By Julie Harper There is nothing quite like piling into a minibus with a dozen or so buddies and striking out on a seven hour road trip. We had been planning this journey to Mindo, Ecuador for some time but had no idea that the date we chose happened to coincide with the official annual bird count, when all of the birders and professional wildlife photographers converge in this lovely piece of paradise nestled in this spectacular rain cloud jungle. This is the migratory season, and they were...

By Julie Harper For the fourth consecutive year Manabí had the distinction of hosting an extraordinary fashion event. Every year the venue changes and each year the venue is fitting and exciting. This fashion show is a very coveted invitation to receive, indeed. Without exception the December 4 venue was perfect for jewelry designer María José Zambrano and her exquisite Marine Collection, Patricia Olmedo’s Tropical Reef Swimwear Collection, and Fernando Zambrano’s Resort Collection.

By Julie Harper I just had perhaps the most bizarre, out of control, craziest birthday of my life! I did something so ridiculous, so outrageous, so out of character, and so out of my “age range” that I am still mentally recovering from it. I RENTED A CHIVA, also known as a party bus. Now I have to preface this a little bit. There’s a reason that something this ridiculous happened and I’m not going to take total blame. No way! This is the sequence of events. You can make up your own mind. But...