Cuenca

We've been in Cuenca since this past Monday.  Left Hacienda Manteles high in the cloud forest near Banos, Ecuador at a out 9:30 am and arrived Cuenca 5-6 hours later.  We hired a private driver for $180 which made the trip easy and comfortable.  Passing through many mountain passes in the Andes, the scenery was spectacular.

Cuenca is a city of about 425,000 people.  We arrived in the rain and were at first unsure if we would like it enough to stay the full week.  The traffic was horrible and everything seemed grey.  The following day, Tuesday, was sunny and the city changed for us.  There is traffic, too many buses that spew horrible pollution, but the richness of the Spanish colonial feel began to present itself.

With each day, we are a bit more taken in with Cuenca.  Later this week we will visit the nearby village of Banos (different from the city Banos that we left earlier in the week) where there are hot springs and steam rooms fed by the nearby volcano.  We are told that in the men's steam room you can feel and hear the rumbling of the volcano.

We will,also be visiting the Cajas National Park for an afternoon hike.  We are told to bring warm clothing and waterproof clothing.  Hmmmm.

More later.