Colonial city

Trip Start Jul 27, 2008
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Trip End Mar 05, 2009


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Where I stayed
El Quixote
(Cuenca hotels)

Flag of Ecuador  ,
Monday, September 22, 2008

About 150 miles south of Riobamba is this city which has a history going back to pre Inca. Today it has lots of Spanish influence and for the bus tour I took I saw some really nice buildings. It has three rivers running through it and on the banks of some of them there were people wahsing their clothes. Several interesting museums including one where they make the Panama hats. So called because at one time they sent the palms to Panama for them to mare the hats. Now each country has its own industry. Some of the hats cost $1000 but I bought one much much cheaper.

The people in this town are wealthy relative to the rest of the country as may who have worked abroad have built houses here. There are some extraordinary villias on the mountains slopes which look very out of place, but may are unoccupied  as the continue to live in the tradition home and havee this one for display.

I stayed in a really nice hotel which was close to the town centre and the markets.   
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