Paraiso Park

  Cuenca, Ecuador
Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Paraiso Park
It is moments of solitude...where a person is at no impasse, and can enjoy an indescribable peace, that one can begin to learn more about their place in the world.  Some have these moments at sea, where nothing can seem bigger than life, sometimes from a vantage point with views that donīt begin to end, and others need nothing more than a book or song.

Parque pariso

In these times, one can honestly say that the world stops, peace follows, and reality has more clarity.  It is at these times, in these seconds or hours, that I have experienced more security and self affirmation in my personal journey. 
This morning I woke up well rested at 6:30.  That hasnīt happened for a week, consistently changing beds, or the addition of a man named Rodrigo, makes a good nights rest a little troublesome.  Rodrigoīs cousin is in Quito at the moment.  Sylvia is a cosmetics rep, this week there is an invitational for her company sending her north.  This leaves her husband Gerald and kids Johanna, Wilmert and Johnathon at home to fend for themselves.  I have been invited to stay for the week granted I cook lunch for all while they are at work or school.  Personally, I love it.  It gives me nearly half a day to read, sunbath, write and not to mention sleep in.  This morning I woke up early so that I could go to Johnathonīs soccer practice.  Beginning at eight, and proceeding for the next two and a half hours, gave me plenty of time to explore the park hosting his scrimmage.
Two rivers run through Cuenca, one of which borders Paraiso Park.  The architects designed series of tributaries that criss cross, cascade through rock falls and create a shallow river for paddle boats on the weekends.  It is quite innovative.  When we arrived Johnathon took me on a brief tour before joining his mates.  Left with the next two hours or so and my camera, we can say that I was more than content. 
Paraiso has paths that run parallel to the river, bridges crossing the domesticated irrigation and picnic sized platforms made of boulders leading to their grassy flat surface.  In the corner of the park I discovered a series of wooden bridges that zig zag through the tall trees that hide them.  No water runs under the bridges, only trails.  Within the parkīs boundaries, this area was my cameraīs haven.

Bridge in Cuenca

I brought a book and my journal with me, so my next stop was one of the picnic mounds.  I found the highest grassy knoll and set up cam to hang out for the next while.  The vantage point gave me a view of the entire park.  For more than an hour I was left more or less alone without a soul in shouting distance.  The sounds of the river were joined by sounds of a busy early morning in the city.  The tranquility of the place was indescribable.

Picnic platforms

  Losing track of time, while doing nothing, is very difficult for me.  I found myself in a state of mind where all circumstances were perfect.  For a period, my hair didnīt stand on end, but rather in a comfortable nervousness, creating an unbelievable relaxation of my body and muscles.  Complete peace.  I canīt say how long this moment lasted.  Times that I have to compare are few; Asgard, or when I first came in sight of primary rainforest come to mind.  I wish I could find better words to describe the sensation.  In these moments I have a knowledge that I am exactly where I am to be.  They are my cairns.  I canīt say how much I look forward to the next one on the trail.

Needless to say today was a great day.  I got to explore Cuenca again later in the afternoon.  We returned to the house by 11 AM.  Gerald is a taxi driver, so a trip back into the city was on his way.  My laundry will be clean tomorrow after a week and a half of more or less the same clothes.  All in all, a fantastic 12 hours.