Cuenca

It has been more than 5 months since we left Toronto. We have been averaging about a month in each country with the exception of Argentina and Ecuador which will be a month an a half. With a longer trip like this, there are small annoyances such as really long bus rides, carrying everything you need for all the seasons on your back, constantly repacking your bag, and terrible wifi. But these pale in comparison to the journey. Getting a glimpse into the people, places and cultures of these countries has been a blast! It's obvious from all the nature blog posts, I can't get enough of the nature and landscape of this continent-the majestic mountains, lovely blue skies, high jungle, desert lagoons, and volcanic islands..my cup is pretty damn full!  

After being on the move for almost a month straight, we decided to stay and relax for a bit in Cuenca. Cuenca is a beautiful, walkable, colonial city. More than any other colonial city we have been to, the city centre has been restored and is being used in a practical and functional way. We liked Cuenca immediately because it didn't feel so big that you couldn't get to most places by foot or bus and at the same time it didn't feel that small either. Many American and Canadian expats call Cuenca their home and I can see why they chose to move here.  

There are many beautiful churches and colonial buildings in Cuenca. One of the highlights is the stunning, blue-roofed New Cathedral. The sheer size of this building is difficult to relay in words, you really have to walk in to understand the scope of its size. We have been to many churches and cathedrals but nothing has been as big as this. For a dollar you can walk the spiral staircase to the top to see lovely view of the plaza and gardens below as well as the entire colonial city before you.

It's mango season in Ecuador and there has been no shortage of ladies selling mangoes on street corners. For a dollar, you get eight, fresh, and delicious mangoes. Ramanan says that people eat mangoes here like they do in Nigeria-you bite a small hole in the skin of the mango and suck all the juice out! So that's what we've been doing-devouring a bag of mangoes almost everyday after dinner!