Thursday, December 29, 2011

We're here!

We have been here 24 hours and are starting to feel a bit settled in. We got to the airport around 4. Thank you, Dad! We got through customs with no issues except for them taking every hair product I owned. I blame myself, but I was not happy to be hair productless yesterday morning. I looked like a wet poodle.

The flight was delayed due to weather I believe, but I can't be sure. It went from Columbus to New York and then to Cleveland. I think it was an issue getting out of New York. Anyway, because of our delayed flight we did not get to Miami until almost 10:00. Took a taxi to the hotel and then tried to find a place to eat at 11 at night. The IHOP was open but less than desirable due to the clientele. We decided to order a pizza to the room. Not a great idea. No one would deliver. Finally at midnight we gave up and just went to sleep hungry and exhausted. We had 4 hours of sleep before we had to be back at the airport. Needless to say we were fried! The LAN flight was very enjoyable for an airplane ride. Pillows, blankets, a nice meal and courteous staff. Pretty too. Finn snored most of the way.

When we got to Guayquil we looked and looked for our van service driver but he was nowhere to be found. Finally he showed up an hour late looking very harassed. We were all excited to not be on a plane and to finally be on the ground and on our way. It was fun to look out the windows and see the vegetation and people along the road. Then we began our ascent into the mountains and it was beautiful! That is until we hit the clouds and an hour and a half of terror began. It was a true test of my new "letting go" mentality to let our driver have control and to sit back and just be. There were times that he could not see 10 feet in front of him. We continually were stuck behind slow moving trucks and all of the car drivers were jockeying for a passing opportunity. It was a nail-biting ride to say the least. I read today that the overpass from Guayaquil to Cuenca takes you 14,000 feet above sea level. Once we came out of the clouds the last hour was breathtaking. We drove through Cajas National Park and then everything became very green and lush. Finn slept through the whole thing but Tali oohed and ahhed.

Our driver had no idea where our place was so it took a while to get here. It is an old place and a little beat up, but very homey and comfortable. We have two bedrooms, a small kitchenette and a little sitting area. There is a balcony with a garden below where alot of the gringos congregate. The best part of the place is that it backs up to the Tomebamba River, which is one of 4 rushing rivers that runs through Cuenca. We left our window open last night and it is so loud that I don't need my sound machine!

We were so exhausted that all we wanted to do was eat and then sleep. We ended up wandering aimlessly until we found an open restaurant and paid a lot of money for dinner. It was good though and hit the spot. Mark and I were a bit dizzy and we attribute it to altitude, but that is the only symptoms we have had. This morning we were fine.

Today our goal was to ride the double decker bus and get ourselves situated in the city. We went to a very nice little restaurant for breakfast where they spoke English. Our waitress was from Vermont. She is married to an Ecuadorian and has been here three years and loves it. She does miss snow though. Finn and Tali split a french toast with egg and bacon sandwich. I had yogurt with granola and fresh fruit. The juice was fresh and very good.

We passed a good 4 hours walking around and making sense of the place. We spent a bit of time just relaxing in Parque Calderon. It is very pretty and quiet there despite being in the middle of the city. They have pleasant music playing and the birds sing continuously. People are walking around or sitting on the benches taking in the day. We walked to the 10 de Agosto market and saw the newly butchered meat on one side, and the fresh fruits and vegetables on the other. We were very happy to note that we could use the bano for a dime. It is always good to know where the bathrooms are when you have small children.

We had a great 2 hour drive on the top of the bus through the city. I already know so much about this place that I feel like I've already been here. I recognized a lot of places from what I have read on other people's blogs. My favorite part was driving up to the scenic overlook of Turi. The city below is just beautiful. We went to the Eduardo Vega gallery which is something I had wanted to do. He is a ceramic artist and his work is gorgeous and very reasonable.

We hopped off the bus at the river Tomebamba and walked home for more money. We headed out for dinner and decided to try our first "hole in the wall" meal. Tali and I split arroz con pollo (rice with chicken and a yummy plantain), Finn had sulchipapa (hotdog flower on a bed of french fries) and Mark and Pat had seco de pollo (chicken leg, rice, tomato and avacado salad, french fries). 10 bucks for all of it and it was very good. Then we had the best ice cream that rivaled Jenny's. Three cones and a sundae. 5 bucks.

Right now we are enjoying some beers on the little patio garden outside of our apartment. Everyone here has been super friendly and very helpful. A little bit of Spanish goes a long way and I am happy that a lot of my spanish is coming through. The weather had been great. Everything I have read is true. You need a hat, a coat, sunscreen and an umbrella at all times. We did not have to use the umbrella today, but throughout the day we experienced quite chilly and then very, very hot over and over again.




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