El Dorado Hotel Cuenca

... altar inside, pretty impressive. The streets around are full of shops. As we have found everywhere else in South America, different streets seem to be themed; whether it be funeral parlour alley, electronics street or (in this case), ice cream parlours! There were numerous places you could sit for an ice cream or a milkshake, and all excellent quality - as we felt compellled to find out for ourselves... We also saw (shockingly) outdoor ice ...

... and hats and we saw many people on this part of the trip wearing these clothes. <br><br>After trekking through some more soft sand and thinking our hearts were about to explode out of our chests with the effort, we reached the rim of the lagoon. Set in a dormant volcano, the view was absolutely breathtaking of the lagoon and the jagged rim surrounding it, with a few snowcapped peaks in the background and the view of the patchwork valley where we´d hiked behind us. We had a bite to eat ...

... at Cuenca was probably one of the least inviting terminals we had found ourselves in, and the taxi driver we found was less than keen to have us. Our guidebook very clearly mentioned to stay well away from the terminal at night time, and it was now dark. It was a most unwelcome arrival. As we headed for town I was fumbling through our guide trying to read what I could in the lights of approaching cars and dim roadside lights, still trying to decide which hostel we might fall ...

... was a waste of time. I then saw a school of tuna about 5 metres down speed quickly through the channel. Niamh had now reached the boat, and Jody was now just behind her. With them safely back on board I turned around to see Christie beckon me. I swam over and saw some Hammerhead sharks. One of them rose and was about 4 metres below, I grabbed the underwater camera tied to my wrist just in time to get a picture. The shark was huge, it was over 2 ...

... a river. Some Incan ruins are right in the middle of town. Cuenca has been built right over them and around them.<br> <br> <br><br>Cuenca hosts a weekly Gringo night at the famous Eucalyptus Café. Bruce hooked up with a friend he made the last trip here. I left confident that we could survive in this country.<br><br>Then we returned home. It really is home here as we purchased the "big yellow house" finally. We've been working diligently cleaning up old paint ...

... away to the mountains on the horizon to the east and west. The city is resplendent with beautiful colonial architecture. We made our way to the Cathedral which is huge and absolutely beautiful, opening out onto Benigno Malo and fronted to the east by an incredibly attractive circular park. After wandering around it we were soon hungry and went for lunch at a little family-owned bar/restaurant for a $2.75 almuerzo - this was lovely, although the soup contained worrying ...

... but to no avail. Skulky little beggars. We also found a wonderful children's park, and had fun sliding down the European castle and paddleboating in the lagoon.<br><br> A few days later, we awoke to a familar sound. It was the antpitta again! Here, in the city! Impossible! After looking out the window a few times, we finally realized that our friends, Cory and Pierre-Paul, were in the next room playing bird calls, hoping to lure us out of bed. They've been ...

... se*m down the middle which me*ns you c*n only sleep on one side, you might be *ble to *ppreci*te how m*ny hours were m*n*ged th*t night. <br><br>Up e*rly *t 6*m next morning, our p*cking stirred &#8220;the others&#8221; who promptly st*rting drinking *g*in, they h*d get every ill prep*red person on the be*ch without e*r plugs with their c*rousing *ll night. This c*rry on w*s w*tched by the littlest old l*dy you c*n im*gine of *bout 80 who w*s on the ...