#3513: Wednesday, February 25, 2026: Fare thee well, Cuenca

Post 3513

- 15 years and 56 days since I started this blog -

Travel Journal

(written February 25, 2026)

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: Over 15 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.

- - - - - - - 

What a week! I admit to being wistful about leaving today. As it was in Chiang Mai, it seems too soon. I know I have left a few things undone, and more underdone. 

But I'm going to Los Angeles to bond - and imprint - on my one and only grandson, Leo, who is just under four months old. My son has kept me up-to-date with photos, videos and FaceTime, but it just makes me yearn for physical contact that much more.

So, yeah, wistful and ambivalent feelings about leaving Cuenca. But none about going to LA.

It's been an eventful week, too. I played my one and only concert with the Blues Enigma Band, which is always fun. I went deeper into Cajas National Park, twelve miles out of Cuenca, than I'd ever ventured, not to hike or any of that kind of work (JK), but to enjoy a gourmet meal in awe-inspiring Andean surroundings. 

I had one day of 'down time' due to a bit of indigestion. Other than that, I just spent time with friends.

I have enjoyed this trip. Although I admit to spending the most time in familiar faces, I did try, and enjoy some new restaurants. And, more importantly, made new friends.

I'm happy. I'm still the luckiest guy I know.

On to the photos:

People Pics

Playing with the Blues Enigma Band, led by my great friend Claudia. Speaking of good friends, there's me and Anthony (not in the band) in the pic above the pic above.

A couple of pics I took on a walk with Claudia.

Wandering

On an overcast afternoon, Claudia took us out to her friend Justo Carrion's restaurant, Uchu Rumi. It is in Cajas National Park, a nature preserve outside of Cuenca. The ride was beautiful, the restaurant is beautiful. Because of the elevation and overcast weather, it was cool, and a fire was built. We had a hot aperetif, something orange-y and alcoholic, around the fireplace as Claudia and Justo caught up, and the meal (see right below) was just fantastic. I should have taken a picture of the dining table when it was finished - there was not a morsel of food left, not even any of the fresh condiments and sauces from the four meals. The photos above were taken from the outdoor patio (except, obvously, the fireplace pic, although we dined indoors, with floor-to-ceiling windows giving a perfect view.

Food

Dinner at Uchu Rumi was a real treat. My steak frites were perfect in every way. Vegetables, too. Perfectly cooked and tender, one of the best steaks (I don't often eat steaks out) I've ever enjoyed The french fries look gigantic, but that's because they were in a bowl on an eight-inch stand, so much closer to the camera. 

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