Monday (March 10) - Roaming north of Cuenca -- Azogues, Biblian, Ingapirca

After another delicious breakfast at the hotel, we met up with Roger and our driver Mauricio (and his "cousin" Soledad) for an all day trip north of Cuenca. Mauricio proved to be a great addition to our group, with his nose for beautiful back roads that led to spectacular scenery.

First stop was Azogues, a small (40,000) city in a mountain valley. We visited a beautiful church (Church of the Virgin of the Morning Dew) with an attached Franciscan monastery.

Front of church at Azogues; didn't get good shot of building face.

Looking south from church

Looking north from church; Franciscan monastery is at right

Interior of Franciscan church

Courtyard of monastery

Second stop was further north, the town of Biblian, with another church (Church of the Virgin of the Clouds) built right into the mountainside. We walked up the trail behind the church toward its top, but the altitude and the height made me quit abut 2/3 of the way up. Everyone else made it to the top.

Front of Biblian church; can't see the extent to which it's built into side of mountain

 View from halfway up front of the church

Looking north from front of church

Rock face of mountain is church wall to right; altar just beyond

Close up of altar with face of mountain behind

Wider view of altar

View from 2/3 of way up, when I ran out of steam

Caught my breath looking at top of church

Then we continued on to Ingapirca, via some of the most spectacular back-country roads I've ever seen. Even though the roads were often unpaved, they were in good shape and great for touring. At Ingapirca, the site of ruins that may predate the Incas (but which were taken over by them as they conquered the locals, Roger and I met up with Yolanda (see photo) a local woman who we discovered using her "osa" (small, sharp sickle) to cut greenery for her 50(!) guinea pigs that lived in her home nearby. Roger interpreted, but I was able to follow along with her Spanish better than I thought I would. Our conversation was very interesting, and exposed me to the tragedy and folly of our flawed immigration policies in the USA. I hope to devote a separate blog post to this topic.

Llama grazing at Ingapirca

Ingapirca ruins

Center of ruins

Our group at ruins

Yolanda -- a neat lady

Part of the time she had a sharp osa in her right hand and a cell phone in the left -- and she gestured with both

After a full day on the road, we had a delicious pizza dinner at a restaurant at St. Blas Park, a short walk from our hotel. I think I like this little park better than Calderon Park, up by the cathedral. Great neighborhood feel, pointed out by Roger. Carolyn discovered the weekly dance class in the park, and really got into it. Photos coming, I hope.