So, at the moment I should be doing my marking, but I really want to tell you the rest of the story!
On Friday evening I had a really good Mexican meal and then pottered back to the hostel to read my book. I can highly recommend it, it's called 'Three Cups of Tea'.
I slept quite well until the people above me started acting like a small herd of elephants, they also put the TV on (it sounded like an Indiana Jones film). Unfortunately I had been looking forward to more of a lie in as I read till about 1.00am. However I could see the sun was shining, so I got up in a leisurely fashion and headed out for breakfast. On my way out I saw the landlady who told me quite fiercelythat I needed to pay the rest of the money for the room. Obviously I obliged, so I could continue on my breakfast mission. I decided on the same place as Friday because I really liked the vibe (and the food!).
After breakfast I began aimlessly wandering in the sunshine, taking photos as I went! I had a vague notion to head towards the river, as there are many museums that way and I wanted to seem some art! I pointed myself in what I thought was the right direction and continued bimbling along, admiring the view.
As I drew nearer to where I thought the river was, I realised I was actually going in the wrong direction, but it didn't matter because I was enjoying myself and decided to sit on a bench. From the bench I watched a wedding party emerge from the church; I managed to take a photo of the heavily pregnant bride and her family. I do love people watching!
Resuming my wanders towards the river, (I did check a map - so I knew I was now heading in the right direction!) I had to stop to buy some more new earrings (I'm building up quite a collection!). I like to have a souvenir of some sort from the places I visit, nothing tacky, just something I like. So I now have a lovely pair of sun and moon dangly earrings. I had a lovely chat with the guy who made them, who assured me that they were an original design and the only ones of their kind!
Down by the riverside (hmmm...sounds like the title of a song), I went into a museum which had artwork from different areas of South America. In one of the rooms I glanced round and saw a guy with skin as pale as mine! 'Hi,' he said, 'are you English?'
'Yup,' I replied, 'and you're...Irish!' (I had to give my brain a moment to process his accent!)
We got chatting and left the museum together. It turned out that Sean was in Ecuador for a few weeks to set up a live webfeed from the jungle. We wandered around the streets of Cuenca chatting about all sorts of things. We decided to get some lunch and went into an Ecuadorian restaurant, not noticing the set menu on the door. As neither of us had very good Spanish, we didn't fully understand what the waiter asked us. It turned out that we had ordered a set menu. Soup arrived, 'Vegetariano?' I enquired. The waiter replied affirmatively. However my idea of vegetarian and his were obviously considerably different. I decided this when I discovered the large piece of gristly meat floating in the soup. Both Sean and I agreed it wasn't that great and when we were presented with the second course, we decided to ask for the bill and leave, as we weren't feeling that hungry anymore. (Although the second course of chicken and rice did look good, so long as you eat chicken!).
We ambled back down to the river, looking for somewhere to have a coffee. Eventually we ended up in a gift/craft shop, that also served coffee. Once inside we got chatting to the owner's husband. Turned out he was an orthopaedic surgeon who specialised in hands! He was really fascinating and both of us really enjoyed talking to him.
Later we walked down the river and past some Inca ruins, then back into town. After some much nicer food at the 'Wunderbar' cafe, we said our farewells.
Back at the hostel, there was a bit of a commotion! A girl had arrived and wanted her backpack, which the landlady had secured upstairs and there was no sign of her. She was meant to be meeting her friend there and was quite distressed. There was a guy helping her, so I just asked if there was anything she particularly needed because I might be able to help her out, I then returned to my room to get back to my book!!
After a while there was a knock on my door, and Yvonne asked if I had any contact lens solution as that was all she really needed. We got talking and I asked her what she thought of the hostel, she wasn't keen on it and the experience of not being able to get her bag had made her even less so. However her friend had now arrived and they were going to share some beers. Yvonne asked if I'd like to join them. I thought why not, it's Saturday night after all!
Yvonne's friend turned out to be the German girl I'd said hi to the previous morning at breakfast. I really had a great time chatting to both Yvonne and Svenya (I hope I've spelt that right). We were also joined by Frederico, the guy who was helping Yvonne earlier. He was really interesting as he is an Italian photojournalist, who is also working here teaching photography courses. I did feel that he looked down on my camera a little, but luckily I didn't let the inferiority complex strike! The three of them spoke a combination of Spanish, English (for my benefit) and German. Sharing stories with three people I'd never met before was wonderful and I so understand why people travel, especially alone, you can meet some really incredible and amazing people.
Before bed I arranged to have breakfast with Yvonne and Svenya.
I was rudely awoken by the elephants again!!
Breakfast was good and I decided to pay because I really enjoyed the company of these two girls, and to say thanks for the beers the night before. I stayed in their company for a while longer, departing because they were heading off on a bus to Loja. I gave both of them my number for if they are back in Quito. Maybe I'll see them again, maybe I won't, but they will always be a part of my adventure to Cuenca.
Once back on my own I got back to wandering and taking pictures. At about 2.00ish I got a taxi and headed back to the airport and then home.
I had a wonderful weekend. It's proved to me that travelling on my own is fine and has made me feel more confident about doing more of that in the future (and for longer periods of time). I don't think I'll ever have a problem meeting people because I am a sociable person...as we all know I like to chat!
On Friday evening I had a really good Mexican meal and then pottered back to the hostel to read my book. I can highly recommend it, it's called 'Three Cups of Tea'.
I slept quite well until the people above me started acting like a small herd of elephants, they also put the TV on (it sounded like an Indiana Jones film). Unfortunately I had been looking forward to more of a lie in as I read till about 1.00am. However I could see the sun was shining, so I got up in a leisurely fashion and headed out for breakfast. On my way out I saw the landlady who told me quite fiercelythat I needed to pay the rest of the money for the room. Obviously I obliged, so I could continue on my breakfast mission. I decided on the same place as Friday because I really liked the vibe (and the food!).
After breakfast I began aimlessly wandering in the sunshine, taking photos as I went! I had a vague notion to head towards the river, as there are many museums that way and I wanted to seem some art! I pointed myself in what I thought was the right direction and continued bimbling along, admiring the view.
As I drew nearer to where I thought the river was, I realised I was actually going in the wrong direction, but it didn't matter because I was enjoying myself and decided to sit on a bench. From the bench I watched a wedding party emerge from the church; I managed to take a photo of the heavily pregnant bride and her family. I do love people watching!
Resuming my wanders towards the river, (I did check a map - so I knew I was now heading in the right direction!) I had to stop to buy some more new earrings (I'm building up quite a collection!). I like to have a souvenir of some sort from the places I visit, nothing tacky, just something I like. So I now have a lovely pair of sun and moon dangly earrings. I had a lovely chat with the guy who made them, who assured me that they were an original design and the only ones of their kind!
Down by the riverside (hmmm...sounds like the title of a song), I went into a museum which had artwork from different areas of South America. In one of the rooms I glanced round and saw a guy with skin as pale as mine! 'Hi,' he said, 'are you English?'
'Yup,' I replied, 'and you're...Irish!' (I had to give my brain a moment to process his accent!)
We got chatting and left the museum together. It turned out that Sean was in Ecuador for a few weeks to set up a live webfeed from the jungle. We wandered around the streets of Cuenca chatting about all sorts of things. We decided to get some lunch and went into an Ecuadorian restaurant, not noticing the set menu on the door. As neither of us had very good Spanish, we didn't fully understand what the waiter asked us. It turned out that we had ordered a set menu. Soup arrived, 'Vegetariano?' I enquired. The waiter replied affirmatively. However my idea of vegetarian and his were obviously considerably different. I decided this when I discovered the large piece of gristly meat floating in the soup. Both Sean and I agreed it wasn't that great and when we were presented with the second course, we decided to ask for the bill and leave, as we weren't feeling that hungry anymore. (Although the second course of chicken and rice did look good, so long as you eat chicken!).
We ambled back down to the river, looking for somewhere to have a coffee. Eventually we ended up in a gift/craft shop, that also served coffee. Once inside we got chatting to the owner's husband. Turned out he was an orthopaedic surgeon who specialised in hands! He was really fascinating and both of us really enjoyed talking to him.
Later we walked down the river and past some Inca ruins, then back into town. After some much nicer food at the 'Wunderbar' cafe, we said our farewells.
Back at the hostel, there was a bit of a commotion! A girl had arrived and wanted her backpack, which the landlady had secured upstairs and there was no sign of her. She was meant to be meeting her friend there and was quite distressed. There was a guy helping her, so I just asked if there was anything she particularly needed because I might be able to help her out, I then returned to my room to get back to my book!!
After a while there was a knock on my door, and Yvonne asked if I had any contact lens solution as that was all she really needed. We got talking and I asked her what she thought of the hostel, she wasn't keen on it and the experience of not being able to get her bag had made her even less so. However her friend had now arrived and they were going to share some beers. Yvonne asked if I'd like to join them. I thought why not, it's Saturday night after all!
Yvonne's friend turned out to be the German girl I'd said hi to the previous morning at breakfast. I really had a great time chatting to both Yvonne and Svenya (I hope I've spelt that right). We were also joined by Frederico, the guy who was helping Yvonne earlier. He was really interesting as he is an Italian photojournalist, who is also working here teaching photography courses. I did feel that he looked down on my camera a little, but luckily I didn't let the inferiority complex strike! The three of them spoke a combination of Spanish, English (for my benefit) and German. Sharing stories with three people I'd never met before was wonderful and I so understand why people travel, especially alone, you can meet some really incredible and amazing people.
Before bed I arranged to have breakfast with Yvonne and Svenya.
I was rudely awoken by the elephants again!!
Breakfast was good and I decided to pay because I really enjoyed the company of these two girls, and to say thanks for the beers the night before. I stayed in their company for a while longer, departing because they were heading off on a bus to Loja. I gave both of them my number for if they are back in Quito. Maybe I'll see them again, maybe I won't, but they will always be a part of my adventure to Cuenca.
Once back on my own I got back to wandering and taking pictures. At about 2.00ish I got a taxi and headed back to the airport and then home.
I had a wonderful weekend. It's proved to me that travelling on my own is fine and has made me feel more confident about doing more of that in the future (and for longer periods of time). I don't think I'll ever have a problem meeting people because I am a sociable person...as we all know I like to chat!
