Travels in Ecuador PART 1 - SAN JUAN BOSCO, ECUADOR!!

Our 2015 Travels in Ecuador

PART 1

  Our adventure in 
  San Juan Bosco, Ecuador

                           

Near the town of San Juan Bosco is this spectacular scenic area where we gazed upon Pan De Azucar, which Means "Sweet Bread."   It has an elevation of 9,700 feet. 

It's time!! To travel and explore our beautiful Ecuador.  Now that we're settled into daily life in Cuenca, and we should be after over two years here, we want to make 2015 our year of exploring this breathtaking country.  Because our cost-of-living is so affordable, and because we are retired and free, we have the liberty to take off and GO!  So, I wanted to share our three amazing trips we have experienced in the past two months.  

Our friends, Dave and Libia invited us to come to their little town of San Juan Bosco and hang out with them for a few days.  So, off we went with our backpacks, walking sticks, and dressed for the Amazon.  Libia was in Cuenca visiting family.  So the day she was ready to leave and head home to her finca in the jungle, we tagged along, took a bus together, and headed for our three day experience in the lush green Amazon Jungle of Ecuador.  

A view of San Juan Bosco from the Bus!

Part of our days were spent exploring the town of San Juan Bosco, an historic town located in the Amazon Basin at an elevation of approximately 3,400 feet (1,050 meters).  It is a county within the province of Morona Santiago and extends from the Eastern side of the Andes mountains to the jungle border with Peru. This peaceful small quaint town has a population size of approximately 1,500 and was founded only 50 years ago. 

San Juan Bosco's Main Street

MEET JUNGLE DAVE  AND HIS WIFE, LIBIA!

        Jungle Dave does ecological tours of the Oriente.  

You can visit his website at 

www.jungledavestours.com

and read all about it.

I LOVE HIKING!  
We did lots of hiking with Dave and Libia.  Bo and Dave taking a break and enjoying a moment in the Mountains!!

On one of our "Tour" walks near San Juan Bosco, we made way for these harvesters of branches..... 

 

......heading down the mountain. 

Ahhhhh, time away from the city was spent basking in the silence of the jungle and amongst the beauty of nature.

 I LOVE THE AMAZON!  
It reminds me of lush green Oregon. 
My favorite place to relax is by a rushing river......

.....and for me, there's no other place in the world to sit and escape the bustling city!

 It had been raining for days, and the ground was very muddy.  So, we decided to not hike into Jungle Dave's farm during this visit.  One of our mornings there, Dave's farm workers hiked out to load up with more provisions.  Libia helps him tie down the load for his journey back.

One of the worker's sons takes a mountain break.

Okay, their mule is loaded and ready to go!

The journey back begins..... 
For Dave, Libia, and their helpers, this hike is a daily event.  Sometimes Dave hikes in and out two or three times a day.  For us, it would have been a great challenge and hours of forging our way in.  They are truly human mountain goats!!!

Yes, that little white speck is Jungle Dave's finca - definitely a hike to be in shape for, even if you have a mule!

 We visited one of Libia's friend's farm.  Their daughter
was captured by my camera and I was captured by her adorable face!

 We enjoyed roaming around their farm......

....and playing with the pups.

 One afternoon, Dave and Libia bought a mule she has had her eye on.  They negotiated their price....

 SOLD! 

She told me the mule was neglected - but the next time we visited, her mule would be shiny and healthy.  They LOVE their animals!

We also visited Libia's cousin's finca - 
75 spectacular acres of lush green jungle land!  

Oliver - Fishing for fresh Tilapia

Libia is an amazing cook - and guess what we had for dinner that night?

Whatcha Lookin' At????

Libia and Bo - Posing by the Pig Pen
(Is that Bo in a hat???)

We enjoyed the hidden waterfall and calm river on Olicho's property

One of the days, Libia's GORGEOUS family drove in from Cuenca to visit their mom.  I loved meeting them and taking some family portraits for her of her two handsome sons, beautiful daughter, and gorgeous grandson.

One of my prize photos of Libia and her precious grandson.

 JUNGLE BO

Some of you know the story of Bo's childhood past "Cowboy Hat- Hey Tex!" trauma.  To get Bo in a hat - well!!  So, for me, capturing this moment is priceless.  We both had such A HAPPY TIME during our visit with Jungle Dave and Libia.  

Thank you, Dave and Libia, for such a relaxing and enjoyable few days with you.  You made it grand for us - and we can't wait to come back and see you again!

If you haven't visited Ecuador's Amazon yet, you must.  If you haven't tasted Jungle Dave's Organic Meat yet, you must!  He does home delivery in Cuenca!  If you want to order meat or take a tour of his Finca in the Jungle and see the sweet town of San Juan Bosco, you can contact Dave at davegouch@yahoo.com 

Stay tuned for 
PART 2
Of 
LONGOODS' TRAVELS IN ECUADOR!!!

LIVING IN CUENCA - Celebrating CUENCA's 2014 Festival de Artesanias de America CIDAP

 What I love most about living in Cuenca is the abundance of arts and entertainment.  Every week one may find an evening concert to attend, an art exhibit to explore, see dancing in the streets or a festive parade marching by, listen to talented musicians in the parks, and on and on.  Most of the entertainment is FREE and FABULOUS!

Then there is the Festival of Artists that happens twice a year.  Artisans from Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, Bolivia, Columbia and other countries come to Cuenca, set up their tents, and display their artistic creations for sale.  This year's feria was grander than the last few I've attended.  The crowds were greater, the art was more amazing than ever, and the festivities were so numerous, I missed so much!  What I did see and attend consumed me (and my wallet) for four glorious days of music, dance, food, art, beautiful people, and the 194th anniversary celebration of Ecuador's independence from Spain.

Living in El Centro, two blocks from the Tomebamba River has it's advantages.  When my arms were loaded with wares, when I had to take a bathroom break, when I wanted to just take a break - I found myself 5 to 15 minutes "walking distance" away from my apartment.  At night I could watch the most amazing fireworks right from my terrace.  It was also a perfect meeting place for my peeps who shared these four fabulous days with me.  Yes, I still enjoy living in the heart of this fabulous Historic District, I still love my little Ecuadorian flat, and I still love LIVING IN CUENCA!  What's not to love?

PICTURES TELL THE STORY

This was one of the more artistic booths selling Tagua Jewelry.  My girlfriend bought a splendid piece from this artist.What Tagua is and how the jewelry is made

It take several month from the moment they collect the tagua nut, until the moment the product is made and ready to sell.

The tagua nut is a dried seed from the tagua palm tree, which grows in tropical rain forests of South America (Ecuador, Colombia, Peru and Brazil).

Tagua is also known as natural ivory or vegetable ivory, because of its similarity with ivory (it's hard, unbreakable, resistant and beautiful), but tagua is natural.  They don't have to kill elephant in order to get it.

The tagua nut comes in a fruit that carries multiples nuts. Each nut has a shell that contains the seed. This seed is the size of a chicken egg and is covered in a thin brown skin.

The nuts are sun-dried for 4 to 6 months before they can be worked with. Once dried, Tagua is carved and polished to a bright shine. Tagua's natural color is white but it is easy to dye and can be found in different bright or pastel light colors.

Handmade tagua jewerly is beautiful, colorful, resistant and unique.

One of my favorite booths - beautiful handmade bags from Guatamala.  Yes, I bought several of his little bags.

Talented street musicians graced the Tomebamba River.

It was fun seeing and talking to the colorful vendors from different countries......

......and stopping to photography the different dancers......

......and their dances told a story.

These lively musicians performed by the Broken Bridge (Puente Roto).

Another of my favorite artists - a (handsome) brother and (beautiful) sister, tutored at a very young age by their artist father - and their paintings were so detailed and beyond amazing.  The painting of Noah's Ark that we coveted cost $1,600.  Maybe next time!!

The weather was glorious!  Warm, sunny, rainy, stormy, hot - unpredictable each day.  Yet, four days of mostly blue skies and warm temperatures.  One of the joys of living in Cuenca is being surrounded by mountains, having four rushing rivers running through the city, and being graced with amazing historic churches.

Delicious coconut balls

Our city is CLEAN - thanks to the blue people who sweep the streets day and night.  
How I appreciate them, and tell them so when I see them.

Parque Del La Madre was packed with families attending the festivities.  

The tables were ready for the crowds, and the vendors were anticipating their sales.

Heading down the stairs from Calle Larga leads us smack into the vendors tents lining the Tomebamba River.

Admiring the fine detailed work of the Saraguro people of the southern Ecuadorian Andes. 

They are a humble and gentle people - and their attire sets them apart.

You know I'm not afraid of color - one of the reasons living in this colorful country makes me happy!

Some of the vendors would weave while they waited for their sales.

This beautiful woman from Baños-Ambato demonstrated her skill.  

Colorful table coverings

How can one resist these beautiful pieces?  I wanted to buy one of everything!

Un Colibri - Ecuadorians love hummingbirds!

Rustic pottery was another of my purchases.

Every artist was dressed so beautifully, and it is how many of the more traditional people dress daily.

I admire the beauty of the aged Ecuadorian women - this vendor was so classy and of a gentle spirit.

The banks of the Tomebamba River was a perfect place for the crowds to take a break.

Such beautiful and talented dancers......

.......a dance of romance......

......and their final bow!  The crowds' applause makes them smile.

Artistic drawings grace this wall along the Tomebamba River

Ahhhhh, the beautiful children of Cuenca.  She admires herself and the final face-painting art......

.....then turns to the photographer for a full-view shot!
Isn't she beautiful?

Another wee one takes her turn......

......then turns her sweet face to the camera!

How blessed Bo and I are to be living in this beautiful country!

Grilled Platanos.......

......stuffed with cheese!  A favorite treat for the people of Ecuador.

My sister-girlfriend, Lorena, is ready to indulge on her cheese-filled platano!  She arrived one day before this 4-day art event - and is here to stay!  Does she look happy?  You betcha!  It's taken her 11 months to sell her Portland, Oregon home, pack her container, and arrive to her new city.
I told her that the entire town of Cuenca was celebrating her.  I think she believed me.
Bienvenida mi amiga preciosa!!! 

Colorful twirling dancers make me happy!

A bystander joins in to give this dancer a twirl!

The crowd and dancers clap and cheer them on.

The crowds cover the stairs under the beautiful blue skies.....

Gourd creations of an artist from Uruguay whose work I so admired.

The large fat carved and painted Armadillo Gourd (calabaza) was my favorite purchase.  

A painted rock says it all - "Jesus YES I Love You" - Daily I thank Him for guiding Bo and me to this glorious country and for surrounding me with beautiful people and outstanding art.  

The next art festival will be in April.  So, come on down (or up, or across.....)