I’ve arrived!
So, a bit of history on this charming city.
Cuenca, founded in 1557, is Ecuador’s 3rd largest city and sits in a high valley of the Andes Mountains at 8,399 feet. About 275,000 people call this place home. The valley is irrigated by four rivers: Tomebamba, Yanuncay, Tarqui and Machangara. There are parks everywhere, with many of them along the rivers. Architecture is mostly of Spanish influence, but the entire city of Cuenca was built on Incan ruins. The historic centre of Cuenca was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999.
My Airbnb is in the heart of that. It’s a super cute loft apartment in a building with only 7 other units. It’s in Centro de Historico, and is walking distance to everything you could need.
After a quick stop at a Panaderia for delicious homemade local bread, I went in search of a MoviStar store, the local phone service here. Because you cannot be a normal, functioning human without a cell phone.
It was a short walk there, and even though the employee didn’t speak much English, we figured it out. I ordered prepaid service, 15 GB for $25 a month. And it works perfectly. I was able to do this with only a passport. I didn’t even have to give an address.
Then I needed to hit the SuperMaxi, which is the big supermarket chain here, because this is all the toilet paper my Airbnb host left for me. For TWO WEEKS.
I had to use Google translation on all the products at the store. They use their laundry detergent differently here.
It feels great to just get out and walk, and it seems the weather is near perfect here every single day!
Have you noticed that pigeons look exactly the same no matter what country you’re in?
Saw these in a large Italian Deli that was on my way. So cheap!
Haven’t seen one of these in awhile.
But I found the ferrett store! 😂😂😂
And of course, there are beautiful churches here wherever you look.
ECUADORIOUS 