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On to Peru. But first, visit the beautiful colonial town of Cuenca

After returning to Quito from the Galapagos, it was time to head to Peru to join up with Sheri. Unfortunately there was little time to see more of Ecuador (we will have to return someday), but I did manage to have an evening and a day to visit Cuenca. Cuenca is a beautiful town in southern Ecuador. It is friendly, clean, and safe with two beautiful rivers running through town, many parks, and a lovely colonial center. The church at the city center is spectacular.


Cuenca is one of two towns in Ecuador known for their hats made out of toquilla straw (a palm-like plant). These hats became famous after Ecuadorians recruited to work on the Panama Canal brought them to Panama, where they were adopted by many Americans including Theodore Roosevelt. They became known as "Panama hats" even though they are Ecuadorian hats. Of course, I had to buy one.


On the full day that I had in Cuenca, I decided to go for a drive to three small towns about 45 minutes away called Gualaceo, Chordeleg, and Sigisig. It was Sunday and market day. I had a relaxing day wandering around the markets and town plazas. I bought some fruit, but the meat did not look so appetizing (including roasted guinea pig). I like how the different villages in Colombia and Ecuador are marked by different styles of hats, particularly on the women. And of course, the style in the villages near Cuenca were the toquilla straw hats.



While in Cuenca, I camped at a nice campground close to the city center called Cabanas y Camping Yanuncay. I met two interesting and friendly overlanders there, Inge from the Netherlands and Adam from Australia (and England). Inge has been on the road for the last five years or so. She first drove down through Africa, then shipped her Land Cruiser to Montevideo, and has spent the last few years in South America. She plans to circumnavigate South America, including driving through Venezuala to Guyana. I asked if she was concerned about driving through Venezuala, and she said not at all. She's already had her three close-calls, including being shot at in Ethiopia. She works while on the road and seems to be doing quite well. Adam has also been on the road for awhile. He is driving a 49-year-old orange VW van. Pretty basic. Bought the van in Paraguay after walking from Mexico to Ecuador. Inge and Adam went to the market towns near Cuenca, and Adam decided to buy a pet chick which he named Frankie. I enjoyed visiting with Inge and Adam. (Adam has videos on YouTube called Orange Kombi Adventures.)



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