Cuenca Part 2

Markets and stately churches around every corner, colorful and friendly people, and a safe atmosphere made Cuenca oh so pleasant. The climate was perfect, dress in layers for mostly sunny 60 degree days and its heavenly.  

We took a $5 taxi to Turi, a viewpoint in the hills above the city. 

A little walk further up and you’ll see Turi Parque Extremo, a rickety place that had all these decrepit “rides”. Even thought there were parts missing from the rides and  questionable suspension cables, Maya thought that was all part of the fun. Here she is on a swing contraption made mostly of rebar, flying over a steep cliff.

Another day we took a day trip to Gualaceo and Chordeleg. Each town is known for a particular handicraft.  They were fun to walk around and soak up a different atmosphere. We just took public busses from town to town and ate in the markets per our usual. We thought there was a parade comming through town because of the loud drumming and clowns on stilts, but it was just a promotion for an appliance sale.

Lots of the things we observe are out of our ordinary, like a kid carrying a dog in a black plastic trash bag on the bus, carrying it like a baby. Don’t worry the pup’s head was sticking out of the bag.  Oh and the salespeople on the busses! There’s the usual drink and snack sellers that hop on and off at every stop. Then there’s the product sales people that hop on just as the bus is pulling out of the station. The person does a big spiel accompanied by props and sometimes music. The speech is long and dramatic. Ginseng, hand cream, socks, you name it. Sometimes as they are talking they hand out the product for your inspection and if you don’t want it they just collect it back. We had entertainment too. One guy did karaoke, he just sang his heart out. There was a comedy duo that got all the passengers going. They collect tips at the end of the show. This happens on every single bus.

Great park squares to sit in day and night, also with entertainment. We saw a a fun group of breakdancers, an acrobatic troupe, singers, and classical dancers. Old churches and colonial buildings around every corner.