I am still wondering the streets of Cuenca though I did take a day trip yesterday to the the cloud forest in Giron to see the 60 meter Chorro de Giron waterfall in a beautiful area lined with mosses and bromeliads. I love cloud forests and could have stayed there all day wondering the trails. Later on the same day we went to a desert, near Santa Isabel. The hot desert, beautiful in a very different way, was a little harder to trek up through the rocky hills. There was a lovely green oasis in one area along the river that flows through. It is the rainy season now, the hills were patched with green. The guide told me a hydro electric plant is planned for the area, a dam will be built so much of the area we hiked in will be under water.
I went with a group accompanied by an English speaking guide, Peter. We were 4 people, a couple from Colorado maybe in their 50's and a lady about that age too from Los Angeles. We were an odd group the couple really did not want to hike so stayed in the van, they complained about the cloud forest being too wet and cold and then complained the desert was too hot and barren. I am not sure why they would go on what is advertised as a hiking day at these different sub climates when they do not enjoy hiking and were not even much interested in the scenery along the way. Very odd. The lady from Los Angeles, Janice, walked a little, tired easily and seemed to be much more involved with the music on her ipod then the places we were in. She too spent most of the time in the van with her music. Peter, the guide, was terrific, I enjoyed his company and the obvious love he has for his country as he talked to me about what we were seeing and the history of the areas. The hikes were intended to be an hour and a half in each of the areas however the man from Colorado made such a fuss about having to wait the guide and I agreed to cut each hike to 45 minutes.
Between the 2 areas we stopped for lunch in a small town, the food was fresh and very good. Janice and I chatted throughout lunch but the couple read their books and pretty much ignored us and each other. Janice is returning home to Los Angeles today maybe she did not want to tire herself prior to a long flight. Maybe the Colorado couple were squabbling and just wanted to pout. I am guessing at this, not sure what the story really is and it could very well be that they thought of me as odd. I have met so many interesting people on my travels, though none quite like these three.
As we drove from Giron to Santa Isabel we went through various small towns in each I noticed a number of large beautiful houses in the midst of construction among the mostly humble homes of the towns people. I asked the guide if these belonged the mayor and other important persons. He told me that many of the men will go to the states or more often now to Europe to work and send money home. The men leave wives and family behind in Ecuador who will have the houses built with the money sent, sometimes over the course of 20 years. Once completed the men will come home to live in splendor in their native towns. I seen many completed houses that seemed to be sitting deserted the guide said they cannot be lived in until the man comes home and a house ceremony is held. Problem is after so many years the men are likely to have another family where ever it is they are working and the wives too have another man and family. Eventually the men will usually return to Ecuador to claim their houses and show their good fortune. Peter did not know what happens to the 'other' families in either case or what happens if the man never returned.
I visited the Panama hat museum here in Cuenca which was a little cheesey and mostly set up to sell hats. I have tried on a number of occasions to visit the Modern Art Museum however I never seem to get there when it is open. There are hours posted but they do not seem to be held to. I will keep trying as I have read they have very good exhibits.
I walked to the area where metal workers live to see the 'God of fire' statue and exhibition of metal works. The workers call their trade ' art of fire' I love that. Unfortunately that too was closed so I did not get to see it.
Cuenca has a profusion of pirated movie shops, in the malls and on just about every street. Movies cost $1.50 each, the better shops will preview the movie for you before you buy. I have bought a few and they are pretty good quality.
Along the avenue that runs beside the river cows graze the banks keeping them nicely landscaped. I never see their droppings, I am pretty sure someone walks through and cleans them up regularily just as the streets are continuously swept clean. I found a new place for almuerso, packed with office workers from the area, I had a 3 course very tasty meal for $2.00.
Puzzled: The bakery where I buy bread, it is well patronized by the people in the neighborhood where I live, the shop is always busy, yet they never have change for a 50 cent piece. The small loaf of bread I buy costs 30 cents.
My days here are pretty full between wondering and meeting new friends for lunch or dinner and with Susana my landlady for our language lessons. I went with Susana to the large grocery store the other day, she needed a couple things, we went to the line for people with less then 10 items. The line was long, one lady ahead of us had at least 15 items, Susana did not like this and started to yell at the lady to get out of this line she did not belong there. The store manager came to see what the fuss was about, after assessing things he took the ladies elbow and escorted her to another line. This made Susana very happy, I am not learning much Spanish from her but she sure makes me laugh. There is a little guy who lives in the building where I stay, he is nine years old and he wants to go to United States when he grows up, get lots of money and buy a helicopter, cute kid.
Next week I am off the Vilcabomba for a few days, said to be the valley of longevity, I am looking forward to going there.
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