Sign me up Fascinating indeed! I take it there were no massages ala our longboat trip up the River Kwai to the jungle camp on the Burma border? I would love to try your trip with the grandchildren, hoping I could maybe keep up with a little kid.
Rentals in Cuenca Take a look at the rental section of cuencarealestate dot com. Fully furnished apartments are relatively rare -- most long term rentals are unfurnished and do not include appliances. For a long term rental, plan on buying your own refrigerator, stove, washer/dryer, etc.
Kindle I loved reading your comments. We are moving to Cotacachi in Nov. and are very excited about it. I do have a question regarding the Kindle, which I would love to get as I am an avid reader. How well does it work in Cotacachi? Can books be downloaded from there, or must I download them before I leave Texas? Does it work without a connection, or is there something I need to get before I leave? If you could help me with this I would appreciate it very much. Thanks for your time.
Baños Thanks, Mark. We'll be interested in checking it out. We hopped onto a bus the other day and checked out the nearby Baños on market day. Great view of Cuenca from there, too.
Baños Sorry, no particularly great insights about Baños. We were only there for a night in 2004, and did not do any hiking or climbing. There seemed to be lots of outfitter shops there offering guided tours. Mostly we just soaked in the very hot water alternating with chilling in the small ice-cold waterfalls that cascade down the rock near the hot pools. We did go down river about 15 km to Pailón del Diablo (“Devil’s Couldron”), a huge thundering mass of water where the Rio Verde descends into Rio Pastaza. It's a modest hike down to a swinging rope and plank bridge over the river and leading to a restaurant. There sure is a lot of water in Ecuador. I assume you know there's a "Baños" right on the outskirts of Cuenca, reachable with a 20 minute bus or taxi ride. There's a very nice hotel there with a beautiful hot water pool you can use. Enjoy!
Banos We weren't allowed to go last year because the volcano was so active. Sounds like a "happening place"...at least Mother Nature-wise (and outdoor adventure-wise from what we've read). Sounds like bottled water time again, too. Thanks, Naomi.
Banos Very pretty town but watch out for land/mud slides, earthquakes and one active volcun that has caused the town to vacate twice in 5 years. Good restaurants. Check out the water source for city next to public pool. Big avocado trees and giant hummingbirds.
Around Cuenca You sound pretty expert to me, Mark. Great story about “da bomb” in Santa Isabel! And thanks for the hints about Gualaceo and Chordeleg. We’re leaving for Baños Friday or Saturday, so won’t get to check it out this trip, but we’ll keep it in mind. Hope we get to meet you in Ajijic this winter. Thanks for the input…any insights about Baños?
Around Cuenca Hi Katie,
I'm no expert, but we've been through there a few times, sometimes on bright sunny days, and other times in dense cloud. If I wanted to be on that side of Cuenca, I'd probably be further down valley, toward La Union and Santa Isabel, where it's warmer and not so wet. Interesting side-story on S. Isabel. There are bombs in the church. Found in the fields following the last Ecuador/Peru war, these unexploded babies were brought to the church and put on display on the alter. Their continued "unexplodedness" is proof that God was looking out for the people there. The Ecuadorian army has been trying to get them back, so the locals moved them downstairs for safekeeping. We were not able to see them, although they assured us that they would be brought upstairs for a festival the following week. We did not make a point of going back to see them!
You may be gone from Cuenca by now, but if you wanted something more country in the other direction (east), I would suggest looking at Gualaceo and Chordeleg, about 45 minutes to the east. About 7,200 feet and green, without the heavy fog. It's a real garden spot, home to one of the largest orchid farms in Ecuador (or maybe South America). I would avoid Paute in the same area and a bit downriver. It reeks of pesticides from all the commercial rose growing there.
Enjoy your trip. You've written a great blog, and we may try meet you if we visit Kevin and Erin in Ajijic this winter.
photo Finally, the photographer gets to be in a photo! Katie, I was beginning to forget what you looked like. Thank goodness you got around to passing off the camera and reminding us what a beauty you are! Glad the two of you are having so much fun but we still miss you here in Ajijic.
your blog is gorgeous! So, small world department - I learned about your blog from my friend Mark (who commented below) who lives in Salida, Colorado, but I meanwhile live in Chapala (soon to move to Ajijic) and you know me from the tennis courts at Eldorado, where I occasionally fall on my face when playing tennis with Jim McCullough.
I just feasted on all of your entries - what a wonderful offering to those of us thinking of traveling in Ecuador. I will be very interested in hearing your take on it all vs. Lago de Chapala, though I imagine the full impact won't be clear until you're back and settled. Cost-wise and natural-beauty-wise it sounds like Ecuador is the clear winner; not sure I could live without access to Mexican street food and the imported goods of Gringolandia though (I am a wimp, I admit it). You two are great travel journalists/photographers!
Safe travels,
Kevin
We're from the U.S., living in Mexico, and exploring Ecuador, wondering how it would be to actually live in this beautiful country about the size of Colorado. It's all an aventura! Click on any photo to enlarge. Thanks for visiting!
NOTE**Our last entry is the first one you see below.
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KatieJack
Katie & Jack in Ecuador
vaya con dios
Thanks, Jim! We're looking forward to getting back and seeing you guys, too!