Greetings friends who are part of this wonderful community, today I come to tell you about my visit to the magical city called Cuenca, located in Ecuador. I had to travel over the weekend for family reasons, so it was a good time to know and document some experiences that you experience when you are just starting to know little corners that you fall in love with and that the world has to offer.
It is incredible how this place can make me feel as if I were in France or Europe, maybe I am exaggerating, but that is exactly how I felt (even if I don't know France) the days I was visiting, because of the quality of life, a city with a neoclassical architecture, people with a big heart and lots of nature. These are elements to dare to say that it is one of the best cities I have known in my country.
I had been waiting for a long time for the moment when I could visit Cuenca, because it is one of the most visited places by foreigners and loved by some celebrities, so I took it easy the day I was there. My stay lasted three days: Friday, Saturday and Sunday. On the first day I opted to go into the historic center to take some pictures of the impressive domes of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral. Before going to the cathedral I walked slowly while observing the details of the neoclassical architectural style that I found, becoming a delight for my eyes, as I admire the structures that maintain that aesthetic quality, that art that is expressed in a house, a building or a cathedral, making our existence more meaningful and not only functional.
The domes of the Cathedral took all my attention, it was my first time seeing a majesty of this type, so I decided to take several pictures of different profiles. Also, in this tour I found a park that captivated me, not because of the innovative but because of the energy of tranquility that you can feel when you arrive and sit down. Moments that I did not think about anything, my mind was blank watching the people passing by, it felt like a safe and peaceful place, as if I was at home. To my luck, the hotel where I was staying was close to the park, so I went there every day and managed to introduce myself to some pigeons walking around and feeding on the food that some of the visitors offered them.
The next day in the evening I went out in the company of my partner for a snack and some drinks in a bar. And as in any walk you can not miss going to listen to music of yesteryear, be for a few moments released from all the evils, and just sit in a great place set in a style of the 80's, having conversations of achievements and some plans for the future. I was really looking forward to distract myself for a few hours, since after some time I have returned to have this kind of walks, so we ordered three classic micheladas and a black craft beer.
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When we were offered the menu I was struck by the name of the place and the text that came with it, let's start with the title: "Zaragoza - A place with purpose". As it is well known Zaragoza is a city in Spain, confirming what history says that the first citizens of Cuenca were wealthy people with European roots, hence also the level of culture that can be evidenced when walking, the clean streets and the great heart for animals. Now returning to the subject of the presentation of the menu; in the text it said, what was the purpose of the place, it was a message of love for the stray dogs and that much of the economic income of the bar was destined to feed several who live on the street and others who have been rescued. And indeed at the door of the local there was a dog feeder with water and food. When I noticed this event, a dog from the street arrived to eat and the most curious thing is that he did not eat all the seeds, he left food for the next dog that arrived. It is impressive, my partner confirmed what I had seen, because he lived for several years in the city of Cuenca and knows this lifestyle.
These actions are worthy of recognition, I would like that some of these models were copied in the city where I live, because here there are many stray dogs and people accepted it as something normal and the reality is very painful, of the times that I have been able to do something, has been to give them food and find them a home, but it is not enough, we need a change of collective consciousness.
Returning to my night walk through the streets of Cuenca. After leaving the bar we walked to the park that I mentioned before, I took several pictures of the illumination of some colonial buildings, the results were not so good, but it looked spectacular, impossible not to document. In this little walk we found a concert, those that are given in the park in exchange for a few coins, it was fun and was perfect to accompany that inspiring night.
Regarding the food I would like to introduce you to some special dishes: tamales, quimbolito and the traditional agua de pítimas. Without hesitation I would recommend to everyone who goes to Cuenca to try the tamales that are located on the street "las herrerías". I tried a chicken-flavored tamale, a pork-flavored tamale and a quimbolito, accompanied by a cup of coffee. It was a total delight, the best I have ever eaten and I would go back to that place a thousand times. By the way, I came to this restaurant thanks to the recommendation of my partner who knows the city. When I had to pay the bill I was a little worried, because I did not ask the price at first, however, the scare passed when the waiter told me that the cost of each tamale is 80 ctvs, very economical and delicious.
Tamales with coffee
Quimbolito
Tamales with chicken and pork flavor
The "agua de pítimas" can be found in a place next to the Marian sanctuary, there were people lining up to buy this drink, so I asked the seller: "What is the agua de pítimas made of? And he answered me: "its ingredients are rose water and valerian prepared by the Carmelite Mothers". When I learned that one of its benefits is to normalize menstruation, I wanted it even more. When I drank the water, it tasted half sweet with roses, I enjoyed it a lot and I felt my body relax.
This has been my passage through the city of Cuenca in the weekend that passed, an experience that, if I had the opportunity to repeat it again, I would do it. Thank you for joining me on this tour. Tell me, if any city you have visited resembles Cuenca.
The cover photo and the banner are my property edited at Canva
All images in this publication are my own photographs taken with a Xiaomi Redmi note 9 pro.
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