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Tuesday, October 21,
2014
Today was my first trip out-of-town in the "new' car and it performed as well as can be expected for a larger car with a smallish engine. I need more practice because at one point I could definitely smell burning clutch, ... not good....
My friends from Montreal, Ed & Lynne joined me for a jaunt to Giron and area. I wanted to leave early and try to take advantage of any morning sun on the sights we wanted to enjoy.
Our first stop was at the monument at Portete celebrating Ecuador's triumph over Peru in 1829. This mountaintop controls the Giron valley and Mariscal Sucre and his outnumbered troops held the high ground. After a bloody battle the Peruvians finally surrendered. There have always been border disputes between the two countries and the last war was actually in 1941. The view of the Giron valley is breathtaking with many hues of green delighting the senses.
Next was the town of Giron itself and we visited the Military Museum before stopping for coffee. I actually spotted the only gringo living in Giron named Scott, who I had actually met last Friday while dining at Common Grounds in Cuenca. Totally fortuitous, and he invited us to stop at his home, which we did.
There was a break in the clouds so we boogied quickly to the El Chorros of Giron, the triple waterfalls high above the town. We made several stops to shoot different angles of the three falls, before driving to within a 10-minute walk from the lower falls. This was my second visit here and I am sure that I will return again.
It was then only a few kilometers more to go to the town of San Fernando where we toured the church, still under renovation, before stopping for lunch. We saw a lady cooking sausages and all 3 of us were salivating so that was our choice. We ordered 3 skewers with baby potatoes and when they arrived I noted that my sausages were not as red as Ed & Lynne's, and they were the best sausages I had yet found in Ecuador! I gave a taste to Ed & Lynne and they agreed, they were almost a ham sausage. We asked the lady for the name of the sausage and she said they were called "salchico cuencano" which we can purchase at La Italia in Cuenca. I will be making a visit there this week for sure.
We zipped back to Giron and finally managed to get close to the main square after several attempts. There is road construction everywhere and they are re-doing the main square itself, but we got close and walked in to see the church. Ed & Lynne were blown away by the magnificent stained glass in the Giron church, possibly the most beautiful display in the country. We were alone in the church and Lynne commented on the excellent acoustics then sang a stirring "Ave Maria" version acapella, and it was truly a moving experience.
Hope you enjoy the photos. That was the day's excitement, Cheers, Al
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| The mountaintop monument at Portete |
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| It commands the entire Giron and Yunguilla valleys |
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| The little lookout is well situated |
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| How green is my valley? |
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| Gorgeous but cool at 8:00 in the morning at that elevation |
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| Giron is in the center |
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| The Andes are just spectacular |
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| Ed is enjoying the view |
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| This is looking at the greenery off to the left |
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| Ed & Lynne |
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| A very strange horse nearby, maybe albino |
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| and a very scruffy llama... |
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| Another view, taken from the highway |
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| Little church in western Giron |
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| The Military Museum is worth a visit |
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| Plants are growing in these old boots |
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| A relief map of the 1829 battle |
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| Many war mementos, Mariscal Sucre |
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| More mementos, Simon Bolivar |
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| Replica of the signing of the surrender |
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| Flags, uniforms, paintings of Generals |
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| Guns, bayonets |
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| My version of a painting there |
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| First view of the El Chorros De Giron, the 3 waterfalls |
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| We can only see the two upper ones at this point |
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| Now we can see the lower falls as well |
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| Getting closer |
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| Lots of horses and cows in this area |
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| The lower falls are quite a distance from the other two. |
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| It is an all-day hike to get to the upper falls |
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| We have has lots of rain lately, so good flows here |
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| We hike for 10 minutes to the lower falls |
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| Definitely worth the hike |
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| These are very high, as are the others |
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| And they cascade quite a bit further |
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| Way higher than Niagara Falls |
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| Lucky the main path was dry |
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| That is a lot of water... |
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| The pool at the bottom is pretty |
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| Then the water goes under this little bridge |
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| Waterfalls are so captivating |
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| A shot into the sun |
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| Climbing a little higher |
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| Trying to frame the shot |
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| Can't see the other two falls from here |
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| Amazing place |
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| Breathtaking views |
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| Even through the trees |
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| Nicely framed |
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| Ed & Lynne |
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| A parting shot |
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| On the way to San Fernando |
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| San Fernando church |
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| Lots of renovations going on |
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| Nice altar |
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| Great mural in the baptistry |
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| In front of the church |
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| The yummy salchico cuencano with baby potatoes |
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| Lots of construction in the main square of Giron |
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| Cute fountain was working |
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| The main church in Giron |
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| Impressive entranceway and bells |
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| The stained glass is wonderful |
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| There are multiple panels throughout |
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| This is over one of the side doorways |
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| Lovely Nativity scene |
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| Even the Magi are represented |
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| Great altar area |
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| I did a little work on this one.... |
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| Another altar view |
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| This statue was eye-catching |
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| 2nd version with candles |
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| 3rd version with candles |
