Adios Vilcabamba

Our third day at Vilcabamba we had planned on doing another hike but because of Greg's injury our plans changed. We did manage to go to the town square again and walk around a bit. Greg got some heavier duty drugs (no need for prescriptions here, just tell the pharmacist your problem and they give you something for it).

We absolutely loved this part of Ecuador. Greg wants to move here, ha ha. Izhcayluma was more than we could have asked for, great staff, food and surroundings. The only thing we didn't get was a massage ... a good reason to return. :-)

Leaving you with this beautiful bouquet of flowers from Vilcabamba, Ecuador -- fragrances not included ...

Extreme horseback riding

After breakfast we headed to downtown Vilcabamba where we had our horseback riding booked. The woman told us beginners could do this trip - 2 hours to a waterfall, swim for a while if you want and then 2 hours back. It had been years since we had been on a horse so 4 hours sounded a bit much but we decided the experience was too good to pass up and we could deal with the soreness afterward. Lisa had taken horseback riding lessons in NS the year before so she was the more experienced of us three. Off we went, starting on a dirt road for the first few km. Then we crossed a small river and headed up, up, up on a winding narrow trail. It soon became apparent that this was no beginner trail, but there was no turning back! Greg was groaning from the get go. Lisa was having the time of her life and Cheri was somewhere in between. We felt like we were in an old western movie, on a narrow rocky trail with twists and turns to the top. The little horses were excellent climbers - born and bred for mountains. After we leveled off at the top there were steep drop offs where one false step would be the end of us!! I kept telling myself "Four legs are better than two". I couldn't get the shots I wanted because of hanging on for dear life and not being able to get my camera out during the "fear factor" moments.

Of course, a good part of the trail was enjoyable - the scenery and going through the forest, relaxing and avoiding thoughts of the descent. After two hours we made it to the falls. We had to leave the horses and go on foot because it was too steep for them. Lisa went for a refreshing "shower" in the falls. After about 1/2 hour it was time to return.

Now for the hard part - going DOWN the steep paths with rocks, boulders, slippery shale and horses that were reluctant to move on. Cheri's horse was the most hesitant and stumbled at times. VERY SCARY. You have to put your feet in the stirrups and lean back. Greg was groaning in pain because he had pulled a tendon in his groin. Each step and leap down was torture but what choice did he have? He knew he couldn't make it down the mountain on foot. After we got back to the main road, a few km from town, Greg got off and limped towards town while we continued on. When we got back to town we returned with a taxi to find Greg.

It was 3 o'clock and we hadn't eaten since breakfast so we went to a Mexican restaurant. Beer never tasted so good! But Greg's pain was getting worse and he couldn't stand up on his own or walk without help. He turned white and gray and couldn't eat. Me and Lisa went to the drug store and got some muscle relaxant pain killers, went back to the restaurant to pick up Greg and took a taxi back to the hosteria.

Greg vowed never to get on a horse again in his whole life. Cheri was very sore and stiff for the next couple of days. Lisa was ready to go again the next day. Ha ha ha.


Three amigos - at the beginning of the trip - still smiling.


On the trail up the mountain.


Enjoying the ride.


Don't look down!


We walked through a corn field on way to the waterfalls.




Our destination.


Cooling down.



copy these links to see the videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMQ0xAV0IRc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVfYG6Zs0Us

Hiking

The restaurant at Izhcayluma - million dollar view on a budget.

After a buffet breakfast of fruit, crepes or eggs, juice, homemade German bread and jam and muddy coffee (you get used to it after the 1st cup), we were off on our 3 hour hike. It started off following a small stream and climbing til we got to a dirt road. Almost right away a very dirty, but cute puppy started to follow us and even though we told him to go home he stayed with us, so we named him Seguidor (Follower). We continued climbing the dirt road and the sun was pretty intense. As the morning passed, the road became narrower and we enjoyed the ever changing mountain ranges.

The descent was on a narrow path and we wound up in the small town of San Jose where we bought water and ice cream. Then we went down a steep path to Vilcabamba and along the way Seguidor stopped following us. We had planned on taking him back home but he stopped at a house with a small boy outside. We hope he found a good home there.

At the bottom of the path we came to the main road and we were really thirsty for a well deserved cold beer. We found a restaurant and they didn't have any so the owner went to a store and bought us some Pilsner Grandes (can't beat that kind of service). We enjoyed the cervesa with our lunch of chicken and rice (typical food). The total bill was $6.70 and then we started walking back to town. A taxi was driving by so we got in and went to the town square which has a lot of places to eat and there were quite a few "gringos" there. We had a coffee and cookies at a place run by Americans. Then a $1 taxi back to Izhcayluma. We spent the rest of the day swimming, playing pool and ping pong and had supper overlooking the lights of the beautiful valley below. Lisa's catch phrase was "Oh, the breeze"!

What a life!!!

















Copy these links to see videos of our hike on Utube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqeR-IuwdMw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnxxwo4zcsg

On the road to Vilcabamba and Izhcayluma

Well, we are back in Cuenca. We had such a great time in Vilcabamba we decided to stay an extra night. The trip there was longer than we thought, 5 hours to Loja and then another bus to Vilcabamba, one hour more. As you can see from the few shots below it was beautiful, and of course pictures do not do it justice. We arrived at our hosteria, Iczcayluma around 3 o'clock and had a late lunch.

We checked out things to do. Hiking, horseback riding and massage. Sounds good to us. There were 6 different hikes at varying degrees of difficulty. We decided to do a "moderate" difficulty one the next day. Stay tuned for upcoming posts: hiking and extreme horseback riding.


On our way ... nothin but beautiful Ecuadorian scenery.






Izhcayluma - view from the dining room.


The pool at Izhcayluma


Our rustic room. $13 per person per night with buffet breakfast included.

Vacation (from vacation?)

It's hard to believe we are almost 2 months now in Ecuador! We're pretty much in a routine now ... service in the morning (service group is at 8:30) with afternoons spent going for almuerzo and free time to explore the city or relax. There is good support for service in the Laguna congregation. The territory is worked every 2-3 weeks and there are a lot of apt buildings with intercoms so it is tough that way, not talking face to face. Sometimes we run out of territory before the morning is finished. There are 82 publishers with 34 studies, not as many as other congregations in Cuenca who have 2-3 bible studies per publisher. We went to visit another meeting on Saturday, the Banos congregation and ithe KH was packed. They have only one elder, one less than Laguna with two.


We went to a lookoff on the other side of the city yesterday. Great view of the whole city of Cuenca.

We've decided to take a little vacation to Vilcabamba, a town about 4 hours south of Cuenca. There is a B&B down there run by a German couple and we have heard it is really nice and worth the trip. It is a lower elevation so warmer temps. We are planning on staying 3 nights. They have a pool and you can also go horseback riding and have a massage! Sounds very relaxing so we are looking forward to that. We are leaving tomorrow. Will report back when we return. Hasta luego.

Shopping

Thought you all might like to know a bit about shopping in Ecuador (or at least Cuenca). There is a huge variety of "stuff" to buy here, from cheap souvenirs to high end furniture and appliances. They make beautiful leather products and Lisa and I both bought leather coats and boots. Such a huge selection it is hard to decide. And the shoes! The airline only allow 50 lb per person for checked luggage and 20 lb for carry on per person, too bad, so sad....

They also make pottery here and there is a small shop right outside our apt. Today we went in and the man was making vases and bowls. It was very cool to watch.

copy this link to watch the video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fw75Z-f-Pbo

There are lots of outdoor markets here in Cuenca. The biggest is called Feria Libre and it is huge with everything from leather goods to vegetables to a donkey's head for sale. We kid you not, we saw one for sale on the sidewalk. The fish and meat stalls are not hard to find, just follow your nose, takes some getting used to and we, of course, do not take chances so pass on by. The other markets are named after days of the month - the 3rd of Noviembre, 20th of Octubre and 10th of Agusto.

There are also lots of "convenience" stores on every street. They look more like jails as there are bars in front of them and you pay and receive your goods by reaching through the bars. Guess this is for security. Anyway, they sell things in these little stores by the piece. I was on a bible study with a sister at one of these stores and within half an hour people came to buy things like 3 garbage bags, 2 diapers, 1 aspirin, 2 cigarettes, 1 piece of candy, and course, 1 large beer with two plastic cups which they drink with a buddy right outside the store. Very different, eh? Many people have only enough money to buy what they need for the day.


Feria Libre market.


Fruit and veg we bought at Feria Libre = $7.60.


Modeling our leather.

A day in el campo

Today we got an invitation from a sister and her husband (Rosa and Segundo), to go to their farm (they live in the city and go there on weekends). Another couple, Frank and Beverly came too. It was about 30-40 minutes from Cuenca. The road to their farm was very steep and full of ruts, you really need a 4 wheel drive vehicle to get there.

Their farm is mainly dairy cows but they also grow potatoes. It is very large, 45 hectares, and they have one couple who live on the property who milk the cows, plus they have farm help who come in on the weekends.

Their farm house was very rustic. We had paella for lunch. Frank, who is from Spain, was the cook and it was very good. In the afternoon it started to rain and they made a fire in the fireplace. The sound of the rain on the roof, the heat from the fire and smell from burning wood forced some to have a siesta, ha ha. We got back to our apt around 5 p.m. and rested a bit before we headed out to our meeting which is on Saturdays at 7:15.


Our hosts, Segundo, Rosa and their daughter.




Workers planting potatoes.






Lunch is served!