Inca Real Cuenca

hey everyone i am really enjoying my stay went on a tour yesterday and saw over 5 cathedrals, a museom of modern art and a factory where they make panama hats. My host family consist of Emma the mother Ivan the father, Mauriocio the 2nd son and maria the daughter of ivan the first son who is in Boston while as Emman and ivan 3rd son is in Aregntina as a college student they have 2 small dogs and one other student named emily from vermont staying at the house.

... Hotel de los Islotes. Our first full day we went to a big national park, Parque Nacional Machalilla. We hired a "taximoto" for $15 and the driver drove us to and through the parque and waited for us the whole day. We visited and were given a guided tour of Agua Blanca (one area within the park). We saw some wildlife, mostly birds, pigs, cows, banana trees, a huge cactus tree, and this really cool tree that I forgot the name of that is covered in bright green bark (there is a picture ...

... That way we will get better prices and the folks seem nicer to the locals… I ain’t hiking Mt Mandango either! Not shared to freak anyone out, but to let you know we are not being stupid here. During the year they have school here in sections: day school and night school. So kids are traveling the streets alone or in small groups until after 10pm. I go out alone after dark-our street even has street lights! There's a look to the tourists and the ...

... of similarities. We made our way down to the river which is one of the most charming aspects Cuenca and but for the superficial pollution from storm water drains, looks like it should be brimming with trout. We crossed over and headed into a commercial area with some East German looking apartment blocks before stumbling on the medical centre. After some back and forth and some confusion about whether I could see a doctor I was sent away by one woman just as the doctor ...

... himself to order a "**** Me" by saying to the waiter "**** me hard"... the waiter was cracking up, and continued to do so when serving the drink - a hideously strong blend of whisky and rum on the rocks - a few minutes later. All of the tables were ambiently lit by candles placed upon miniature red metal chairs, and Andy and Cynthia developed an almost unhealthy obsession with them, constantly prodding the flames with bits of wax and generally causing candle-related menace.

... cultures. Who would have thought you could make wind chimes out of large rocks? There was lots of pottery and little figurines. And the first real shrunken head that I have ever seen. Creepy...
The city itself was particularly lively, especially since there was a parade this day. The main square with the massive cathedral was filled with dancing girls, marching bands and older women dressed like princesses (not really sure why, but they seemed to be taking things quite seriously). The ...

... is a church every couple of blocks and heaps of really cool arty restaurants and bars. There is no feeling of seediness in the streets we walked down and it generally seems to be more well to do here. Unfortunately I’d taken a new motion sickness tablet that I’d bought in Germany a while ago and together with the fact I had about three hours sleep on our last night I kept falling asleep on the flight and in the taxi to the hostel. We went straight out for ...

... seem a little demanding (give me this, tell me that), and I want to ask for things politely. People that have been to the U.S. and returned to their home countries always offer a unique perspective and have interesting stories too. Also near my hostal was a middle-eastern hookah bar restaurant type place that made fantastic shawarmas. A hookah is a bong-looking device from which tobacco products are smoked, and a shawarma is a made from lamb or ...

... This was located behind the Bank. Not only did you get to see the foundations and terraced of the ruins, but they also had a flora area which notified you of medicinal Andean plants. ie which ones cured headaches, colds etc. so it was quite interesting. Further along was a lovely presented bird aviery. There were Mcaws, Toucans, parrots and hawks just to name a few. We certainly got our money´s worth at this place. Heading into Peru ...

We really feel that we didn't do Cuenca justice as it was a really nice place and we only stayed there one night (probably under 24 hours). It was quite like Popayan...you know, pretty streets, pretty churches, not much to do apart from drink coffee, eat ice cream and wander about. Though we did get chatted up in the park by a group of ...