February 24, 2011 Finishing school and our time in Cuenca



 We are now winding down with just one more day here in Cuenca. We have grown very attached to our families and our life here and though it is just over one month it seems in some ways that we have been here for a long time. We know the central part of the city well having walked most of the streets. We have been to many of the museums but not all. Leaving a bit hungry is good so we will have to come back and see what we have missed. Tomorrow we will be saying goodbye to our teachers and school ... bittersweet. If you are looking for a great school in Cuenca check our school...Amauta Fundacion.

As you can see, we  celebrated Ricardo´s birthday with first a cake at school for everyone and then a delicious dinner at our house. Both Yolanda and I cooked using her new grill and made some beautiful works of art. We have both enjoyed cooking together.



Feliz Cumpleanos

 We have visited museums and traveled to Sigsig where most of the hats called Panama hats are made. They really are Monticristos as they originated in a town by the same name in Ecuador. We both have one...Ricardo wearing his and me waiting for a very sunny day which may have to wait till we are back in Mexico.


typical indigenous Ecuadoran costumes




the ¨largest Monticristo hat ... made in Sigsig, Ecuador




working on Ricardo´s new hat




10,000 year old cave in Chobshi ... near Sigsig



Most interesting was the caves and ruins near Sigsig called Chobshi. There is proof of people having lived in these caves about 10,000 years ago as well as more recent ruins of Canari people from about 1600. It is clear when visiting many of these ruins that there are probably many more that have not been uncovered.

Richard entertaining Papacito...Yolanda´s dad

The family out in the campo

We spent our last Sunday with Yolanda´s family visiting their house out in the country. Her dad who we call papacita has some memory problems and loves Ricardo...especially watching him juggle. Reminds us of our dad´s with their problems and it has been nice to be a part of this family.
This week we have had some computer problems and luckily it has been fixed but now everything is in spanish and the keyboard has some limitations such as the fact that I cannot make a dash or close parenthesis. I can, however make ¡ and ¿

We are off to Banos, Quito and Mindo beginning on Saturday so stay tuned for more adventures.