Cuenca to Quito

(that is not the mask from our first year, but it was a fun find and at least one person has bought one every year since):

Bryan had this cool video camera/projector thing so we could watch the dance routine over and over 🙂

Our first stop on the way out of town was to the Panama hat factory:

Hat-making machinery:

Stack of hats, waiting to be finished:

Hats getting their finishing touches:

The finished product:

Overlooking Cuenca:

This would be a super-cute picture if my eyes were open!  Should have put my sunglasses on- it’s brighter than it should be for how overcast it is.

New cathedral (the one near our hotel):

Football stadium where we saw the fireworks last night:

Three monkeys:

We walked around town for a bit:

Found some old ruins:

(cool, but not as neat as Machu Picchu)

Storms are a-brewing:

But for now the rain’s holding off, so we kept walking.  Found some graffiti:

These are the stairs that’ll take you to the Wonderbar:

Neat tile details:

Carved doors:

Street performer:

Street flowers:

And finally, the thing I’ve been wanting to try all trip- cuy!

Yup, that’s a guinea pig, and I’m gonna eat him!

(they also have pig and other spit-roasted meats)

Gotta kiss your cuy before you eat him!

photo by Turner

He tasted like a greasier dark-meat chicken.  Probably wouldn’t eat it again, but if you’re in Ecuador/South America and get the chance, give it a try!

Then we were off to the airport for our flight to Quito for part 2 of our trip!