Guatapé is a not-to-be-missed day trip from Medellin. The quaint town is a cheerfully colored sleepy destination that is popular with Colombians looking for a break for the crowded city. Your first encounter when nearing Guatapé is the star attraction to the area: La Piedra Del Peñol (the rock of Guatapé) . An enormous rock that … Read more
We took the Free Walking Tour about 2 weeks into our visit to Quito, Ecuador. In retrospect we wish that it would have been our first stop. Here’s why . . . This is as comprehensive a city tour as I have taken and paid handsomely. For those that haven’t done a “free” walking tour … Read more
I have to admit that initially the idea of traveling to a place called Banos gave me pause. Isn’t one of the very few phrases most of us learn in Spanish “Donde estan los banos?” (Where are the bathrooms?). In this case Baños de Agua Santa is considered the gateway to the Amazonia located at … Read more
An estimated quarter million people crowd into Historic Center of Quito on Good Friday for the Procession of Jesus of Great Power (Jesus de Gran Poder). Hundreds of people dressed in purple (the color of penitence) march ahead of the wooden sculpture of Jesus on the parade route that begins and ends at the Plaza San Francisco. The women … Read more
Where there are volcanoes there are hot springs. Banos de Agua Santa, Ecuador has both. After some hectic days in Quito Sean and I decided we needed some time away from all things City. We read up on “Banos” and decided on a two day trip, which is about a 3 1/2 hour $7 bus … Read more
After having spent about a week in Quito, Ecuador I was struck by several things, rather immediately. The first is the beauty of the place. I hope I never reach a point in my life where seeing a view like this feels commonplace. The second is that Quito is not a relaxing place for those … Read more
The Parque Nacional Cajas (Cajas National Park) is located in the Ecuadorian Andes, an approximate 30 — 45 minute drive from Cuenca, Ecuador, which makes it an easy day trip from the city. We decided to take the bus which leaves from the Transporte Occidental bus stop approximately every hour. Getting to the bus terminal is an … Read more
Graffiti is ubiquitous. You’ve seen it. Crude public bathroom scratchings, quickly sprayed tags on underpasses, scrawled political slogans suggesting revolt and revolution, artistic but quickly applied stencils and posters, and elaborate multi-colored murals.We’ve seen it in every city we’ve visited: covering the trains in Naples, Italy; on the outer walls of Rome; throughout the San … Read more
Stunning Architecture As a UNESCO World Heritage site, Cuenca has well preserved colonial architecture, and the sheer scope and detail of the buildings, particularly the churches, are incredible. Jogging Paths Four rivers run through Cuenca: the Tomebamba, Yanuncay, Tarqui and Machangara. There are numerous parks throughout the City and whole sections of the rivers have … Read more