Thanks for a great account of your travels I really like your writing style and you should do travel accounts for a living IMO - Is there another travel to another place you wrote about ? You caught me for Ecuador, but I would take any escapism .....just have someone else do the pictures...maybe a follow up post 10 years later about what was memorable and is still fresh ?
Doppelganger's reply Well Grant, I read your ramble - albeit a 6 year old ramble. Don't be so hard on yourself - much better a "ramble" than incomplete highlights and notations that only the writer can understand (thinking all readers are psychic or "between the lines" capable. The truth is, I stumbled upon your blog and (being in Cuenca right now) decided to give it read.
The first thing I thought was, "dear god - this guy writes almost exactly as I do... did I write this?" I found it entertaining, as do people when they read my drivel. So, don't change a thing in that respect. However, since my first trip to Cuenca was in 2013, I knew that, (unless I had experienced a several month blackout) it was not me: thankfully.
I came here after, as you had, after having read and researched Ecuador for quite a while... deciding Cuenca was where I wanted to go. I have came back here for 3 months each year since then, this being my 5th visit. Like you, my spanish sucked. Unlike you, I had the "Quito a Cunca" route. So, (obviously) I landed first in Quito. I had decided to just clear customs there, buy a ticket to Cuenca from the Quito airport and move on. My luggage made it, thankfully, because two years ago I picked the Guayaquil route and, yes, my luggage was a no - show. On that trip I had flown from Charlotte to JFK (the reverse of yours) and then on to Huston, Panama City, Guayaquil and finally Cuenca. It wasn't that fast, however (as if that many stops could have been) and to slow things down even more, there was a freak snowstorm all up the East Coast. Once at JFK I realized I was going nowhere - there was no LAN, LATAM or any other carrier going to South America period. The snow made this to be a three day fact. This is another reason I related so well to your experience - I had the same clothes on for three days before ever leaving the states. To make matters worse, once in Guay, my luggage was not. Again, as with you, they said they would track it and get it to Cuenca.. and they did two days later. Obviously I had to buy clothes, having the "funk of ages" upon me. It was the first week of Feb, 2014 and my second visit here. So, I was acclimated to 20 degree weather, land in Guayaquil, walk outside and absolutely melted. I had an 8 hour layover so I just went back inside. I had with me my laptop bag (personal Item) and a guitar as my carry on, (an Ecuadorian friend I had made the year before wired me 450 dollars to buy him an acoustic/electric, as they don't have much in the way of quality here... sky high if you do find it). That was very trusting of him.
I hadn't slept hardly at all in over three days, so I found a bench inside the airport and laid my dead ass down to try to catch a dozen winks. I'm ex military, so know a few travel tricks... always carry a length of tough, thin black cord with me. I tied it to my my laptop bag and guitar case, ran it up through my belt and tied it off around my wrist. No one could see it but if they moved either, it would wake me. It works well. (another trick is to have a "drop wallet". Take a second wallet, stuff some business cards and some ones in it, then stash your real one. If something happens, you can hand it off and they will leave thinking they've scored.).
Sorry, now I am rambling. The street you called the main drag, Calle Larga, is quite active - especially on weekends. And the restaurant, Monday Blue, has even more crap on the walls now. I actually stop in there just for that burrito, haha (or "jaja") ...5 bucks and filling. Doesn't taste Mexican really. I guess after you have here a while ating rice and beans with every single meal... it is a reprieve. Oh, and Brahma was the first beer I had here too, not knowing it is there version of a Milwaukee's best. Pilsener and Club are the two I like. Club is stronger with a bit more bite, and Pilsener goes down smoothly.
That being said, I think I will walk to the tienda and have one now. So, thanks for the blog, shoot me an email and I will check out another of your trips when I get the downtime. (That was a joke - all I have wonderful downtime here!)
Buenos Noches mi amigo,
Hopper
FEEDBACK Just finished reading all of your blog. That's the most 'down to earth' and illuminating piece I've read on Ecuador (and Cuenca) - yet. I'm headed down there in October to see 'how it feels', and for a possible retirement destination in a year or so; if only for 6 months a year. I'm retired Navy and still sailing as a Merchant Marine Officer; 60 countries and 50 states. Grew up in Iceland, lived in Scotland, Spain and Japan. And very much looking forward to my trip. Spanish was decent in the past and I'm sure it will come back with use. I've also played (and sang) all my life. So looking forward to that part as well. Keep up the good work.
Bern
Your comment Hi Bern, thanks for the kind words regarding my Ecuador blog. Now that October has come and gone, how did your trip go? I hope it seemed like a good cultural fit for you. Best of luck with the travels going forward.
Journey Thanks /Grant for an amazing and oftimes hilarious tour. I'm ready to go and Ecuador has been on my list for quite a time. Your insights will definitely guide my prancing about the country in search of mystery, adventure and the secret of the green sward. I am sorry that you missed meeting Che' on Caye Caulker, Memboule and other howling rum drinkers as well as the most remarkable voyage of the Ragamuffin. What happens on Ragamuffin stays on Ragamuffin---enought said.
I look forward to your continuing adventures--Mac
Thanks for the blog! ...a bit belated, I guess, but definitely timely and informative! I'm a couple years from retirement, and Cuenca has been on my short list. After just running into your blog from a Google search and spending a couple hours reading of your experiences, I have a much better feel for the place than from anything read elsewhere. I appreciate you being my "man on the ground!
Hope you keep traveling and pass through many great places!
--Rich
Mary Thanks Mary. You daughter looked to be enjoying Mera during the few days we overlapped. Hopefully she gets a shot at Galapagos. I'd have photos up by now but keep running into plugin issues - hopefully soon!
What a vision you paint! Absolutely brilliant...felt as if I was on the boat! So humourous too! Brige is hoping to follow in your footsteps from Mera! Enjoy Belize.
Cassie Well, usually chipper and giddy aren't in my wheelhouse, but I suppose those terms qualify. Hard to fight the power of the giant sea turtle. Thanks for the fake hate! xo
You Sound Very Happy I hate you, not really, but I have to say there was a chipper tone to this entry. You sounded downright giddy. Enjoy the last of your adventure in Belize - but beware of El Duendo.
Great blog posts Grant! I am so looking forward to seeing your photos of Mera.Sounds like you're having a fantastic adventure. Can't wait to hear the next part!
Mary
Campanur sounds lovely. I have some friends who are going to Quito for a wedding this summer (then they're going on their own honeymoon to the Galapagos Islands), so I'll suggest they check it out. Sounds like you really enjoyed your stay there. Please, no swimming with sharks or piranhas or crocodiles.
Becky I know, I know...can't go a week without a new injury. Can't wait for when the shark attack happens. Glad you liked the pics. If I was going to make a Poison reference it would include "Unskinny Bop."
Is that a Poison reference in those captions? Your captions made me smile. As did your smile. Can't wait to read how you're faring post-IV drip(s). Didn't you read my last comment?!?
Just learned what quinoa(s) are. That was interesting just for the fact that u referenced McCarthy and Martin. And a fun read as always. I'll be harassing KT about more stories on this end.
Summer Foot is holding up well - no real pain. Just hope all traces of infection are gone. Excited for your NYC move and trip to Puerta Vallarta! Have a great time.
After five years of an often pleasurable but assuredly wearying occupational grind, I decided to take a year off and recharge the enthusiasm for life. The culmination is an 11 week stay in Cuenca, Ecuador followed by a month on the gorgeous sands of Caye Caulker in Belize. And this here blog is the chronicle. Hope you enjoy!... full info
Daniel
non-member comment
Thanks for a great account of your travels
I really like your writing style and you should do travel accounts for a living IMO - Is there another travel to another place you wrote about ? You caught me for Ecuador, but I would take any escapism .....just have someone else do the pictures...maybe a follow up post 10 years later about what was memorable and is still fresh ?