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Tuesday, January 6,
2015
Today I felt very lucky to be ferrying 3 of the loveliest ladies in Cuenca to show them the sights in the Giron area, south of our fair city. Somehow the Gods smile upon me occasionally. Thank you Teresa, Lynda and Cristina for a great day!
Our first stop was the mountaintop monument at Portete commemorating the defeat of Peru in 1829 when Ecuador's forces, led by Mariscal Sucre, held the high ground controlling the exit from the Yunguilla valley. It is usually windy and cool up there and today was no exception, but the incredible valley view is worth the stop.
We breezed over to the Chorros (waterfalls) de Giron to take advantage of the remaining morning sun and we were the only folks up there to enjoy it. There are 3 sections to the waterfalls here, and it is apparently quite a hike to get up the the upper two falls. The poor condition of the trail past the lower falls always holds me back from attempting it. The lower falls is a breathtaking spot to visit by itself.
Then we continued on to the town of San Fernando and we happened to arrive as they were having their Jan 6 celebrations with a mass, lots of costumes, horses and donkeys. We stopped at this little place to the right of the church that serves the best sausages in Ecuador, from La Italia, and I believe they are called Salchicas Cuencanos. The others agreed with me that this was, without a doubt, the best sausages in the country. We then watched the celebrations for a while before heading a few kilometers up the road to the Lago De Busa, a small lake at the foot of a giant mountain. The resort office was closed but we still could walk around the lake and enjoy the sights of the llamas, birds and so on. The legend is that you get good luck if you circle the lake....
Then we came back to the town of Giron and we again enjoyed the magnificent church with its incredible stained glass windows. This has to be one of the loveliest churches in Ecuador, if not South America.
Next we did a tour of the Military Museum and were surprised that they have now got displays in a subterranean complex as well, plus we had a young soldier as a tour guide. It is always worth a stop too as the displays were changed considerably.
I thank Teresa for sending me a few of her shots which I am also including in this Blog.
I hope you enjoy the photos. That was the day's excitement, Cheers, Al
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| Walking up to the Portete mountaintop monument |
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| The views up here are magnificent! |
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| The beginning of the Yunguilla valley stretches out before you. |
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| This is when you really feel like you are high up in the Andes |
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| Teresa & her cousin Lynda are good company |
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| The monument celebrates Ecuador's win over Peru Feb 27/1829 |
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| The 3 stages of the Chorros of Giron |
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| We just keep taking shots as we get closer |
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| Not sure that I want to hike to those upper falls |
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| Love the natural lighting as we climb |
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| Our first close-up glimpse of the lower falls |
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| I can't even get the whole thing in one shot.. |
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| The flow was decent considering the lack of rain |
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| The pool looks inviting, but cold... |
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| This gives a little perspective... |
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| Teresa & Lynda filling their iPads with photos |
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| Nature's beauty, tough to beat |
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| Teresa is dwarfed by this tall waterfall |
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| This water comes from very far away |
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| Love the way it splashes off near the bottom |
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| It is hard to avoid taking a lot of shots |
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| I love this pool at the bottom |
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| More Facebook pics |
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| A shot from the side of the top of the lower falls |
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| A parting shot from the viewpoint |
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| I dunno, love this mountain on the way to San Fernando |
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| Hmmm, a celebration is happening |
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| This horse comes with his own food supply |
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| Cristina was hesitant to get too close to the donkey |
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| The best sausages in Ecuador..... |
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| Little girl posing for us. |
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| Mass being completed in the decorated church |
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| Love the baptistry mural here |
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| Little cutie staring at me |
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| Even Santa was at mass |
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| Now he's ready for the festivities |
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| A pickup covered in food. |
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| The crowd exits the church |
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| We climb to the belfy |
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| We want to see these clockworks again, running 4 clocks |
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| And it even keeps the right time. |
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| A birdseye view of the church decorations |
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| A candid shot of folks waiting for the celebration |
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| See the reflection?? |
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| A young lady in indigenous costume |
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| One of the 3 Magi on a spirited horse |
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| Angel on an albino horse |
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| The altar was beautifully decorated |
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| Patiently waiting for the loud celebration.... |
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| This horse was trained to rear on command, and often.. |
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| The 3 Magi make an appearance again |
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| The guy in red spoke to us with a little English |
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| Lago de Busa (LdB) is not far from San Fernando |
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| Our friendly llama poses for us |
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| This huge mountain has vertical striations |
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| The clouds keep coming up the valley |
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| Love this shot.... |
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| A small bay on the lake with quiet reflections |
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| The mountain is still watching us |
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| An egret stayed in this tree for a long time |
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| The 3 lovelies climbed up a lookout tower |
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| 3 great traveling companions |
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| These Ecuadorians were longing lakeside |
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| Lots of family members working in the fields |
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| These girls laughing as they cover up their butt cracks |
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| The Giron church is gorgeous! |
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| The stained glass is amazing |
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| Loved this statue |
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| The altar was well decorated here as well |
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| Celebrating the Day Of The Innocents, and the 3 Magi |
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| Magnificent stained glass everywhere |
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| My 3 lovelies |
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| Looking down from the Military Museum |
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| Simon Bolivar, the Liberator |
