Beautiful Cuenca

Today (Monday 16th) we went on a city tour, and saw the river and the new town part of Cuenca...which reminds me a lot of home. Im not sure why - a lot like Blenheim , wide streets of that terracotta type paving, buildings that are tall but not too tall. There are bridges every so often down the river and each one is a completely different style and they all look amazing. And the gardens along the riverside are really well kept and super green.
Then we went to see Alberto , a king in Panama hat making. He was gorgous..and all his hats were pretty nice...i wanted to get one but they were too expensive.
The markets were on our way home..the first ones we went to were the local food markets, they were huge!!! there was a fruit section and a medicinal plant section (which smelt incredible...my favourite was the lemon grass) ..and then there was the meat section. I didnt mind seeing all the animal insides, it was just the intense smell of flesh that made me feel horrible.

Anyway , we then passed all the street stalls and at one there was magnetic rocks that are used for good luck..i really wanted to buy some but it was 5$.
We walked back through the main square and then we headed across town to the museo where we learnt all about the many different indigenous groups in Ecuador. Theres so many! and the history of each is so interesting. There are three groups that were origonally set up in the highlands by the Incas before they conquered Ecuador . It was so stratigic because it meant that once they were in charge they had an trade route along the highlands. There is also a group of africans along the coast. There were african slaves with the Spanish but these guys were just from a shipwreck that wrecked along the coast and they made it to land and set up camp. Im not sure how many generations there have been, but thats a pretty bizzar settling story. there was a whole load of information that i cant remember now, but theres books for that kinda stuff :D

After the museum we got in a convoy of taxis and went to a shopping mall to get packed lunches for tomorrows border crossing. First we got lunch, i had veggie pizza and it was spectacular. it was only small but i was soooo full afterwards. We went to the supermarket but it was two floors and we were on the wrong floor...i had already gone in before anyone told me and then i couldnt get back out the little swingy things at the entrance...that was fun. / helerious.
Finally got some breadrolls and crosiants and then went home.
Big day.. we then spent about an hour trying to find an internet , i bought some knockoff chucks. and now im here.

Yuss. another days blog up to date
Tomorrow we head to the Peruvian border and get a whole new tour guide. Thats sad because we have all become very dependent on our current guide , David. We get lost whenever he isnt there. The next guide has big shoes to fill... well, not literally because Ecuadorians are short. Therefore small feet.

Out to dinner tonight so i should go home and put my new shoes on...probably with socks that dont match.