#2983, Sunday, February 12, 2023: Cuenca, overlooked

Post 2983

- 13 years and 43 days since I started this blog -

Windy out on the terrace today (February 12, 2023)

Journal

(written February 12, 2023)

Read this once (it won't change for the rest of the trip(s): I'll be linking this post to Facebook. If that's how you got here, here's some background: About 12 years ago I started this blog as a food journal. I had a medical situation and needed to lose weight. Initially, that's all I did here: Journal my food intake and my weight. It contributed to helping me lose 20+% of my body weight in 6 months, and continuing has kept me on track since then. I started adding commentary after a while, but lately it has become infrequent. 

While I'm traveling, I let go of the weight-tracking and food journaling, except for food shots when I've eaten something interesting or pretty. And that's where we find ourselves now.

It's no surprise that I'm comfortable here. I've settled in easily, and Cuenca is still the most pleasant place I know.

Plus I'm feeling really well, walking a few miles a day without pain (I'll stop mentioning that as soon as the novelty wears off), seeing friends, playing a little. It's hard to imagine how things could be much better.

Felipe brought Anthony and myself up to Turi, a top tourist attraction up the side of the closest mountain (Cuenca is a valley surrounded by Andean mountain peaks) to the city. But the real attraction was the ceramics studio/gallery there, which Felipe assured us was one of the best in the world. I can't disagree.

Turi Overlook and the Eduardo Vega Galeria

Cuenca looking North from the Turi overlook.

This final photo is of an amphitheater overlooking Cuenca. I want to play here! So gorgeous!

The entrance to the Eduardo Vega Galería.

Once through the entrance, ceramic murals on the porch.

Looking at the porch from inside the gallery.

Anthony and Felipe in one room of the gallery.

I may have mentioned that I have enjoyed walking around Cuenca. I do. It is a different vibe than Chiang Mai or Oaxaca. I just feel a sense of ease and equanimity not approached in other locales. With that, more walking around photos:

The Bolivar Clinic, just up the street from my AirBnB, is just an exquisite example of the beautiful architecture preserved in Cuenca. Cuenca does preservation a lot better than Oaxaca, but then again, it was the very first United Nations World Heritage Site.

Yet another shot of the domes of the New Cathedral, but the sky created this weird lighting that emphasized their blueness.

Church in Turi.

And again, the Cuenca 'sign' in Parque San Francisco, with the domes in the background (for comparison with their appearance above, on a daraker, cloudier day.

One of the things I'm enjoying about this particular time in Cuenca is my balcony, where I am spending some time getting high and watching the passing parade on Calle Simón Bólivar, one of the main avenues in Centro (downtown Cuenca). 

Here, then, some pics from and of the balcony (also, the photo at the very top): 

Food Comment

From the Sunrise Café, a Greek omelet with home fries and a biscuit, bacon, and veggie juice #2.

At favorite Sofy Glocal Cuisine, ceviche reimagined Ecuador style above, and Ave, crispy-roasted chicken breast with veggies and black bean hummus on a corn tortilla.

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