middle that's the perfect formula to do what you want to do,” she offers to others Cuenca has arrived on the big stages of Broadway not just as an actress but as a trailblazer and the pursuit of dreams against all odds On the heels of its 'Best Score' Tony Award nomination Real Women Have Curves released some song clips from the show to give fans a taste of the Tony-nominated music There was so much to celebrate earlier this week at the James Earl Jones Theatre The final show of the 2024/25 Broadway season Watch as we take you inside opening night with the cast and creative team in this video Real Women Have Curves just opened on Broadway Check out photos of stars on the red carpet The terrific new musical Real Women Have Curves brings the story of a Mexican family to Broadway Ana is a first-generation Mexican-American who dreams of becoming a journalist and must navigate being the only one with American citizenship in her family as she finds her own way in the world Artists from Mexico have brought great and important work to the Broadway stage over the years and exclusive discounts on tickets to your favorite shows © 2025 - Copyright Wisdom Digital Media, all rights reserved. Privacy Policy One more on Hansi Flick's list of debutants after Andrés Cuenca made his first official appearance for the FC Barcelona first team in the Champions League victory over Young Boys at the Estadi Olímpic, coming on to replace Iñigo Martinez in the 84th minute to make a 'dream come true' in the words of the teenager.  After his debut, the 17 year old was photographed outside La Masia, his home since the age of 12. Cuenca revealed that his making his debut was "a great objective" and that he is "very proud and grateful" after his special day.  The young defender also highlighted coach Hansi Flick's commitment to bringing in young players and reminded all the youngsters at the Club "that they work hard because your chance can come at any time."  The Iglesia del Sagrario means Church of the Shrine in English – but it’s commonly known as the Old Cathedral Built in 1557 – the year Cuenca was founded – it is one of the most historic buildings in the country The spire served as a reference point for French scientists in the 18th century during a mission to determine the greatest of Earth’s circumferences: around the Equator or the Poles it’s now a museum of religious curiosities including priests’ garments and lightweight Jesus sculptures styled after human ribs to represent the Passion of Christ Cuenca’s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception dominates the cityscape with its three glorious sky-blue domes the landmark took nearly a century to build and was only finished in 1975 It’s open to visitors every day of the week and climbing the tower is essential for the city views – but bear in mind that there are still live masses here every day | Jonathon Monck Mason / Unsplash See amazing exhibits at the Museum of CIDAP This internationally famous museum is tiny but home to a collection of more than 8,000 pieces of popular artisanal art from 28 different countries Free to enter and known as the Inter-American Center of Popular Arts and Crafts (CIDAP) it is one of the standout pieces of architecture in the old center Explore the intricate handiwork of Latin American cultures You’ll be amazed at the vibrancy of the weavings and costumes on display – as will your Instagram followers The beautiful bridges of Cuenca’s historic center cross the Rio Tomebamba a rushing waterway that comes tumbling in from the high Andes and eventually winds its way all the way down to the mighty Amazon There are several parks that lend themselves to long leisurely picnics right on its banks within the city limits – especially Parque Paraiso But our top tip is to hire a bicycle and follow the river out of town for a bit you’ll find serene nature as a backdrop to the gurgling of the river – spread the blanket on the ground and crack open a refreshing beer Homero Ortega P & Hijos You might assume that Panama hats were made in Panama you’ll learn the truth: Ecuador is the place of their birth by craftsmen in Cuenca – as well as the city of Montecristi Locate the firm Homero Ortega P & Hijos – Homero Otrega and Sons also known as the Panama Hat Factory – and you’ll discover a museum You can take a tour to find out more about this celebrated headgear And yes – you can buy yourself one before leaving Sign up to our newsletter to save up to $800 on our unique trips See privacy policy Mirador de Turi You’ve appreciated Cuenca’s beauty up close there’s a great spot for a bird’s-eye view: on the southern edge of the city is the Overlook of Turi there’s a staircase from the bottom of the hill – 400 steps later you’ll be able to catch your breath at the top as the city spreads out Be sure to book ahead onto a tour of Mirador de Turi Feeling hungry? Have you tried cuy (guinea pig) yet? Or perhaps you’d rather stay on the straight and narrow with chicken or roast pork. Either way, El Che restaurant is the place to fill your face. This local Cuenca dining institution takes its name from the famous Guevara, hence the memorabilia plastered about the interiors, along with other memorabilia saluting the Cuban Revolution The result is a uniquely bohemian atmosphere to match the generous plates and the friendly service Guinea pig is a delicious delicacy in Cuenca – we bet you’ll be back for more Tour Cajas National Park Andean condors cruise high above lush cloud forests and the hundreds of alpine lakes in Cajas National Park mountainous beauty that lies just beyond Cuenca and the best way to get the most out of it is on a full-day tour that picks you up from your hotel in the morning and deposits you back again at the end of the day If you’re the more intrepid type you should enquire around town about opportunities for overnight treks and stays Why not book onto a highly recommended tour of Cajas National Park to make the most out of your trip The Mercado 10 de Agosto is one of the most famous markets in Ecuador and for good reason – it has piles of mouth-wateringly fresh tropical fruits and other produce brought in from the countryside daily But don’t pass up the opportunity to indulge in a traditional limpia (spiritual healing session) while you’re here – it claims to remove negative energies and send you off fully charged with luck you get a relaxing massage with aromatic lotions petals and incantations by spiritual helpers A historic plaza overflowing with lucid colors and enchanting aromas Cuenca’s Flower Market is regularly rated among the prettiest in the world peruse the local tropical flower selection and splurge on a bouquet to make your travel buddy’s day If you’re relocating to Cuenca permanently come to the flower market for potted plants and trees among masses of diverse and heavenly greenery.Kristen Tideman contributed additional reporting to this article Ocean Malandra is a widely published freelance writer based in Bogota He is the author of Cartagena and Colombia's Caribbean Coast by Moon Travel Guides See & Do The Top Things to See and Do in Guayaquil See & Do The 10 Best Things to Do and See in Cuenca See & Do 5 Of The Best Inca Ruins In Ecuador See & Do 10 Unmissable Things to Do in and Around Loja See & Do Must-Visit Attractions in Guayaquil See & Do The Best Places to Visit in Ecuador See & Do 15 Stunning Natural Wonders in South America That Will Take Your Breath Away Guides & Tips The Best Non-European Destinations to Escape to This Spring See & Do The 10 Best Things to See and Do in Montañita See & Do The Best Amazon Locations for Seeing Wildlife See & Do The 15 Best and Cheapest Places to Visit in South America See & Do The 11 Most Beautiful Towns in the Ecuadorian Andes US: +1 (678) 967 4965 | UK: +44 (0)1630 35000 tripssupport@theculturetrip.com © Copyright 2025 The Culture Trip Ltd They will join the previously announced Tatianna Córdoba as Ana and Justina Machado as Carmen Real Women Have Curves: The Musical has announced additional casting for its Broadway run The cast will also include Mauricio Mendoza (“Criminal Minds,” “NCIS,” “The Santa Clauses,” and “Matlock") as Ana’s father Ariana Burks will also be joining the cast They will join the previously announced Tatianna Córdoba (Ana) and Justina Machado (Carmen) Casting for the role of Raúl will be announced at a later date Real Women Have Curves: The Musical is set to begin performances on April 1 at the James Earl Jones Theatre with a big heart and joyous abandon” (The Boston Globe) “It makes us feel we can all soar!” (WBUR) American Repertory Theater (A.R.T) at Harvard University produced the musical’s critically acclaimed world premiere in 2023 19 Apr 2025 21:30:00 GMT?.css-1txiau5-AnswerContainer{color:var(--GlobalColorScheme-Text-secondaryText2);}Emelec won 1–0 over Deportivo Cuenca on Sat Predicted lineups are available for the match a few days in advance while the actual lineup will be available about an hour ahead of the match The current head to head record for the teams are Deportivo Cuenca 11 win(s) Have scored 5 goals in their last 5 matches Who won between Deportivo Cuenca and Emelec on Sat 19 Apr 2025 21:30:00 GMT?Emelec won 1–0 over Deportivo Cuenca on Sat 19 Apr 2025 21:30:00 GMT.InsightsHave scored 2 goals in their last 5 matches Deportivo Cuenca is playing home against Emelec on Sat The objective of this guarantee is to guarantee the financing that the French Development Agency (AFD) will provide for an amount of EUR 25 million to the Integral Management Program of Solid Waste and Green Areas of Cuenca a key project for the sustainability and ecological transition of the city EU Ambassador to Ecuador; Philippe Orliange AFD Executive Director; Carmen Moreno Cordero; Honorary Consul of France in Cuenca; Priscille de Coninck Director of AFD Ecuador; Cristian Zamora Matute The European Union (EU) delivers for the first time in Latin America and the Caribbean an EFSD+ FAST-Cities guarantee focused on sustainability and the green economy of cities For the first time in Latin America and the Caribbean this operation is supported by the European Union Financial Guarantee “EFSD+ FAST-Cities” an innovative mechanism designed to mobilise investments towards sustainable development projects Framed within the Global Gateway strategy of the European Union this initiative opens new financing opportunities for Cuenca as part of the EU's international strategy seeks to mobilise resources towards sustainable infrastructure support local capacity building and contribute to the fight against climate change strengthening decentralised finance and enabling local governments to implement projects with a positive impact on their communities This project is part of the Team Europe initiative which aims to promote the green transition and access to sustainable finance reinforcing the European Union's commitment to sustainable development in Latin America EU Ambassador to Ecuador Jekaterina Doródnova highlighted the importance of this cooperation: This initiative which is part of our Global Gateway strategy and represents the first in Latin America and the Caribbean to benefit from this Guarantee will not only improve waste management and the maintenance of green areas in Cuenca but will also become a model to follow for other cities in the region consolidating Team Europe's commitment to sustainability and the well-being of communities the development of essential infrastructure is promoted and the foundations are laid for a greener and more resilient future for generations to come it is a pride to be able to accompany the municipality of Cuenca and the EMAC EP in a project that will contribute to improving the quality of life of all Cuencans we want to highlight AFD’s commitment to supporting Ecuador’s public sector entities on their journey towards more resilient and friendly cities The Integrated Management of Solid Waste and Green Areas of Cuenca program will have a global approach that covers the following areas: This project will be developed in several phases with the first stage beginning in the first months of 2025 and continuing until 2031 Active community involvement will be essential to the success of environmental education and waste management initiatives Cuenca Mayor Cristian Zamora Matute said:  “this project is strategic for the city in my 20-year career no infrastructure of this magnitude had been achieved for waste management in Cuenca” for her part María Caridad Vázquez said “this loan is a unique opportunity for the EMAC it allows us to finance strategic projects so that Cuenca remains at the technological forefront of Latin America” Cuenca will be able to advance in its objective of being a more sustainable city consolidating itself as a benchmark of sustainability in the region Fulham have completed the signing of Jorge Cuenca from Villarreal for an undisclosed fee The defender has signed a four-year contract with Fulham securing his stay at Craven Cottage until the summer of 2028 with a club option to extend for an additional year I’m so happy to be here and to play for Fulham,” Cuenca said “The club is an historical club and Craven Cottage is an historical stadium. I prefer Fulham because of the city, the club, obviously the historical stadium, and I want to play in the Premier League.” The Athletic reported that Fulham were in advanced talks to sign the centre-back who played 37 matches across all competitions for Villarreal last season where Marco Silva’s Fulham squad are based as part of their pre-season plans Villarreal acquired Cuenca from Barcelona in the summer of 2020. After making just one first-team appearance for Barca, the 24-year-old spent the next two seasons on loan at Almeria and Getafe Cuenca was part of Villarreal’s first-team squad for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons solidifying his role as a regular starter last season with 28 starts in all competitions Omar Garrick is a Junior Editor for The Athletic UK, based in London. He previously worked at BBC Sport and The Manchester Evening News. Omar is a journalism graduate from Cardiff University and the University of Sheffield. Follow Omar on Twitter @GarrickOmar « Back Fulham have signed Jorge Cuenca from Villarreal on a four-year deal for a fee of €6.3million (£5.4m) Get the latest transfer news on The Athletic… A look at how the player fits into his new club One of Cuenca’s standout strengths is his ball-playing ability placing him in the 89th percentile among his positional peers in the top five leagues who focus on building from the back and transitioning quickly to the flanks Cuenca’s relaxed demeanour allows him to take his time to find the right pass rather than rushing decisions An example is shown in this Europa League match against Maccabi Haifa in December 2023. Cuenca drives into space and plays a cross-field ball to Ilias Akhomach and has shown that he can read the game in front of him and clear threats His success in aerial duels is above average He averages only one interception per 90 minutes suggesting that his anticipation of opposing plays could be stronger especially in the fast-paced environment of the Premier League This lack of awareness can lead to moments where he might be caught out of position The 24-year-old fits into Fulham’s 4-2-3-1 shape His ability to play out from the back and support the midfield suits Silva’s preference for a fluid Cuenca’s ability to read the game allows him to maintain a compact defensive block and cover the ball-side centre-back when they shift.  He often plays split passes or carries the ball forward connecting well with the holding midfielder Cuenca can also participate in player rotations out wide so will work closely with wingers such as Willian and Alex Iwobi He can provide defensive support while engaging in build-up further up the pitch creating space and passing lanes for the team Cuenca has the potential to become a key player He will be familiar with Fulham’s playing style and should integrate smoothly supported by Spanish-speaking team-mates such as Raul Jimenez Securing a player of his calibre at that fee is a bargain using statistics from The Athletic’s data team It was a rollercoaster campaign for Villarreal and that impacts how the data interprets Cuenca’s performances Villarreal cycled through three head coaches in 2023-24 with Quique Setien sacked after just four league matches following a poor start before the return of Marcelino lifted them to an eighth-place finish it was encouraging that Cuenca had a role under all three coaches He found new competition from winter arrivals Eric Bailly and Yerson Mosquera They were brought in after Matteo Gabbia’s loan from AC Milan was terminated and Juan Foyth suffered a shoulder injury Increasingly towards the end of the campaign his appearances came at left-back under Marcelino where he is comfortable but it’s not his favoured role Last season was his first as a ‘regular’ at Villarreal Rating the player according to Football Manager 2024’s data across current and potential ability which is powered by an extensive scouting network that is referenced professionally within the sport provides a current ability rating of 141 for the Madrid-born defender This current ability status puts him on a par with Kristoffer Ajer at Brentford (140) Players with similar potential ability include Gabriel at Arsenal (160) Raphael Varane (161) and Reece James (161).  Whether he reaches that level will depend on many factors the data suggests he should be competitive at Fulham with current ability ratings for Issa Diop (134) Calvin Bassey (135) and Tosin Adarabioyo (135 — now at Chelsea) A four-category summary of the player’s transfer — and whether the money makes sense for his new club Given the fees exchanged for central defenders this summer, €6.3million for Cuenca has obvious appeal. A semi-regular in La Liga last season for a top-half team and only 24 the Spaniard’s price tag jars with some of the business completed in the past month Fulham have lost key defensive personnel since the end of last season and Cuenca arrives to help plug the gap left by Tosin This relatively low transfer outlay should address one shortcoming without depleting resources for bigger The Athletic 500 transfer ratings: Tosin Adarabioyo to Chelsea Cuenca’s four-year deal will keep him at Craven Cottage until 2028 and the expectation will be that he has arrived without demanding large wages The centre-back’s deal is also long enough to ensure Fulham are safeguarded should he be a big success The former Barcelona youngster is stepping into the unknown of Premier League football but has a pedigree to suggest his value will hold in the coming years That La Liga experience will insulate any poor form in England and ensure there are suitors back in Spain Is there a history of injury or other problems that could crop up and make this deal a bad one in retrospect Or does the player come with a clean bill of health This is not a financially onerous deal for Fulham and that mitigates the risks There is a small contingent of Spanish-speaking players within the group and that should assist his adaptation Cuenca is not a player with Premier League experience or a huge swathe of appearances in Europe’s top five leagues His most consistent campaign at this level was with Getafe in 2021-22 Getafe finished 15th but only conceded 41 goals.  a clear stylistic match as Fulham rely on ball-playing defenders They need cover at left-back following the conclusion of Fode Ballo-Toure’s loan and while right centre-back is a priority they need a left-sided centre-back with Ream’s future uncertain How he adapts to the Premier League will dictate the success of this deal but it’s unlikely he’ll be a first-choice pick initially and that may help in the long run His style is thought to be more aggressive than his Villarreal predecessor Pau Torres (Top photo: Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton) FC Barcelona's handball team ended the year with yet another victory this Friday against Rebi Balonmano Cuenca at the Palau Blaugrana but solid defending and effective attacking means they continue their 100 per cent record in the Liga Plenitude ASOBAL But the biggest highlight of all was seeing Pol Valera return from a seven-month absence due to a cruciate ligament injury in his right knee and early in the second half they were +5 and finally able to relax a bit eventually starting to run away with the score and winning by a double figure margin The players can now look forward to a nice the day they travel to Denmark for an EHF Champions League meeting with Ålborg Periods: 2-3; 6-6; 8-8; 9-8; 15-13 // 18-14; 22-17; 24-19; 27-20; 29-21; 31-24; 35-26 Referees: Lorena García Gil & Tania Rodríguez Estévez The Athletic reported earlier on Thursday that Fulham were in advanced talks to sign the centre-back Cuenca is travelling to undergo the medical in Portugal Villarreal signed Cuenca from Barcelona — for whom he made one first-team appearance — in the summer of 2020 and the 24-year-old spent the subsequent two seasons on loan at Almeria and Getafe respectively Cuenca has been a part of Villarreal’s first-team squad for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 campaigns establishing himself as a regular starter last season with 28 starts across all competitions Fulham’s one summer signing to date has been the return of Ryan Sessegnon as a free agent following the expiration of his contract at Tottenham Hotspur The west London club have a deal in place worth up to £35million to sign Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe who is due to link up with the Fulham squad on their preseason trip to Portugal after completing a medical Peter Rutzler is a football writer covering Paris Saint-Germain and Fulham for The Athletic. Previously, he covered AFC Bournemouth. He joined The Athletic in August 2019. Follow Peter on Twitter @peterrutzler The final Broadway show opening in time to vie for Tony Award nominations has one of the best show-stopping numbers of the entire season In the middle of the second act of Real Women Have Curves (James Earl Jones Theatre, booking to Oct. 5) the song “Curves”—featuring the group of Latina women and close friends who work as seamstresses in a small East Los Angeles clothing factory—sees the main cast stripped to their undergarments singing loudly and dancing wildly in praise of being proud of the bodies they have The response of the audience to this joyous number—standing ovation rapturous applause—says everything about how the song hits home with an audience all too aware of pressures and insecurities attendant on notions of the body beautiful In the musical—with music and lyrics by Mexican singer Joy Huerta (one half of the duet Jesse y Joy) and Benjamin Velez, and a book by Lisa Loomer and Nell Benjamin—a nearly-all Latino and Hispanic cast (many making their Broadway debuts) speak a notable amount of Spanish during the show, which feels both refreshing and right. Ana is the only U.S. citizen among the characters, including older sister Estela (Florencia Cuenca), who owns the factory, and Carmen. The show is set in 1987 at a time when a Reagan-era amnesty program existed for undocumented immigrants to attain legal status. However, the amnesty was viewed with understandable suspicion by those concerned it was simply a trap. A significant part of the story focuses on the fear engendered by immigration enforcement agents looking to detain the undocumented—and so the script feels acutely prescient today. An underwritten subplot focuses on the plight of worker Itzel (Aline Mayagoitia), who ends up in detention and who sings a moving song, “If I Were a Bird,” about soaring above life’s challenges—and sh***ing on those below who deserve it. Córdoba plays Ana as resolute personally and professionally, pursuing every dream she sees within her reach. She succeeds as a result of her intelligence, strength, and commitment to what is right. She’s spiky, she calls out hypocrisy and wrongdoing. She gets on with doing—and doing everything she believes in. Mauricio Mendoza plays Raúl, Ana and Estela’s father and Carmen’s husband, as totally supportive and understanding of all the women in his life. His and Machado’s duet, “Life Is Like a Dance,” softly relates the story of their marriage and mutuality. The show in some ways is formulaic, and the performances occasionally flatten too. Will a pivotal dress order be fulfilled? Will Ana go to Columbia with her mother’s blessing? Will Estela’s fashion talents be properly recognized? Will a seemingly malign rich customer, played by Claudia Mulet, receive the dressing-down she deserves? The answers present themselves as you might expect, but the show is sung and performed with sincerity and heart, and its humor—particularly in family interactions and the fledgling romance of Ana and nerdy boyfriend Henry (Mason Reeves)—is tangy and sharp. Seeing Ana take control in a key bedroom scene is particularly cheer-worthy. The show’s vibe of joy and strength is crystallized in a final parade of Estela’s winningly glamorous creations (designed by Wilberth Gonzalez and Paloma Young) underlining again the affirming sentiment of the show’s title the audience rises again to applaud with delight Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here Christmas in Ecuador is a time of profound religious and cultural significance full of traditions that express the faith and identity of the Ecuadorian people Since colonial times, the Church has promoted devotion to the Child Jesus through novenas, masses and the construction of nativity scenes. However, the Passing of the Child, with its characteristic processions and symbolic richness, is a more recent tradition that has flourished with particular strength in cities such as Watershed and Riobamba The Pase del Niño consists of a procession in which an image of the Child Jesus This image can be of different sizes and materials from small figures to large sculptures that require several people to be transported various traditional characters participate such as the Curiquingue Each one has a specific costume with cultural and symbolic meanings performing dances and performances that tell stories and represent aspects of Andean life and cosmovision One of the most unique and recent manifestations is the Pase del Niño Viajero a celebration that in a few decades has become deeply rooted in the city of Cuenca This phenomenon invites us to reflect on how traditions are built and evolve enriching the faith experience of communities Its origin is recent, it is an image of the Child Jesus sculpted in 1823. After passing through several generations of a family from Cuenca, the image came into the hands of Monsignor Miguel Cordero Crespo, who in 1961 took it on pilgrimage to Holy Land the image was baptized as the "Traveling Child" giving birth to a tradition that would eventually become one of the most important in the city outside the prioste's house (the layman who organizes the procession that year) an evening is held in honor of the image of the Niño Viajero and is always attended by neighborhood residents and special guests.  The following day begins with a mass in honor of the Child followed by the distribution of bread and coffee to the attendees The program concludes with a fireworks display the main characters are children disguised as biblical figures The latter are particularly striking and interesting as they represent peasants from the provinces of Azuay and Cañar who enjoyed great power and prestige among the hacienda workers Their costumes (stylizations of the attire of the cholos and cholas of the region) are They always drive horses or carts covered with fine blankets or wool and silk fabrics and adorned with the "castle" (a set of food arranged in the form of garlands with fruits Cuenca vibrated again with the faith and enthusiasm of the Passing of the Traveling Child Thousands of faithful gathered in the streets to accompany the procession which this year departed from the Eloy Alfaro traffic circle to accommodate the large number of attendees bands and dancers filled the route with color and music began its journey in a vehicle adorned with flowers the faithful threw rose petals from the balconies The atmosphere was one of joy and devotion prayers and expressions of gratitude to the Child Jesus Cardinal Luis Gerardo Cabrera presided the Eucharist in the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of Cuenca where moments of deep emotion were experienced the traditional change of godparents took place the merchants of the El Arenal Free Fair and the Army received the responsibility of guarding the Traveling Child until next year The Traveling Child Pass is a tradition full of singularities that make it even more attractive: The Passing of the Traveling Child is an example of how popular faith is expressed with creativity and originality generating new traditions that enrich the life of the community and strengthen cultural identity It is a celebration that invites reflection on the deep meaning of Christmas and its ability to unite people around the figure of the Child Jesus Subscribe to Omnes magazine and enjoy exclusive content for subscribers Andres Cuena has hailed Barcelona coach Hansi Flick for his faith in the club’s youngsters after making his debut for the first team The 17-year-old make his first senior appearance in the Champions League win over Young Boys and revealed his gratitude to the coach after the match “It’s very important to have a coach with faith in La Masia and he seems to have a lot of faith,” he told Barca’s media “It’s a message for all the kids coming up it’s incredible for a coach to have such faith in the youth players and they should all work hard because their chance could come at any time They need to be ready and I think they are.” Cuenca also spoke about how his debut was a moment he’d been dreaming of since joining the club as a 12-year-old “It really is a dream because I’ve been here six years It was a big challenge for me because I arrived very young and I had the idea of debuting one day for the first team,” he added When I got to La Masia they were waiting for me in the room and all the team congratulated me too Flick has spoken openly about how impressed he’s been with the quality of Barca’s young players and has also handed out debuts to Gerard Martin 10 Apr 2025 21:30:00 GMT?.css-1txiau5-AnswerContainer{color:var(--GlobalColorScheme-Text-secondaryText2);}Deportivo Cuenca won 1–0 over CSD Macara on Thu The current head to head record for the teams are CSD Macara 10 win(s) Haven't scored in their last 2 matches Have scored 2 goals in their last 5 matches Who won between CSD Macara and Deportivo Cuenca on Thu 10 Apr 2025 21:30:00 GMT?Deportivo Cuenca won 1–0 over CSD Macara on Thu 10 Apr 2025 21:30:00 GMT.InsightsHave scored 2 goals in their last 5 matches CSD Macara is playing home against Deportivo Cuenca on Thu 06 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT?.css-1txiau5-AnswerContainer{color:var(--GlobalColorScheme-Text-secondaryText2);}Independiente del Valle won 4–0 over Deportivo Cuenca on Sun The current head to head record for the teams are Independiente del Valle 24 win(s) Have scored 4 goals in their last 5 matches Who won between Independiente del Valle and Deportivo Cuenca on Sun 06 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT?Independiente del Valle won 4–0 over Deportivo Cuenca on Sun 06 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMT.InsightsHave scored 8 goals in their last 5 matches Independiente del Valle is playing home against Deportivo Cuenca on Sun Existing plant sites to act as interim storage 08 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMT?.css-1txiau5-AnswerContainer{color:var(--GlobalColorScheme-Text-secondaryText2);}Libertad won 1–0 over Deportivo Cuenca on Sat The current head to head record for the teams are Deportivo Cuenca 1 win(s) Have scored 8 goals in their last 5 matches Who won between Deportivo Cuenca and Libertad on Sat 08 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMT?Libertad won 1–0 over Deportivo Cuenca on Sat 08 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMT.InsightsHave scored 5 goals in their last 5 matches Deportivo Cuenca is playing home against Libertad on Sat Located in the municipalities of Villalba del Rey and Tinajas (Cuenca) the new 19.7 MWp photovoltaic facility joins an existing 26 MWp wind project ACCIONA Energía has completed its second hybrid renewable generation facility with the construction of a 19.7MWp photovoltaic plant on the site of the existing Peralejo wind farm (26MW) in the municipalities of Villalba del Rey and Tinajas (Cuenca) The Peralejo solar plant will generate 37GWh of clean electricity per year equivalent to the consumption of more than 10,600 homes This energy will be added to that already produced by the Peralejo wind farm and the two facilities that make up the hybrid plant will generate enough electricity to supply 26,000 homes and avoid the emission of more than 38,000 tons of CO2 per year This is equivalent to the effect of planting more than two million trees or taking 15,000 cars off the road Peralejo is the company's second hybridization a formula whereby two or more renewable technologies use the same connection point The combination of two different technologies that can be alternated reduces the dependence on weather conditions achieving a more constant and stable renewable energy production the shared use of infrastructures means that it is not necessary to build new power lines reducing the environmental impact that two separate projects would entail The addition of the photovoltaic plant at Peralejo has created over 100 jobs during its construction peak the project includes a Social Impact Management program that ACCIONA Energía implements in all its facilities to generate a positive impact in the communities in which it operates the company reinvests a portion of annual revenues to support education ACCIONA Energía has carried out a program to revitalize the Santos Sebastián e Isidro olive oil Cooperative one of the main economic engines of the municipality and is financing a series of measures to improve its production and efficiency The company also sponsored the II Children's Indoor Football Tournament in which some 90 children from surrounding villages took part; it organized various activities at the Tinajas Association of Retired and Pensioners and it is financing improvements to its facilities The hybridisation of Peralejo joins ACCIONA Energía’s first hybrid project Escepar (29.4MWp solar and 36MW wind) and the Bolarque photovoltaic plant (50MWp) that the company already operates in Villalba del Rey and Tinajas and places these two municipalities at the forefront of renewable energy development in the province I accept Information on data protection In compliance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 on Data Protection and with other Data Protection regulations in force you are hereby informed that your personal data shall be processed by Acciona whose identification data are as follows: Tax ID No (NIF): A08001851; Address: Avenida de la Gran Vía de Hortaleza No.: +34 91 663 28 50; email: protecciondedatos@acciona.com Your data shall be processed in order to send you information through the subscription to our Newsletter through electronic means activities and news pertinent to our activity sectors The consent given by the data subject by indicating that they have read and accept this data protection information comprises the lawfulness of processing the subscription Request cannot be satisfied We may also process your satisfaction or preferences Data shall be stored until the elimination is requested we 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Furthermore, at any time the data subject may withdraw the granted consent by contacting the aforementioned address and file a claim to the Supervisory Authority (Agencia Española de Protección de Datos www.aepd.es) You can also unsubscribe from the Newsletter communication For any further information you can visit the Privacy Police on the website https://www.acciona.com/privacy-policy/ KV2 immerses visitors at Church of San Miguel, Cuenca Taking place in the ancient temple of San Miguel, Luz Cuenca is a fully immersive sensory experience that incorporates a sound system from KV2, designed and supplied by AV experts Fluge. The multimedia exhibition combines artistic lighting techniques and a dramatic orchestral music score with 2D and 3D projection mapping, with production and content design provided by digital immersive experience specialists Ibercover Studio. Sound engineer Poti Martín designed the system which comprises 12 EX26 2-way active loudspeaker systems evenly distributed along the walls of the nave. A further two EX26s reinforce the upper gallery level. Low end reinforcement is provided by eight EX1.5 subwoofers distributed in pairs either side of the altar, as well as a further pair left and right slightly further down the nave. Due to the immersive character of the room, each loudspeaker receives independent audio signals which are sent via Dante, track by track, from the Watchout 6 video playback system and then processed and distributed to the loudspeakers via NST Audio DSP matrices. Furthermore, to minimise any interference with the video mapping, custom white housings were designed for all the loudspeakers. By using our website, you agree to our use of cookies. 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Or sign-in if you have an account Supply chain solutions company elevates customer experience and innovation through seasoned executives Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience a Brambles company and global leader in supply chain solutions continues to reinforce its customer-focused efforts by appointing experienced internal talent to key executive positions transitioned to the role of CEO of CHEP North America including Frank Bozzo as Senior Vice President & General Manager of CHEP Canada and Pallecon North America & Europe and Chad Connors as Vice President of Operations for the North Region These strategic appointments underscore the company’s dedication to leveraging seasoned leadership to enhance its operations to best serve its customers As CHEP continues to innovate and invest in its infrastructure these leaders will play a crucial role in ensuring the seamless delivery of state-of-the-art supply chain solutions fostering a customer-centric culture that prioritizes resiliency and sustainability By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Manufacturers and retailers will benefit from each leader’s wealth of supply chain talent and knowledge which spans numerous industries and businesses of all sizes regionally and globally These three leadership appointments support CHEP in delivering quality service and solutions to the approximately 300,000 partners it serves worldwide The continuity of its executive team also reflects the company’s longstanding position as an industry leader and trusted partner for more than 60 years CHEP is a global leader in supply chain solutions CHEP advances the smart and sustainable movement of goods across more than 60 countries CHEP helps businesses optimize their supply chains to reduce costs and minimize the environmental impact of their operations to build future-ready supply networks through data With its operational excellence trusted by the world’s top brands CHEP primarily serves customers in the consumer staples (e.g automotive and general manufacturing industries CHEP manages ~347 million pallets and containers through a network of 750+ service centers employing approximately 11,000 people worldwide with its largest operations in North America and Europe transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy You can manage saved articles in your account