Donna Stiteler

In 2014, IL Cuenca Correspondent Donna Stiteler gave up her high-stress job and moved to Cuenca, Ecuador to save her from her taco-eating, wine-drinking, Ambien-taking, TV-watching, dead-end lifestyle. Donna grew up in Florida and after securing a journalism degree put on her traveling shoes which led to adventures like trekking through Europe, sailing from Florida to the Bahamas, swimming with sharks, paragliding in the Dominican Republic, and traveling extensively across Central and South America. Now, healthily ensconced in a beautiful hacienda overlooking the Andes mountains, Donna lives with four hyperactive dogs, one skittish cat, and her husband of 30 years, Rowland.

What It Costs to Retire in Cuenca Versus Florida

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I grew up in St. Petersburg, Florida, where seniors flock to retire because they can lounge in the warm weather, drink pina coladas under the shade of palm trees, and not have to pay state income taxes. So why would I leave my seaside home by one of the best beaches in the U.S.? Well, Florida’s not so cheap anymore…and it’s hot. I have worked hard all of my life and had good jobs,

Exploring Cuenca, Ecuador’s, Surprising Spanish Roots

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There are two Cuenca’s in the world, one in Spain and one in Ecuador. Cuenca, Ecuador, shares a lot with its Spanish cultural twin, including art, food, architecture, and religion. Even the fresh trout from the rivers that run through the city, and the affinity for fiestas remind me of Cuenca’s Spanish ties right down to the Picasso influenced murals that line the streets...