• Beagle to Eagle
    Old Datsuns and adobe buildings. Fresh food and friendly people. Genuine Ecuador.
    Many ways to skin a pig. Here they cook the crackling on a raw pig then cook the pork later.Our first stop was tea in a local corner store owner's homeThe tea was made from the gardenEvery day is a different brewNot bad. I'd still prefer a Twinings but not bad.We stumbled across the local women's guinea pig trading cartel. They have their own WhatsApp group.I said "Can you tell us if it's a boy or a girl" not "show us!"Next: Homero. He's built guitars all his life but can't play at all!Old tools in old handsThe decorations are wooden inlay. All died, hand carved into tiny pieces, then stacked tightly.Homero's guard dogLocal mixed indigenous women weaving baskets or hatsPig method 2: Roast the whole thing in an adobe oven.Lots of food options at the marketAnd drink options too. This lady specializes in pick-me-upsStout beer, banana, duck egg and molasses. It was actually good but loosened my purse springsThis family has specialized in filigree jewellery for generations.Silver being thinned and toughened. Luckily they price it on the weight of silver not hours involvedWe bought one filigree of the town emblem hanging here and lots more.Across the river to an orchid biological centreI couldn't stop Bel taking flower photosThe only way to halt her enthusiasm was to put her in themMaria the 97 yr old matriarch of the ikat style weaving business. More loose strings!You can live on them...but..

    Shopping Under the Influence

    October 30 in Ecuador ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    Cuenca was the surprise package of the trip so far. I thought it would be the weakest link based on the descriptions before we left.. see the countryside and some arty places at a place that completes the circle back to Guayaquil ho hum. Sorry Cuenca I completely underestimated you. As an added bonus Sylvia has been our best guide in Ecuador by a country mile.Read more