Cuenca

Trip Start Jul 18, 2009

Trip End Aug 07, 2009

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Flag of Ecuador Cuenca, Ecuador
Saturday, August 1, 2009

Early flight to Cuenca.Takes hours by road, only half an hour by plane. Interesting flight with great views of the Andes. Met at the airport and taken to hotel. Hotel Carvallo on Gran Colombia, right in the heart of historical Cuenca, round the corner from the main square . Still feeling the effects of Quito and altitude so caught up on lost sleep before looking round the town. Very impressive place, more obviously affluent than Quito and much more relaxing a place to stroll around in. It helps that we are in the historical centre directly from our hotel. Full of interesting colonial type buildings and churches. It's on a grid pattern, so very easy to find your way around

Following day picked up after breakfast for what turned out to be a really memorable day visiting a succession of fascinating places around the Cuenca area. Our guide, Xavier, is terrific,helpful, knowledgeable and a good laugh

Hotel Carvallo

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Went first to a little village called San Bartolome where they had arranged with a local lady for us to visit a typical indigenous home. Then stopped off at a traditional family guitar-making business in a little place with a stunning backdrop of the mountains behind. Beautifully made instruments. Then stopped to look round Chordeleg, a place famous for jewellery making, particularly fine filigree work in silver and gold.

Then we went toGualaceo with its tremendous markets, an outdoor fruit and veg one and then the indoor food hall. Both were truly amazing places, as 'different' as anywhere we've been I think. Next up was an orchid centre where we were shown the process of producing them by the hundred. Some spectacular blooms. And to cap a great day we stopped at an authentic weaving place where again the whole process was demonstrated before our very eyes. Lovely natural hues made from natural dyes. A type of weaving called Ikat. So nice we actually bought one.

We stopped at a very pleasant hacienda for lunch and then back to Cuenca.

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