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Published: March 22nd 2007
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Parque de Amor
but i was by myself. Well...with my parents, but it was still sad!!! Hey guys!!
I know i know...it´s been too long since the last entry. There has really been just so much going on! But here, you get two today! After Cusco and the Sacred Valley (man, that seems like AGES ago!!!!) me, mom and dad headed to Lima. We did the city tour thing, went for more nice dinners, and generally just sort of hung out for a day or two...And then they had to board the cruiseship...poor them eh??? We said our goodbyes - and headed out in different directions. (It was so good to see you guys down here! Really curbs the homesickness!)
I headed back to Cristi´s house in Miraflores (Remember...from New Years?) and we hung out for a few days as I explored Lima and its museums and other cool things. I met up with another friend from Lima, Randy, who showed me around a Museum and other parts of the city. All in all - my stay in Lima was short, but full of activities and good food. And having ´locals´to hang out with really makes for a different experience!
From Lima I bused up to Mancora - a very popular beach resort town
A whole lotta skulls
creepy...underneath a big church close to the Ecuadorian border. This was the first time I was truly on my own. And it was definitely different. I was in a place I typically would have LOVED - but not being able to share it with anyone (there weren´t dorm hostels there...only single, double and triple room places...it´s hard to meet people in a single room!!!) So I chilled on the beach for two days - and then couldn´t take it anymore so I headed into Ecuador. I got a bit of a tan back and set out to meet some people and have some good times. Little did I know I´d have such a great time!!
I arrived in Cuenca - the third largest city in Ecuador - a beautiful colonial town and settled into El Cafecito. A cool little hostel with dorms, and a cafe/bar! It was much more the scene I was looking for. I met an English guy named Adam - who ended up sharing a few random moments over the next few days... My first full day in Cuenca was spent wandering around, taking pictures, and giving myself a city tour with all the highlights (the Old Cathedral and the
The oldest part of Lima
the fountain pre-dates any of the buildings in the main plaza...16th century i believe... New one..the best icecream shops in Cuenca...that kind of thing...) That night we went for a cheap dinner and then returned to our hostel for some drinks (a girl from California, Veronica, who was in Cuenca teaching English for a year and her friend - who looked exactly like Orlando Bloom - but Latin. I kid you not... also joined us for drinks). We ended up in Bernardo (Orlando)´s un opened boutique (he´s opening a shop with his two brothers in Cuenca - and they are still decorating the place...) drinking red wine out of a box (which is surprisingly good down here...mmm boxed wine...). The first of many random occurences.
The next day I read, wandered, had more icecream, and ended up in Gustavo´s art Gallery. Gustavo is Bernardo´s dad - me him and adam ended up out for coffee - where he invited us to his friend´s country house for breakfast the next day! A little skeptical at first, we couldn´t really refuse - the hospitality and kindness of this man was incredible. So it was planned - breakfast in the Cuenca country side...that night we went out for dinner with Veronica, Bernardo and Gustavo and then
Plaza Lima
i love all these buildings.... out to a St. Patrick´s day party. It was March 21st. There was no green beer in sight...or even irish music...Go Figure...welcome to Latin America?
The next morning came bright and early and off we went to the countryside! We picked up some breakfast on the way, and made our way up winding roads and through incredible scenery until we reached the cabin. This was a house built by Fernando (nick named Picho) over the last 20 years. He has built everything in it himself - the furniture and everything. It is an absolutely incredible place, set in the middle of some of the most beautiful scenery. We chatted, had some coffee, and admired the whole thing. And how random it was. Me, Adam and Gustavo went for a walk around the property and found some really amazing places. A little pond...benches...and ultimately a lookout point fully equipped with biiiig comfy swings. The three of us sat there and talked for ages. About everything, philosophy, religion, dreams, life, art...in both spanish and english. We even did a little meditation and Ohm- ing.. A truly unique experience. It was something that just sort of happened, totally spontaneous, and a little
Larco Mar
This is their mall. It's built into teh cliff side over looking the ocean - invisible from the city side 'cuz its underground / in the cliff!! wierd - but really really rewarding! It was so nice of Picho to share his house with us for the morning - to show us his dream and his pride and joy! (He lives in town with his wife and kids - but drives up every morning to work on it - just to be up there in the wilderness!)
After this lovely morning, I felt really truly lucky to be doing what I´m doing. And just really content with everything. It was very refreshing and soothing to be able to relax like that with people with cool things to say. If you ever go to Cuenca, I would really encourage you to go check out Gustavo´s gallery - and tell him Lauren says hey!!!
L
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