#3348: Monday, February 10, 2025:

Post 3348

- 14 years and 41 days since I started this blog -

Photo at Bistro Yaku, by my friend Anthony R - himself an annual Winter visitor to Cuenca whom I met on my first trip here.

Travel Journal

(written February 9, 2025)

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 14 years ago I started this blog as a food journal. I had a Type-2 Diabetes diagnosis, and needed to lose weight. Initially, that's all I did here: Journal my food intake and my weight. It contributed to a loss of 20+% of my body weight in 6 months, and continuing has kept me on track since. I started adding commentary after a while, but recently it has been a food journal only. Except when I travel (every Winter).

While I'm traveling, I let go of the weight-tracking and food journaling (except for food photos when I've eaten something interesting or pretty). I write about my experiences, and use it as a photo dump. And that's where we find ourselves now.

- - - - - - - 

I've been having a good time. What that means, in (slightly) less general terms is that I'm doing what I do: maiking music, smoking weed, eating well and avoiding pointless drama. That's what I attempt to do wherever I am, including back home in Liverpool, NY.

I'm good at it, and, since I have enough (of everything), I'm not buying or selling anything (that isn't for immediate use/consumption), it allows for a pretty laid-back hang - everywhere.. 

I've been enjoying the company of my friend Patrick. We're spending a lot of time together (speaking of easy hangs), so he is showing up in a lot of the pics I've been taking.

On to the photos:

People Pics

That's my friend Diego, the taxista, behind the terrible coffee I'm about to spill out.

Patrick oni my right, Anthony on my left, outside the Mercado in SigSig.

Patrick Section

Top: with me on the famous Cuenca tram; next: in a tree in Parque la Madre; then, on the street with me and next, with Claudia: The last two from Museo Pumapungo (and archeological site and aviary).

Wandering

Kind of a big deal for me: My first-ever custom-made shoes. I chose the style and gray suede.
Backstory: I packed a pair of newly-bought, treadmill-tested walking shoes that failed (only the right-foot one, which had a lace-hole that created then broke a blister behind my big toe) as soon as I took a long walk my first day in Chiang Mai. I thought I'd have to go the next 3-1/2 months with only one pair of shoes, but best friend Claudia knew a shoemaker who could make shoes in my size (forget about buying US size 13s in SouthEast Asia or Latin America). I went, he showed me the sole (good tread pattern), meticulously measured and outlined my feet, and two-and-a-half weeks later, voilá! Delivery! And, for only 2/3 the price of the shoes I threw away. I'm very happy with them.

In the Old Cathedral

The 'Old' Cathedral is across Parque Calderón from the much larger and more ornate 'New' cathedral. It was actually started a little after the New Cathedral, but completed about a hundred-fifty years earlier.. 

At Museo Pumopungo

Behind the Museo Pumapungo is an architectural park and aviary. That this exists in el Centro (downtown) is one of Cuenca's little bits of fabulousness. The indoor exhibits were great, but this day, Claudia, Patrick and I were all about the park out back.

In the tower of the New Cathedral

Since my first visit to Cuenca, I have wanted to climb the steps up to the bell tower of the New Cathedrall, but every time it was closed for some reason. This year, Patrick and I finally did it. There are three landings along the way. One-hundred sixty-six steps. And no bells - the towers were never finished! At the first landing, we looked out over Parque Calderón, where there was some kind of dance event going on. The middle landing provided a good view of the former monastery, but the view from the top - at the level of the iconic three blue domes - was the best.

Food

I was in a weird mood Superbowl Sunday, and decided to go out for pizza (no interest in the game). I almost never order pizza outside of New York City, where the pizza of my youth set the standard for good pizza.I ended up at a really good Italian restaurant right around the corner from me, Restaurante Pizzaria Mediterráneo. It turned out to be a fantastic find. The couple who own it are from Milan, Italy. I didn't end up ordering pizza, after all. I ordered pasta and a salad. The salad (I didn't photograph) was excellent, and this pasta a la carbonara was, too. Service and ambiance were great. I have a lot more menu items to try here.

Favorite breakfast spot, Cafe San Sebas, provided this brunch of too-good huevos rancheros.

I went back to Capitán & Co. for the octopus dish I'd tasted (Anthony ordered it). I know, it doesn't look like much, but this pulpo (Spanish for octopus), sauteed with olives and browned butter garlic sauce, was the best octopus dish I've ever eaten, anywhere, including visits to Portugal. And previous visits to Capitán!

 Please leave a comment when you visit my blog. 

Comments are anonymous, so leave your name, too!
Thank you!