Well, all good things must come to an end…or was it a beginning?  For now, who knows!  After 16 days in Cuenca, it was time to move on to the next city stop in this exploratory trip, Loja.  I felt like I have become such an integral part of Cuenca’s community in such a short time.  I was  not ready to leave a city and it’s people who had warmly embraced me.  There is still much to share about time spent in Cuenca.  With this in mind, I’ll loop back in future posts.

After a last dinner in Cuenca, Saturday, May 27th, I said good-bye to Dennis and Trish (Canadian expats/restaurant owners) and a staff member, Yanina.  Dennis and Trish purchased and reopened, Cuchara Magica Restaurant, in March.  They are a lovely couple who are seasoned business owners.  Trish is an awesome chef who learned to bake from her grandmother.  Her pastries and desserts are to die for.  The cinnamon buns with cream cheese are a must if you are in the area.  Oh, I do have to encourage you to have a meal (or two or three) as well.  You won’t go away hungry, but you will keep returning over and over!  Good-byes included hugs, handshakes and wishes to visit again someday.

Sunday morning included additional good-byes and wishes for more time together in the future.  This time it was Pilar, her grandson, Antonio, and her permanent house guest, Jane (from Australia).  Pilar not only opens her home to others through AirBnB, but she shares all aspects of her life from the heart.  There is much energy, laughter and love in her presence and home.  Of course, there was much encouragement from Pilar and Jane to return to make Cuenca home.  While there were good-byes in the moment, Pilar and I agreed to Skype when I am back in Georgia.  No matter what the future holds, Pilar will always be considered my Ecuadorian Mama!

Pilar and her twin grandsons, Antonio and Raphael, and me.

Seemingly all too soon, but necessary for the next leg of the exploratory journey , I traveled to the city of Loja via Elite Tours.  Daniel, the driver, make the sharp turns along the mountainous Pan American highway with the speed and finesse of a skilled Indy race car driver.  Once I arrived in Loja, I made my way to the home of the Jaramillo family.  Cesar and his mother, Nelly, greeted me warmly.

Cesar’s English is about like my Spanish…almost nonexistent.  Nelly speaks no English.  Not to worry, between Nelly’s smile and the aid of an iPad and Google Translate, she and I can carry on an awesome conversation.

As for Loja, I have quickly discovered this city with a population of  a little over 185,000 does not hold the appeal of Cuenca.  If you are looking for optimal cultural immersion Loja could be the place for you.  After being here for four and a half days I have come across only a handful of individuals who speak English and even fewer non-Ecuadorians.  Talk about standing out in crowd; it’s obvious I’m not from these parts.  LOL!!!

The pace has slowed up a bit here in Loja, but I have found interesting things to do and see each day.  Let’s see…below is a sampling of what I have taken in:

Puerta de la Ciudad, the city’s iconic landmark.  It is also know as the gateway to the city.

Parque La Banda/Orillas de la Zamora, a park with a quite small zoo and Oquideario with over 200 species of orchids from southern Ecuador, was visit worthy.   Unfortunately, it is too early in the season for most of the orchids to be in bloom but I enjoyed what few there were to see.  Traveling without a tripod makes photographing them difficult.  Included below are photos of a few of the animals and a variety of flora from this location.

While the begonia is commonly found in the US, this photo is in remembrance of my Mother.  It was one of her favorite flowers.  One she lovingly tended and kept blooming indoors throughout harsh winters.