Cuenca and Halloween.

After a quick breakfast in Chugchilan we were on the road again to stay at the Gran Hotel Cuenca. What a beautiful city this is.

If I were to make a comparison I’d say York or Oxford. It’s got the leading University in the country with a lovely campus. Stunning buildings and a lively culturally rich lifestyle. We had a tasty dinner of Vietnamese noodles on our first night.

We did the bus tour to get our bearings and then set off on foot for the Panama Hat factory. All Panama hats are actually made here. I resisted. Lots of retired north Americans live her for six months of the year. We bought a 2 course lunch and drink for £1.50 each.

Our last night was Halloween so we all (some of us) dressed up and headed out together after preloading on vodka……….... I’m not sure the locals were ready for us. Any way we had a great time and got back at varying times ready for a 7am set off. Some nursing hangovers, not us………..!

We were up early for the long drive south, through the stunning arid mountains of southern Ecuador, to the border with Peru and onto the Indian ocean at Punta Sal.

Photos to follow