Today was our first full day of exploring the countryside outside of Cuenca. After dealing with some confusion over what time it was (our Fit Bits were really confusing) -- even though we're in the same time zone in Cuenca as we were in Myrtle Beach, at home we were on Daylight Savings Time, while in Ecuador there's no such thing. Before heading out we strolled down to the cathedral for Sunday morning Mass, which was a real treat. Photos coming later.
Mass was entirely in Spanish, and music was with multiple guitars and singers. The place was full of young and old. I was able to follow the readings fairly well thanks to my Spanish class back home, but the sermon was inaudible due to the priest's poor carrying voice. I kept the bulletin for Spanish translation practice later. As we left the church the big exit doors framed a beautiful tree in the park across the street. Photos coming later.
We met our driver Mauricio (his cost, including his time, rental of a 7 passenger van and gas came to about $100 per day) and began our drive out of Cuenca. Weather drizzly most of day, but still good visibility. The scenery in the country was green and beautiful all day.
First stop: San Bartolome. Soccer game on concrete
square. Carolyn got French fries with mayo, Ashley got tortilla. Carolyn and
Mary found neat shop. Carolyn got hummingbird, Mary got two nativity sets.
Wanted to see guitar makers, but shops were closed. The view from the town square was spectacular. I enjoyed watching the kids playing soccer on concrete (Photos coming).
Second stop: Sigsig (beautiful valley along the way).
Mary bought pottery bowls for 50 cents each. started to rain. Went to another
market. Ashley got hat, Mary got beach Bag for Sarah. Prices very good. Saw two
beautiful pottery pots, cheap, but too expensive to ship home. Walked to square
to meet Mauricio.
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| Roger and Mary shopping for local pottery @ 50 cents a bowl. They survive shipping and are our cereal and soup bowls at home. |
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| Roger talking with local craftswoman in Sig Sig (actual center of panama hat production) about how she does her work. Ashley bought his first hat here. |
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| We couldn't carry all of the ceramics we wanted to ship home in our luggage -- beautiful stuff |
Third stop: Chordeleg For jewelry. Guys got coffee while
Mary and Carolyn shopped. Carolyn got a beautiful cross for her accolade
service and a fish. Mary got a
hummingbird and earrings for Ann.
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| Silver and ceramic hummingbird from Sigsig, now resting in our home. |
Couldn't find bracelets for Zoe. It drizzled
the whole time in this town. On to to Gualaceo (very short trip).
Fourth stop: Gualaceo: At the local market, we saw a huge vriet of meat and produce, but not nearly as extensive as the markets in Cuenca (see entries and photos from last year's trip). Ashley finally got his cui (guinea pig) and
everyone tasted it except Carolyn. Everyone had a taste of barbecue plate and
had fresh juice. Ashley got two more tortillas which he shared.
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| This is the array of cui (guinea pig) and chicken being roasted next to where Ashley got his cui. |
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| Ashley is putting the finishing touches on the cui he bought. The lady on the left is giving this gringo a very curious look. |
On way out of
town saw beautiful rivers and heard story about disastrous landslide and flood
which happened 16 years ago.
We returned to Cuenca for short break before going to dinner
at a tapas place with friends of Roger's. Met Jill Sare, very interesting person who has here own travel blog (and neat photos) at www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Sra-Sare/.
Talked to Roger about Rotary project with group making prosthetic devices (artificial limbs) for people who can afford them, particularly women abused by their machete-wielding husbands. We think that we will follow up with this need when we get back home. Walked back
to hotel.
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