Cuenca, Cajas, Ingapirca

February 1, 2, 3

This weekend, the university organized a tour to Cuenca for the international students. Since the cost was high, Tayt, Tes, and I decided that we would go on our own. We figured we would not only save money, but it would be a lot less stressful in a small group. 

We took a bus from Guayaquil to Cuenca on Friday. It only cost around $7.50 and took about 4 or so hours. Luckily I have a special gift that allows me to sleep in buses! The night before we left, we went out for a couple drinks. Our plan was to be home at midnight, but a friend took us to play pool in the city. After chatting with the very cute bartender, and a couple of cocktails we went for a burger and didn't get home until 4 in the morning. Again, I am very lucky that I can sleep on the bus!

When we got to Cuenca, we took a cab to our hostel. It was called Cafecito. It cost around $8 a person per night. It was a cute little hostel - there were two bunk beds and one single one. The first night, we shared the room with a Chilean guy... we didn't talk to him much though. We spent the day touring the town. I love the architecture of the buildings, it was so gorgeous!

I always wonder what is in street vendor food...? A bowl of mixed meet anyone?

We climbed up a bunch of stairs and seen this amazing view

I think this is the perfect picture! I was so shocked by how small this lady was, and no, she wasn't a kid!

 What I liked most about Cuenca was that you would walk everywhere. You would talk down the street and then BAM! There was a gorgeous cathedral or some sort of building. Such a gorgeous place! We also went to an art gallery of Nelson Roman. Not all of his art was to my liking, but nonetheless it was very interesting.

On Saturday we went to Parque Nacional Cajas. We took another bus there. We didn't have to pay to hike there. I read online that if your have a group of more than twenty people or if you hike for more than a few hours, you need a guide, but for where we went, we didn't. They told us the trail we were on would be about a forty minute hike. Somehow we turned it into 2.5 or 3 hours. 

We went of the trail a little and got to this amazing view! It gave me such an overwhelming feeling -  I was breath-taken.

Since we found such an incredible spot, we decided to have a little pic-nick.  We stopped at a supermarket and bought some groceries before leaving Cuenca. Since I can't eat apples with my braces, I enjoyed a tomato instead!

I tried to climb this rock.. but I failed. So this is the best I got - beside it.

From Cajas we went back to Cuenca and stopped at a Market. I was looking for shoes and tank-tops but they are expensive - the one thing Ecuador needs is a Walmart! I only ended up getting some nail polish - about time! My feet were looking ratchet (as my American friends would say).

On Sunday, we went to Ingapirca. Not far outside of Cuenca, Ingapirca still contains Incan ruins. It only cost $3 to enter because we were students. After we got our tickets, we walked to the gate - they told us we needed a guide to enter the ruins. We latched onto this group but the guide spoke only Spanish. I actually understood quite a bit of what she was saying. But once I lost track of what she way saying, it was hard to understand again. Luckily, the group of students from UEES were at the ruins! We ditched our Spanish guide and latched onto them instead. Unfortunately  I was feeling quite ill, so it was really hard to pay attention to what the guide was saying. I know that the site is in the shape of a Puma, with the main temple as the brain.

Gringas trying to read along in English instead of listening to the Spanish guide

I felt really silly with my double back packs!

The brain of the Puma

 

We had to leave the ruins at 1pm or the bus would leave without us. It wasn't a very long ride from the ruins to the next sit (at least that's what they told me - I slept again). At this point I felt really sick. Tayt and Tes stopped for lunch at a little diner - I don't think I would have eaten there even if I wasn't sick.There was no terminal in this town. The bus dropped us off on the street and then we waited on the corner for another bus. One taxi driver spoke English and helped us find which bus we needed. It seemed like it took a long time to find a bus that went to Guayaquil. Some of the buses were full, and some just weren't going to Guayaquil.

Waiting at the corner to be picked up - not as easy as you would think

This was a little store right behind where were waiting. Tasty hey?!

 Finally we got onto a bus... however... This driver didn't care if the bus was full or not. We had to stand in the isle (with about ten other people) because all the chairs were taking. I felt as though I was going to hurl, so i sat down on the floor and used my camera bag as a pillow. I managed to sleep a little bit but couldn't avoid feeling sick. Eventually, one lady let me sit in her seat so I could look out the window. I told the driver I was going to throw up and he handed me a bag - it made me laugh. (I thought maybe he would stop so I could puke outside but nope!) Anyway - first time I've ever thrown up on a bus! I apologized to the guy beside me because I am sure that was no fun for him. I did however sleep the rest of the way back!

Me and Tayt cuddling in the isle. Best bus ride ever. 

Overall, the trip was amazing. Everything was perfect until I got sick on Sunday. I don't know if it was something I ate or altitude or motion sickness but hopefully it doesn't happen again!