Friday - end of 1st week in Cuenca

LAST WEEK OF CENTRAL AMERICAN TOUR BLOGGED IN PREVIOUS DAY...ALONG WITH PICS (PLEASE SEE)

Well...I finally finished blogging my trip to Central America (I hope you enjoy the pics and blog...). Now I can concentrate on living in the present, which is not too hard to do in Cuenca...what a great city!

Cuenca was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Trust site because of its many historical buildings in 1999. Cuenca,is located in the sierra of the Andes in Ecuador´s southern regions. It´s 2500 ft above sea level, altho it feels like more when I walk the hills. It´s the 3rd largest city in Ecuador, with about 500,000 people and about 200,000+ in the city (so it is not so-o crowded like Quito).

There are four rivers of Cuenca (meaning a basin made by a confluence of rivers). These rivers are the Tomebamba (which runs right next to the Town Center), Yanuncay, Tarqui and Machangara.

There is some pollution, due to the cars, but nothing like Quito. There alot of police around, so it is very safe. The town is a smoke-free town with the best water in Ecuador. The largest class of people is middle-class with a small part of the population classified in poverty (classifications by Ecuadorians). The streets are very clean and the people are dressed very neatly and cleanly.

Cuenca has a long lasting reputation for being a university city. It hosts two universities, the oldest and best known one being University of Cuenca (Universidad de Cuenca), a public university with about 12,000 students, not far from where I stay.

Now that I know my family a little better, it is nice. We can joke a little. I enjoy walking to school every day (aout 25 min), and it gives me some exercise. My breakfast this AM was strawberry yogurt on cereal with bananas and a hard-boiled egg. Lunch was a full plate of grilled fish with salad, rice and fried potatoes...I did not eat the rice or potatoes, as I thought it would be a little much. My¨"mom" usually fixes a fairly good sized dinner. The ecuadorians drink fruit juice at all meals. Most of it is freshly made..had coconut juice for lunch.

I still can´t get over how good the food is for such a little price. My plate (and I mean PLATE) of fish with all the trimmings was only $6.50...at this rate, I might have some money left when I get home...Yesterday I had a soup appetizer, rice, beans, and two pieces of chicken, some type of cheese dessert and fruit juice for $3.00...incredible! They serve popcorn with the soup instead of crackers ...believe it or not it was very good. The ecuadorians all eat soup for lunch and dinner. No wonder there are so many retirees moving here.

This weekend I plan to take it easy and just walk around the city and enjoy it. A woman student at school, who is here with her husband for 2 months (from Virginia) asked me to a concert that the TV station is giving. Her husband is here helping them with their TV station. It will all be in Spanish, so think I will go...nothing like spending a frustrating Sat night...Well, must run..have a great weekend and enjoy the pics of Cuenca!