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Letters from Ecuador: Guayaquil, The Most Colorful Pearl of The Pacific…

Adventure Travel 3 Comments

My dear travelers and lovers of unusual journeys, welcome to the new series of travelogues on the Mr.M blog. The month of November will be dedicated to an unusual country in the heart of South America, a country known for the highest quality cocoa, bananas and coffee – Ecuador. At the very beginning of today’s travelogue, I would like to thank PRO ECUADOR and RoyalTour Ecuador Travel & DMC as well as other local partners who selflessly supported my adventure in South America. 

With their help, travelogues from Ecuador and fashion stories were created that you will have the opportunity to read this November and December, and I sincerely hope that you will enjoy the new adventure.

If by any chance you missed reading the previous travelogues and fashion stories from Ecuador or you want to remind yourself of some interesting things, take the opportunity to visit the following links:

  1. Letters from Ecuador: Quito, a city coloured by the art and architecture of the Baroque…(Travelogue)
  2. Sannino Napoli: Discover true Italian craftsmanship with timeless and unique style…(Fashion Story)
  3. Letters from Ecuador: Quito, the pearl of South America in the middle of the world…(Travelogue)
  4. Brett Johnson: Fashion for the modern man with refined and refined taste… (Fashion Story)
  5. Letters from Ecuador: Cuenca, the Vibrant Charming Colonial Gem of South America…(Travelogue)
  6. Appella: Unique Watches that Combine Classic Design and Swiss Functionality… (Fashion Story)
  7. Letters from Ecuador: Ingapirca, Gualaceo and Chordeleg, Explore The Beauty of Andean Culture… (Travelogue)
  8. Brett Johnson: The American Touch of Iconic Elegance… (Fashion Story)

Royaltour is a specialized DMC travel agency for travel within Ecuador and Latin America. This exceptional travel agency offers specially designed travel packages for honeymooners and families, small cruises, Galapagos boutique programs, numerous diving tours, as well as sport fishing. On the foreign market, the focus of the Royaltour DMC travel agency is: Gastronomic tourism, Sports tours, music festivals, pilgrimages (Camino de Santiago and Marian Routes), cruises around the world, Disney, numerous ski camps, Formula 1, Expo Dubai, tennis tournaments, League champion and the World Cup.

The founder and owner of the agency is Erick Andrés Gálvez, who made our stay in Guayaquil special. If your trip takes you to Guayaquil, I highly recommend that you contact Royaltour Travel Agency, whose team will make your stay and experience amazing.

Guayaquil, the official name of the city is Santiago de Guayaquil, the capital of the province of Guayas and the capital of the canton of the same name. It is located in the southern center of the coastal region of Ecuador, on the banks of the Guayas River, about 20 kilometers from its confluence with the Pacific Ocean. It is surrounded by Estero Salado in its southwestern part and the beginning of the Chongon Colonche mountain range, a chain of low-altitude mountains, in the northwest. The city is divided into 16 city parishes.

With a population of almost 3 million inhabitants, it is the most populous city in the country and the fifth in the Andean community. However, its urban core goes beyond urban parishes, bringing together nearby towns and parishes; thus, the conurbation of Guayaquil covers a population of almost 4 million inhabitants, which is the most populous urban agglomeration in the country and also the fifth in the Andean Community. As the most populous city, it is one of the two development centers of the country – along with Quito, the national capital, where the main business, financial, cultural and sports entities of Ecuador are located.

After several attempts to establish the city, it was definitely established in 1547 under the name “Santiago de Guayaquil”, as a shipyard and commercial port in the service of the Spanish crown; from that moment it served as the main point in the economy of the Spanish colony and then the nation. Guayaquil has been home to major revolutions and uprisings throughout history, being the first Ecuadorian city to gain definitive independence from Spain in 1820. It was then the capital of the Free Province of Guayaquil, which was later annexed to Gran Colombia. Since 1830, it has been part of the Republic of Ecuador as an important economic and political axis.

Guayaquil is the main economic center, cultural and financial resources of Ecuador. This city stands out among Ecuadorian cities for its high use of mass transit, as well as for its overall population density and diversity. The city’s port is one of the most important on the eastern Pacific coast as almost 70% of the country’s private exports go through its facilities, bringing in 83% of imports.

How did this most colorful pearl of the Pacific get its name? There are several theories associated with the name of the city of Santiago de Guayaquil, which historians agree has a pre-Hispanic origin. Since the founding process began in 1534, it has been associated with the name Santiago in memory of its patron saint, Santiago the Elder, the apostle of Jesus Christ, who is also the patron saint of several cities in Latin America founded in the colonial period. , such as the city of Santiago in Chile, as well as in the Kingdom of Spain.

One of the theories is based on a romantic legend, transmitted orally from generation to generation, which attributes its etymological origin to the combination of the names of a chief named Guaias and his wife Quil, symbols of indigenous resistance who – according to popular tradition – chose to fight to the death ( and finally to burn the village) rather than submit to the vassalage imposed by the Spanish conquerors.

The existence of a city with a similar name to Guayaquil, located near the city of Duran, was the cause of research by archaeologists and historians, who agreed that at the time of the conquest, it was ruled by the chief of Guayaquil. If the true origin is discovered, the only doubt that would remain would be whether he was said to be the chief who gave the name to the town and river or vice versa. But the researcher Angel Veliz Mendoza in his book “el cacique Guayaquile” states that the name of the city is mentioned at least seven times in documents before 1543. It is believed that the name Guayaquil is a consequence of the last settlement of the population, in the lands of the chiefs of Guayaquil. This area was occupied by the Chonos nation, a group of peoples known from an archaeological point of view as the Milagro-Quevedo culture.

After several transfers and fires, the city was definitely founded in 1547 under the name “The very noble and very loyal city of Santiago de Guayaquil”. After the city’s independence in 1820, the term “Very Noble and Very Loyal” disappeared due to its separation from the Spanish Empire. Currently, the patron saint name of Santiago de Guayaquil is not regularly used, although it is the official name of the city.

In pre-Columbian times, the Guayaquil region was inhabited by several indigenous villages. They consisted of political organization, war actions, and commercial exchange with other peoples located to the south in present-day Peru and to the north in present-day Mexico, by raft navigation, relying on the river structure of the Guayas River. the peoples who settled near the river were the product of the migration that arose from the Manteno culture, and are known as “Mantenos del Sur” or as the Huancavilca culture. In the last period of the pre-Hispanic era, the period of integration, the Huancavilcas covered most of the present province of Guayas and other surrounding provinces, where other cultures developed. These cultures developed independently of each other until the Spanish conquest.

Shortly after Francisco Pizarro began the conquest of Peru, and in order to colonize and expand Spanish domination to the north of the ancient Inca Empire, he ordered the establishment of Villa Santiago de Quito on August 15, 1534, near the current city. Riobamba, but after a short time he was ordered to move to a place inside Inca territory, so two expeditions left. One of the expeditions headed north, which would later found the city of San Francisco de Quito. Meanwhile, another expedition moved southwest and reached the coastal area, with which they settled in several sectors, but were driven out by native resistance.

The establishment of the city was a process in which several Spanish expeditions tried to settle the colonial city, but due to the resistance of the natives, it was too difficult a task. The first settlement was made by Sebastian of Benalcazar in 1534, who arrived from Paita with several expeditions and founded a city east of the Guayas River, but the Chonos destroyed the city and killed almost half of the inhabitants.

In 1536, on Pizarro’s order, Hernando de Zaera moved a town near a place called “Jahual”, but since the Spanish armies needed support from the south, Zaera and his army went to Peru. Pizarro again ordered the transfer and reconstruction of the alcapitan city of Francisco de Orellana and in 1537 the city was settled in Culata, the current sector of La Punitilla in Samborondon, and then Orellana left for Lima again, leaving Juan Porcello as mayor. In 1541, an alliance between Chonos and Punaes besieged the city in a conflict that lasted six months.

In May 1542, Captain Diego de Urbina moved the city again and took refuge near Huancavilcas, west of the Guayas River, however, in 1543 Huancavilcas completely destroyed the city and once again the city had to be moved to the same place as Belalcazar. built in 1534. Finally, after a civil war broke out between Pizarro and Almagro, the city was moved to its current location on July 25, 1547 under the name of Very Noble and Very Loyal City of Santiago de Guayaquil.

In the colonial period, Santiago de Guayaquil began to grow from the hills of Santa Ana and after a short time became an important trading center, with which the Audiencia maintained commercial links with other parts of the entire South Pacific region, and this contributed to the abundance of useful forest for construction, the existence of a large the number of individuals looking for work (which made labor cheaper) and the strategic location of the port allowed Guayaquil to become the main shipyard of the South Sea Navy and one of the largest and most important in the Americas in seventeenth century.

Due to the commercial boom the city sustained during its early years, Santiago de Guayaquil had to endure several pirate attacks. The English privateer Thomas Cavendish attacked the city in 1586, and the Dutchman Jacques L’Eremite did the same in 1624, while the next attack took place in 1684, when William Dampier, along with other pirates, destroyed most of the city due to fires that caused by their attacks. In 1687, French pirates D’Hout, Picard, and Groignet launched raids, leaving the city partially destroyed, looted, and the main buildings burned to the ground. From these events, it was decided to move the city, which led to the separation of the city into the old part of the city and the new part of the city in a process that lasted between 1690 and 1696. Due to the constant transfers, there are numerous fires and plagues that would hit the city leaving hundreds dead. As a preventive measure against attacks, forts were built on the hills and the army grew, while pirate attacks gradually weakened until they completely disappeared.

In 1763, the Corregimiento of Guayaquil was transformed into the Government of Guayaquil and passed from the composition of the Viceroyalty of Peru to the Viceroyalty of New Granada. While on November 10, 1764, a fire called Fuego Grande destroyed a large part of the new city, which is currently on the list of one of the biggest disasters in Guayaquil. After the disaster, through efforts before the king, exemption from paying the alcabal was requested for a limited time, and with a loan of two hundred thousand pesos, the city began to rapidly rebuild. With the royal confirmation of 1803, the Government of Guayaquil returns to depend on the Viceroyalty of Peru, due to the existing large commercial flow and to improve the military defense against privateers and strengthen the shipyard.

After unsuccessful attempts at emancipation in other parts of the Royal Audience of Quito, but motivated by the liberation current and the arrival of General José de San Martín with the Liberation Expedition of Peru to the north of Peru and the control of Spanish naval power in the Pacific in the campaign of Thomas Cochrane, on October 9, 1820, the city of Guayaquil was declared independence from the Spanish Empire, thus joining the emancipatory cause of other regions on the continent. With the independence of the city, José Joaquín de Olmedo, who was in charge of the provisional government, convened an assembly on November 8 of that year at which the Free Province of Guayaquil was created and its electoral statute and constitution for the nascent state. In addition, the sovereignty of Guayaquil and its independence were secured, the Protective Division of Quito was created, through which the rest of the Presidency of Quito was supposed to become independent, giving way to the beginning of the independence war in the region.

Guayaquil’s army fought a series of battles to secure the independence of the city and its province, however, royalist armies continued to consolidate in the mountains. President Olmedo decided to ask the other liberators of South America for help, with the help of which he obtained the help of Simón Bolívar, who sent Antonio José de Sucre with a considerable army in favor of the emancipatory cause. And in sending José de San Martin from the Peruvian-Argentine division that commanded Santa Cruz. From that, the liberation armies consolidated on the coast, entered the inter-Andean alley where they headed north, holding several battles and finally, on May 24, 1822, they defeated the royalist forces in the Battle of Pichincha, which consolidated the independence of the territories of the old royal audience of Quito.

After achieving independence, Quito and Cuenca were quickly annexed to Greater Colombia, while Bolivar tried to annex the Free Province of Guayaquil. However, the option of joining Peru or remaining independent was also strongly considered in Guayaquil. José de San Martín also showed a desire for this city to join Peru, which is why Bolivar decides to enter the city with the army, does not know the local government under the protest of the people and waits for San Martín, as a result, Olmedo self-exiled in Lima. The meeting of the liberators, called the Guayaquil interview, took place on July 26, 1822 and resulted in agreements on the definition of Peruvian independence, where San Martin would give Bolivar the freedom to conclude it and the annexation of Guayaquil to Gran. Colombia. On July 31, 1822, the Free Province of Guayaquil became the Department of Guayaquil, which in turn was part of the southern district of Gran Colombia. Not long after, in 1829, the city was invaded by the Peruvian army, which occupied it for a period of seven months.

The following year, the Southern District was separated from Greater Colombia and the Republic of Ecuador was created, and Guayaquil became part of it on May 19, 1930. The Venezuelan Juan Jose Flores was elected as the first president, who held that position for three terms that proved to be disastrous for the young nation. Later, in 1845, a national assembly convened and drafted a new constitution that granted Flores excessive powers, in addition to his immediate re-election and extension of his reign. This is why the Marxist revolution broke out in Guayaquil on March 6, 1845, led by Jose Joaquin de Olmedo, Vicente Rocafuerte, Vicente Ramon Rocca, Diego Noboa, among others; who overthrew Flores and established a new line of government called the Marxist period.

After a few years, Marcismo remained in power until 1859, when Francisco Robles resigned as president of Ecuador. After Robles left power, several supreme chiefdoms were formed in the country. In Guayaquil, General Guillermo Franco Herrera declared himself the Supreme Chief of Guayas, while in Quito a provisional government was formed under the command of Gabriel García Moreno, and in Cuenca, Jeronimo Carrion declared himself the Supreme Chief of that region. In addition to the internal political crisis, Peru also had to deal with diplomatic and territorial problems. Franco negotiated agreements with Peruvian President Ramon Castilla, with whom he signed the Treaty of Mapasingu, after Peruvian troops captured the city.

After the withdrawal of the Peruvian expedition; On September 24, 1860, the forces of García Moreno and Juan José Flores, who had helped García Moreno in his attempt to reconcile with Ecuador, fought a conflict known as the Battle of Guayaquil against the forces of Guillermo Franco. As a result of García Moreno’s victory, Guayaquil was re-annexed to Ecuador and later the Treaty of Mapasingu was annulled by the congresses of both nations. In addition, after these events, the period known as Garcianism began in the government of Ecuador.

Over the years, it has continued with its commercial tradition, and currently in an essentially economic process, it is dedicated to tourism, reflected in the changes in the decoration of the city, with the improvement of citizens’ self-esteem. a process that lasted for years, from the last two municipal administrations. Guayaquil thus developed into a national and international tourist destination, hosting international fairs and events.

The center of the city of Guayaquil is one of the most important places for domestic and foreign tourism, because it is the oldest and most colonial. The Malecon 2000 area is of great tourist interest and is located near the center. The Point, located in the Puerto Santa Ana area, is the largest building in Guayaquil and the country. The settlement of “Las Penas” is another interesting place, it has approximately 444 steps and ends with a viewpoint from which you can enjoy the most beautiful view of the city.

Its geographical location makes it the gateway to the Galapagos Islands and it has won World Travel Awards on several occasions. Among them: South America’s leading city break destination and South America’s leading business development and conference destination.

Guayaquil is a city that offers a variety of activities and events. In addition to excursions or tours: shopping tours in shopping centers, gastronomic tours, religious tours or tours in agrotourism haciendas. A good alternative to getting to know the city are the free tours offered through the municipality of Guayaquil.

One of the most important places for tourists is the Malecon 2000, named after the foundation that carried out the works. The original name is Malecon Simon Bolivar. This work is a project of urban regeneration of the old promenade. With a length of 2.5 km, it offers its visitors, in addition to safety, great monuments of the city’s history, museums, gardens, fountains, viewpoints, shopping centers, restaurants, bars, restaurants, the first IMAX cinema in Ecuador, piers, from where you can embark on boats for day and night walks along the Guayas River.

According to studies conducted by the Municipal Public Enterprise for Tourism, Civic Promotion and International Relations, 54% of tourists who come to Guayaquil are foreigners, while 98% of tourists recommend the city as a tourist destination.

On the Malecon del Salado you can enjoy family walks along the estuary in small boats and admire the flora and fauna of the estuary; there are also discos, as well as numerous restaurants and bars. Las Peñas is the oldest neighborhood in Guayaquil. In recent years, it has been transformed into one of the main attractions of the city. Puerto Santa Ana: it is an architectural megaproject similar to the Coconut Walk of Miami or Puerto Madero in Argentina, it is a residential, business and potential tourist place that has several buildings of contemporary construction and luxury apartments. Its first phase was inaugurated in 2007. Just a few meters from the Peñas and Santa Ana hills, there is the Guayaquil Artisan Market (MAG), which was created in 1982 and since that moment has gathered under one roof the arts, cultures and crafts of the 4 regions of Ecuador. It is the oldest craft market in the province with more than 100 artisans from the coast, mountains and Amazonia.

The Guayaquil Historical Park is located outside the urban perimeter. The place has a mangrove forest through which visitors can travel on a wooden path. There are 28 species of animals in the mangrove, including white-tailed deer, raccoon, and peccary. There are also tigers, sloths, monkeys and crocodiles. You can also see parrots, harpy eagles and parrots here. The site also has a replica of old Guayaquil, some of the buildings are original and have been transferred to the park. In the park you can discover the main fauna and history of not only the city but also the old province.

Lake Park National Recreation Area is an artificial lake with more than 2,500,000 m³ of water (reservoir) and where you can enjoy water sports such as kayaking, rowing, shore fishing, spearfishing, diving, snorkeling and other water sports, as well as activities such as cycling, camping, picnics and enjoying nature.

Puerto Hondo is a tourist spot to enjoy flora and fauna (mangrove reserve) and engage in water sports such as swimming, rowing, kayaking, etc. It has a beach and typical and traditional food. While in the protected forest of Cerro Blanco you can admire the flora and fauna of the dry forest and you can enjoy adventure tourism in the ecological reserve with the possibility of camping from day to day.

Cerro Santa Ana is located northeast of the city, next to Las Peñas and a few meters from the Malecón. It is the place where Guayaquil was born. A picturesque place and very interesting to visit because you have to climb 456 steps, until you reach its top, from where you can see the north of Guayaquil. The hill is full of cafes, bars, craft shops.

Seminario Park is located in the Rocafuerte area in the very center of the city. In this park, you can see a monument to Simon Bolivar, as well as a large variety of green iguanas. Seminario Park is bordered to the north by Clemente Balen i Milan Street, to the south by 10 de Agosto Street, to the east by Chile Street and to the west by Chimborazo Street, which has been regenerated for specific pedestrian use, as it connects the park to the Guayaquil Cathedral. The Plaza de Santo Domingo is located in front of the church that gives it its name, where Rocafuerte Street is next to the plateau between the hills of Santa Ana and Carmen.

The Metropolitan Cathedral of Guayaquil is located in the heart of Guayaquil, it was built around 1547, it has beautiful semi-gothic towers, it was the mother church in the mid-sixteenth century. Originally the cathedral was built of wood, in 1590 the building was on Santa Ana Hill, next to the Cabildo House and the Plaza de Armas, then the temple was destroyed in a terrible fire in 1692. Samanes Park is located north of the city, right in the Samanes sector. It is the third largest park in Latin America, as it stretches from the Guayas River to the Via a Daula with about 851 hectares. It is a recreational park that has a large number of football, tennis, basketball and handball courts; it also has a lagoon and a concert venue with a capacity of 10,000 people.

In this park, a stadium was built, which was named in honor of the deceased football player Christian Benitez Betancourt, with a capacity of 8,000 people. Guayaquil football club from Serie A of Ecuadorian football plays at this stadium. If you are a fan of extreme sports, there are small towns near Guayaquil surrounded by nature that are ideal for extreme sports and outdoor activities. Canyoning, which consists of descending through canyons or waterfalls, is one of the most commonly practiced by tourists who arrive in Guayaquil and are looking for some adventure nearby, also bar diving and tubing, which consists of sailing through fast-flowing rivers, is another outdoor adventure sport. widely practiced.

Hilton Colon Guayaquil is located close to José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport, which connects you to the Galapagos Islands. In just 10 minutes’ drive, you can visit the famous Malecon 2000, the city’s waterfront promenade with numerous shops, gardens and historical monuments. The Hilton Colon Guayaquil hotel has an outdoor pool with a bar and a spa with a sauna, steam room and treatment rooms.

I would like to give a special thanks to the Hilton Colon Guayaquil staff for their warm welcome and hosting me in their hotel. The stay in their hotel was exceptional, a unique experience that I will remember!

In the next post, I will write about Hotel del Parque, which is a representative of classic Ecuadorian luxury located in a refreshing natural environment. This exceptional boutique hotel allows you to relax in nature, which you should consider if you decide to visit Guayaquil, the most colorful pearl of the Pacific. My dear adventurers, we have come to the end of this fifth special travelogue in the series of travelogues about Ecuador where we had the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of this unusual country in South America. Today’s travelogue would not be possible without the selfless help of PRO ECUADOR, Royaltour DMC travel agency, Hilton Colon Guayaquil in collaboration with local partners who allowed me to feel the spirit and beauty of local culture and the beauty of everyday life in Guayaquil. Of course, as always, I tried my best to convey to you my impressions of this unusual experience from Ecuador.

A person is rich in soul if he has managed to explore the world and I am glad that I always manage to find partners of my projects who help me to discover new and unusual destinations in a completely different way.

I am honoured to have the opportunity to collaborate with many companies and businesses in the tourism sector and I would like to thank PRO ECUADOR and Royaltour DMC travel agency once again for this amazing adventure and for allowing me to feel the beauty of this unusual place in a completely different way Ecuadorian culture and feel the beauty of everyday life in Guayaquil.

How did you like my story about Ecuador and the presentation of Guayaquil, the pearl of the Pacific adorning the south of this unusual country in South America? Have you had the chance to visit Ecuador so far?

If you have any question, comment, suggestion or message for me you can write me below in the comments. Of course, as always, you can contact me via email or social networks, all addresses can be found on the CONTACT page. See you at the same place in a few days, with some new story!

In the following stories from Ecuador, we will discover some other interesting sights that you should visit if your journey leads you to this exotic country!

With Love from Guayaquil,

Mr.M

This post is sponsored by PRO ECUADOR, Royaltour DMC travel agency, Hilton Colon Guayaquil hotel and other local partners. This post is my personal and honest review of the destination experience.

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Letters from Ecuador: Ingapirca, Gualaceo and Chordeleg, Explore The Beauty of Andean Culture…

Adventure Travel 5 Comments

My dear travelers and lovers of unusual journeys, welcome to the new series of travelogues on the Mr.M blog. The month of November will be dedicated to an unusual country in the heart of South America, a country known for the highest quality cocoa, bananas and coffee – Ecuador. At the very beginning of today’s travelogue, I would like to thank PRO ECUADOR and Tour Operator Cuenca BesTours as well as other local partners who selflessly supported my adventure in South America.

With their help, travelogues from Ecuador and fashion stories were created that you will have the opportunity to read this November and December, and I sincerely hope that you will enjoy the new adventure.

If by any chance you missed reading the previous travelogues and fashion stories from Ecuador or you want to remind yourself of some interesting things, take the opportunity to visit the following links:

  1. Letters from Ecuador: Quito, a city coloured by the art and architecture of the Baroque…(Travelogue)
  2. Sannino Napoli: Discover true Italian craftsmanship with timeless and unique style…(Fashion Story)
  3. Letters from Ecuador: Quito, the pearl of South America in the middle of the world…(Travelogue)
  4. Brett Johnson: Fashion for the modern man with refined and refined taste… (Fashion Story)
  5. Letters from Ecuador: Cuenca, the Vibrant Charming Colonial Gem of South America… (Travelogue)
  6. Appella: Unique Watches that Combine Classic Design and Swiss Functionality… (Fashion Story)

It is very important to note that Cuenca BesTours is a leading tour operator and travel agency based in Cuenca. Their team specializes in organizing and customizing cultural and adventure tours and activities for couples, families and groups in Cuenca and Ecuador. With more than ten years of experience, we have built a reputation for providing personalized and memorable experiences for our guests. The Cuenca BesTours team of local travel experts strives to skilfully bring every detail of every trip to perfection in order to create added value that makes the tourist experience unique and unforgettable.

If you decide to visit Ecuador, Cuenca BesTours offers group and private individual tours in Ecuador with which you can get to know this unusual country in South America. Also, they are organising extraordinary Day Trips from Cuenca, cultural heart of Ecuador. My experience with the travel agency Cuenca BesTours is outstanding and I can praise the work of their team who organised at very short notice a multi-day trip to Cuenca, which I described in a previous travelogue about this charming city, as well as a tour of the ruins of Ingapirca and Gualaceo and Chordeleg towns – villages where I had the opportunity to better explore the beauty of Andean culture and about which I will write to you in more detail today.

A new morning dawned in Guayaquil and my photographer and I knew it was time to continue our adventure. The smiling guide Chris presented us with an itinerary with lots of useful information. Chris kept us company during this trip and did his best to make our adventure in and around Cuenca perfect. He is a living encyclopedia and is very familiar with this part of Ecuador because he lives in Cuenca.

Ingapirca, which means “wall of the Incas” in the Kichwa language, is one of the most important set of pre-Columbian ruins in Republic of Ecuador, located about 80 km north of Cuenca. The Inca Sun Temple located on its hill with an amazing panoramic view of the surrounding nature is a truly unique and impressive landscape, and the ruins themselves have a fascinating history. Ingapirca is an archaeological complex located in the Canar province. It is undoubtedly one of the most famous archaeological sites in the country.

The site was initially a settlement of the Canari culture, although it was later occupied by the Incas, who built most of the structures that have survived to this day. After conducting numerous researches, by interpreting certain archaeologists’ writings, it is considered that this complex must have had a religious function, because it was built on a rocky outcrop that must have been the pacarina (the place of origin of the people according to some local myths) for the Canaries. It is mainly known for the great Sun Temple of Ingapirca, which is a unique building in the entire Inca Empire because it has an oval plan. Such kind of constructions are not known at any other Inca site in pre-Columbian America.

In the province of Canar, in the south of the country, at an altitude of approximately 3160 m and almost 16 km from the city of Canar, there is the most significant archaeological building of Inca origin in the current Republic of Ecuador.

Ingapirca is a Quichua word meaning wall of the Incas. It is an authentic Inca-Canary construction, created at the beginning of the sixteenth century, which is assumed to have been an observatory of the sun and the moon just before the arrival of the Spaniards in the area. The collection of archaeological remains of Ingapirca has been recorded by the outside world since at least the mid-eighteenth century, although there are references to the site where these structures are located – Valle del Canar – as early as the sixteenth century, when it was known as the province of Hatun Canar (Quichua language: Hatun Canar, which means “great place of canaries”).

The model of the house, not originally built in the Ingapirca complex, faithfully shows what one of the houses looked like.

One of the records from 1582, recorded by the parish priest Fray Gaspar de Gallegos, parish priest of San Francisco de Peleusi de Azogues, a town near this site, wrote the following:

“I came to the territory called Canares, because three leagues from here there is a city called Hatum Canar, which in the Inca language means “the great province of Cañas”, and there they say that in the time of the Incas Huain Capac there was a large population of Indians and that there was housed the main chief and it seems so, because today there are large and very luxurious buildings, and among them very strong ones”.

Collective grave of a priestess from Canaria and 10 of her servants.

Today there is no confirmed information for what purpose this building of Inca-Canari origin was built. The only criterion in which several historians and archaeologists agree is that it was built under the direct orders of the former Inca Huain Capac, during the territorial expansion and conquest of the people that the Inca Tupac Yupanqui, his father and ancestor as the emperor of Tahuantinsuyo, began many years ago towards the territories which today make up southern Ecuador.

Some archaeologists believe that this site also played a large role in the military strategies of the Incas, as an outpost and supply of troops in the north of Ecuador, but its most important purpose was to be a place of worship and respect for the cult of the Sun, the greatest god of the Incas, which made itself in Coricancha , dedicated to the ritual of the Incas.

The ruins of Ingapirca were excavated and restored by the Archaeological Mission of Spain between 1974 and 1975. These investigations led to several publications by archaeologists José Alcina, Miguel Rivera and Antonio Fresco.

What is the historical background of Ingapirca? According to what is currently known and verified, the Canaries were present in this region long before the Incas arrived. They are renowned for their fierce fighting spirit and tenacious resistance to invasion, having successfully repelled the Inca ruler Tupac Yupanqui’s army from their territory. Through a combination of wars and marriages, the Inca Empire did not ultimately conquer the Canaries until Huaina Capac, Yupanqui’s son, carried on his father’s campaign.

It’s interesting to note that the conquerors respected the Canaries enough to establish a community with them after their victory and build a Temple of the Sun to go with the Temple of the Moon already in place. In addition to its ceremonial role, Ingapirca is thought to have served astronomical, political, and administrative purposes. Atahualpa, the son of Juana Capac, would sometimes visit the many high-status individuals and families who resided there.

Though its golden age and growth were brief, Ingapirca’s strategic location overlooking the surrounding valley at 3,200 meters above sea level was crucial. It is thought that the complex was destroyed in the conflict between Atahualpa and his brother Huascar in 1532, just before the Spanish conquest. After the site was looted by the Spanish, many of the stone walls were used to construct haciendas and churches in Cuenca and other places. After being abandoned, the site was restored by the Ecuadorian government in the middle of the 20th century, and in 1966 it was made public.

All of the explanations are in Spanish, so it takes creativity and a tour with a guide like Chris to make the most of Ingapirca, which is essentially just stone foundations. The original Kanari settlement is marked by the Pilaloma complex on the south side. Thousands of spondyl shells and the collective tomb of the Canarian priestess and ten of her servants, who were buried alive with her after her death, are the most fascinating features of this complex. The tomb is situated beneath a sizeable stone that is thought to be connected to a number of astronomical computations and may have served as a sacrifice altar.

There is a sizable open area where many devotees congregated for rituals in addition to the communal tomb and temples in the Ingaprit ruins. A portion of the Inca Trail, which formerly linked administrative and religious hubs in Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile, still adheres to this belief. Grain storage areas, terraced agricultural terraces, and ceremonial baths are additional features.

Built on top of the ancient ceremonial rock of Canary, the elliptical Temple of the Sun—the only one of its kind in the Inca Empire forms the complex’s focal point. This structure is thought to have served as a location for rituals as well as a means of determining when religious holidays and agricultural labor should take place. Inti Rajmi, the Sun Festival, which is still observed in Ingapirca every June, was the most significant occasion. The volcanic rocks were hand-hewn so precisely that mortar was not required, allowing for the full appreciation of the magnificent stonework that is the hallmark of Inca construction.

The House of the Chosen, where only the most attractive girls from the nearby villages lived as Virgins of the Sun, is located next to the temple in this remarkable complex. These girls learned to dance, knit, weave, and cook after being taken from their homes as young children. They had to prepare ceremonial food, keep the sacred fire going, entertain visiting Inca dignitaries, and weave garments for the emperor and rituals. They would wed high-ranking men like priests, notable soldiers, and Incas.

Interestingly, there is a big stone with 28 holes of varying sizes close to the Sun temple. It is thought that this stone served as the lunar calendar. The holes are thought to have been filled with water, which caused the moonlight to reflect differently throughout the month, telling the date. The Cara del Inca, a massive human face that is thought to be a natural phenomenon, can be seen outlined on a cliff a short stroll from the temple.

After spending two hours at the Ingapirca complex, we continue on to Gualaceo and Chordeleg villages. The South American village of Chordeleg, located in the Azuay region, is well-known for its ceramics and exquisite silver and gold filigree jewelry. Thanks to the local artisans’ workshop, you can learn how this delicate technique is expertly executed to create such beautiful pieces.

Let’s not forget how filigree jewelry is made. Mrs. Mom’s earlier fashion stories, in which she wrote to you about the renowned Filevi 1928 jewelry from North Macedonia, probably taught you about it. One of the most exquisite metalworking techniques is filigree. Over the ages, this method has been employed to create incredibly valuable and exquisite jewelry as well as ornamental objects that are still prized today. Using this technique, the motif is composed of silver, gold, and less frequently copper wire to create jewelry or decorative items. A complex motif is created by bending, interlacing, and tying wire threads together; it can be displayed fully free or on a metal base. Filigree wire was used to create geometric designs, flowers, and circles. These items were occasionally topped with tiny metal balls.

Before traveling to Gualaceo, a village renowned for its amazing textiles, you can explore Chordelega’s center by strolling through Plaza Central or the Main Square and stopping by the numerous artisan stores that line it.

Discover the vibrant colors and unique patterns of the handwoven fabrics sold by locals at Gualaceo’s two traditional markets, where you can immerse yourself in the vibrant pace of everyday life. Visit workshops where textiles are made and try to observe the various looms that the artisans use to enjoy the creation of handicrafts. The renowned ponchos that are represented in this Andean region are frequently made using the pre-Hispanic Ikat weaving technique, which you can learn about here!

In the next post, I will write about the most populated city in Ecuador, which many say is the Pearl of the Pacific – Guayaquil, which you should visit if you decide to visit this unusual country in South America. My dear adventurers, we have come to the end of this fourth special travelogue in the series of travelogues about Ecuador where we had the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of this unusual country in South America. Today’s travelogue would not be possible without the selfless help of PRO ECUADOR and Tour Operator Cuenca BesTours in collaboration with local partners who allowed me to feel the spirit and beauty of Ecuadorian and Andean local culture and traditions. Of course, as always, I tried my best to convey to you my impressions of this unusual experience from Ecuador.

Being able to travel the world is a sign of a rich soul, and I’m happy that I consistently find project partners who enable me to see new and unusual places in a whole new way.

It is a privilege for me to work with so many organisations and businesses in the tourism industry, and I want to express my gratitude to the Tour Operator Cuenca BesTours once more for this amazing experience and for giving me the chance to appreciate the beauty of this unique Ecuadorian and Andean local culture in a whole new way.

How did you like my story about Ecuador and the presentation of Ingapirca Ruins and as well of Gualaceo and Chordeleg charming villages, which adorns the south of this unusual country in South America? Have you had the chance to visit Ecuador so far?

If you have any question, comment, suggestion or message for me you can write me below in the comments. Of course, as always, you can contact me via email or social networks, all addresses can be found on the CONTACT page. See you at the same place in a few days, with some new story!

In the following stories from Ecuador, we will discover some other interesting sights that you should visit if your journey leads you to this exotic country!

With Love from Ecuador,

Mr.M

This post is sponsored by PRO ECUADOR and Tour Operator Cuenca BesTours as well as other local partners. This post is my personal and honest review of the destination experience.

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Letters from Ecuador: Cuenca, the Vibrant Charming Colonial Gem of South America…

Adventure Travel 8 Comments

My dear travelers and lovers of unusual journeys, welcome to the new series of travelogues on the Mr.M blog. The month of November will be dedicated to an unusual country in the heart of South America, a country known for the highest quality cocoa, bananas and coffee – Ecuador. At the very beginning of today’s travelogue, I would like to thank PRO ECUADOR, the Tourism Foundation of the Municipality of Cuenca, Tour Operator Cuenca BesTours and Hotel Cruz del Vado as well as other local partners who selflessly supported my adventure in South America. With their help, travelogues from Ecuador and fashion stories were created that you will have the opportunity to read this November and December, and I sincerely hope that you will enjoy the new adventure.

If by any chance you missed reading the previous travelogues and fashion stories from Ecuador or you want to remind yourself of some interesting things, take the opportunity to visit the following links:

  1. Letters from Ecuador: Quito, a city coloured by the art and architecture of the Baroque… (Travelogue)
  2. Sannino Napoli: Discover true Italian craftsmanship with timeless and unique style…(Fashion Story)
  3. Letters from Ecuador: Quito, the pearl of South America in the middle of the world… (Travelogue)
  4. Brett Johnson: Fashion for the modern man with refined and refined taste… (Fashion Story)

The Tourism Foundation of the Municipality of Cuenca is a state body whose mission is to develop and promote Cuenca as a tourist product-destination in a high-quality way both at the national and international level. This foundation is recognized as an institution at the national level in the management of responsible and sustainable tourism, showing that tourism is a key part of the economic development of Cuenca.

On the other hand, Cuenca BesTours is a leading tour operator and travel agency based in Cuenca. Their team specialises in organising and customising cultural and adventure tours and activities for couples, families and groups in Cuenca and Ecuador. With more than ten years of experience, we have built a reputation for providing personalized and memorable experiences for our guests. The Cuenca BesTours team of local travel experts strives to skilfully bring every detail of every trip to perfection in order to create added value that makes the tourist experience unique and unforgettable.

The domes of the New Cathedral in Cuenca.

Cuenca, officially known as Santa Ana de los Ríos de Cuenca is an Ecuadorian city, the capital of the canton of the same name and the capital of the province of Azuay, as well as its largest and most populated city. Tomebamba, Tarki, Yanunkay and Macangara rivers pass through the city. The city is located in the center-south of the inter-Andean region of Ecuador in the bed of the Pauta River, at an altitude of 2550 meters.

This city earned its epithet “Athens of Ecuador” due to its amazing colonial architecture, cultural diversity, contribution to Ecuadorian art, science and literature, as well as being the birthplace of many celebrities in Ecuadorian society. Cuenca has about 400,000 inhabitants, making it the third most populous city in Ecuador, just behind Guayaquil and Quito. The city is the core of the metropolitan area of ​​Cuenca, which also consists of nearby rural towns and parishes. This conglomerate has a population of less than 800,000 inhabitants, and also occupies the third position among the conurbations of Ecuador.

The city was founded by Gil Ramirez Davalos on April 12, 1557, on the ruins of the Inca city of Tomebamba and the Canarian city of Guapondelig, by order of the Viceroy of Peru, Andres Hurtado de Mendoza. During the twentieth century, the city maintained its growth, promoting education and culture, and in 1999, its historic center was declared a cultural heritage of humanity. It is one of the most important administrative, economic, financial and commercial centers of Ecuador. The main activities of the city are trade and industry, while in recent years Cuenca has become an international tourist attraction of exceptional importance.

How did the city get its name? The city was named Santa Ana de los Ríos de Cuenca in honor of the city of Cuenca in Spain, the birthplace of the Spanish viceroy of Peru Andres Hurtado de Mendoza, who sent Mr. Gil Ramirez Davalos to found the city and the fact that this place is very similar in its geographical features to Spain the city. In addition, the name includes the fact that it is crossed by the Tomebamba, Tarki, Januncaj and Macangara rivers. The rest of the name comes from the Spanish tradition of consecrating new cities to a saint of the Catholic Church, in this case Saint Anna (Santa Ana).

An example of republican architecture in the historic center of Cuenca.

What is the historical background of this city and where was it created? According to numerous archaeological and anthropological remains, found in Chobshi and Kubilan, it is known that the first inhabitants of this area date back to 8060 BC, who were nomadic hunters and gatherers. They inhabited the area until about 5580 BC. After that period, human settlements disappear and only in 2000 BC, the repopulation of this area begins. This period is called the Cerro Narrio Culture which lasted from 2000 BC. to 500 B.C., this period is often referred to as Chaullabamba. This culture represents small settlements of the organization corresponding to the formative culture, the initial division of social classes, it is also characterized by the presence of agriculture and the mass production of ceramics.

After this period, a new period known as the Regional Development (500 BC-500 AD) begins, the Tuncahuan cultures develop, as well as the first stages of the Tacalshapa (Azuai) and Cashaloma (Canar) phases, corresponding to Canara Culture. This stage is characterized by societies with division of labor and perfectly hierarchical, they use intensive agriculture and their ceramics have certain anthropomorphic figures. The most representative of this phase is the use of metals such as gold, silver and copper.

In the period of integration (500 AD – 1500 AD), this area is characterized by conquests and alliances, so the nuclear part of the Canary culture will be integrated into a diarchy whose main cities were Shabalula (Sigsig) and Hatun Kanar (Kanar city), while the outer parts the territories of the Canaries remained only confederated with the nuclear part, which is why they were politically independent. The Duma dynasty ruled from the capital Shabalula, but the lineage of the Hatun Kanar rulers is unknown. In the mid-nineteenth century, in the cantons of Gualaceo, Chordeleg and Sigsig, a series of tombs of rulers from Canaris, rich in precious metals and ceramics, were found, unfortunately most of what was found was looted and sold, fortunately Marshall Saville wrote a book about the pieces taken out, the book was called ” The Golden Treasure of Sigsig, Ecuador,” as well as other books about the huacas of Chordelega.

What is now Cuenca was an important state center of the Diarchy of the Canaries, this area was called Guapondelig in the Canarian language, which meant “a wide plain like the sky” and was characterized by agriculture, as the Canary region was not very suitable for this practice, which made Guapondelig one of the most important areas of Kanaris.

Less than half a century before the arrival of the Castilians, the Incas, after a hard fight, conquered the Canaries with massacres and occupied Guapondelig and the surrounding area. The Incas replaced the architecture of the Canaries with their own, suppressing the Canaries and overshadowing their impressive achievements in astronomy and agriculture. As was common for the Incas, they absorbed useful developments into their culture. They changed the name of the town of Guapondelig to Tumipampa or Tomebamba. The city became known as the administrative center of the northern Inca Empire.

Tomebamba is considered a candidate for the mythical city of gold that the Spanish called El Dorado. The Spanish thought that El Dorado was burned by the inhabitants after learning of the Spanish conquests. The destruction of Tomebamba by its inhabitants before the arrival of the Spanish suggests that it may have been what the Spanish called El Dorado.

The civil war won Atahualpa and while he was going to Cuzco to ratify his sovereignty he was captured and killed by Francisco Pizarro in Cajamarca. The Canaries, because of their hatred of Atahualpa and as a reaction to the massacres committed by the Incas during the conquest, allied themselves with the Spanish and helped, with the participation of other ethnic groups, to defeat and conquer the Inca Empire. Sebastián de Benalcazar, persuaded by the Canaries, went to conquer Quito, passed through the ruins of Tomebamba, and received more reinforcements there. Thus, with the help of 11,000 canaries, Benalcazar defeated Ruminhahui and conquered Quito.

The Canarians, due to the mortality caused by Atahualpa and European diseases, as well as the fact that they fought for years in favor of the conquerors, caused that by 1547, when the chronicler Pedro Ciesa de Leon passed through Tomebamba, there was one man for every fifteen women. Likewise, Sieza confirmed that the Kanjars were Christianized. When he passed through the city and the province he saw the ruins of many Inca temples and palaces.

In the current city of Cuenca, you can see remnants of its Inca past, such as the Pumapungo Palace.

What does the Cuenca we know today look like? By the year 2000, the city had more than 270,000 inhabitants across the canton and during the decade began the process of recovering its heritage, especially in the old part of the city, and also started the process of modernization. Remittances sent by immigrants also had a strong impact, both positive and negative in the city, especially in the rural area.

During the following years, Cuenca also consolidated itself as an international tourist attraction. In addition, in January 2011, the National Assembly of Ecuador declared Cuenca as the best university city.

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Spanish: Catedral de la Inmaculada Concepcion), commonly called the New Cathedral of Cuenca (Spanish: Nueva Catedral de Cuenca) is the cathedral church of Cuenca. It is located in front of Parque Calderón.

The plan of the cathedral was drawn up by Juan Bautista Stiehle, a friar of German origin who arrived in Cuenca from Alsace in 1873, at the suggestion of Bishop Leon Garrido. The cathedral took over the function of the nearby Old Cathedral, which had become too small. Construction works began in 1885 and lasted almost a century. This building combines many architectural styles, but the Romanesque Revival prevails. The cathedral is surmounted by three giant domes covered with striking blue and white glazed tiles from Czechoslovakia. Its stained glass windows were made by the Spanish artist Guillermo Larrazabal.

Its towers were shortened due to an error in the architect’s calculation. If they were raised to the planned height, the foundation of this church would not be able to withstand the weight. Despite the architect’s huge mistake, the outline of his domes became a symbol of the city. Its facade is made of alabaster and local marble, while the floor is covered with pink marble brought from Italy. When the cathedral was first built, 9,000 of the total 10,000 inhabitants of Cuenca could fit in this religious building.

The crypt of the cathedral is located under the central nave and has three entrances: one through Calle Aguirre, the second through the Sacristy and the third in Calle Mariscal Sucre. The shape of this crypt is that of a long alley with funerary vaults on each side.

Some of the famous people of the city of Cuenca are buried in the crypt, such as: Remigio Crespo Toral, Grail. Antonio Vega, Fray Vicente Solano; as well as the bishops of the city: Miguel Leon, Manuel Maria Politika, Daniel Hermida, Monsignor Manuel Serrano Abad and the builder of the cathedral: Luis Antonio Chicaiza. The crypt has 11 small mausoleums, 192 vaults and 210 urns for remains.

The cathedral in Cuenca has six domes located on the chancel and the central nave. They are divided into three ascents and three lowest levels that are intertwined in their location. All turrets have a flashlight inside. Three high domes and one low one are covered with tiles, while the others maintain a brick structure. The high domes have a Renaissance style, are the largest on the Cruiser and have an internal diameter of 12 meters and a height of 53 meters.

Now I will introduce you to a charming street that captures the essence of this historic Ecuadorian city. As you stroll down this picturesque street, you’ll experience time travel and travel back in time, surrounded by colonial architecture, vibrant local culture and a palpable sense of history.

Santa Ana Street is not just a tourist attraction, it is a real experience just waiting to be discovered. Whether you’re a lover of history, architecture or just a curious traveler, this street has something to offer everyone. This alley holds many legendary secrets of the past to today’s modern appeal, there is much to learn and explore.

Located in the heart of Cuenca, Santa Ana Street is steeped in history dating back to the colonial era. Originally planned by Spanish settlers, this charming street has witnessed many significant events and transformations in this historic city in Ecuador over the centuries.

The street’s history dates back to the mid-16th century when Spanish settlers carefully planned the look of Cuenca. This era marked the beginning of Santa Ana Street’s journey through history, a journey that would see it as a vital part of the city’s cultural and architectural heritage.

St. Anna Street in the heart of Cuenca.

Santa Ana Street was established in 1557, following urban planning guidelines issued by King Charles V of Spain. The street was part of an effort to create a well-organized colonial city in the New World. An orthogonal grid pattern, a hallmark of Renaissance urban planning, was used to ensure orderly development.

During the colonial period, Santa Ana Street became a busy thoroughfare, lined with colonial-style buildings that displayed the architectural prowess of the time. Many of these buildings are still present today, as faithful witnesses of history. Notable buildings from this period include the Old Cathedral and the Governor’s House, both of which are superb examples of colonial architecture.

How can you visit the sights in Cuenca as a tourist? To get around Cuenca, you can use public transportation, a taxi, or you can even visit the sights on foot in the central part of the city. Cuenca is a city very suitable for cyclists. There are great bike paths along the Rio Tomebamba, and on Thursday evenings a two-hour bike ride through the city that leaves at 8pm from Parque de la Madre. Bicycles can easily be rented at the Mallki Hostel or at the Casa do Brasil Cafe.

If you want to get to know the heart of Cuenca, you should visit Parque Abdón Calderón, better known as Abdón Calderón Major Park, and formerly also known as Plaza Republica or Plaza de Armas. Around the park is the Church of El Sagrario, better known as the Old Cathedral and the Church of the Immaculate Conception or the New Cathedral. There are also the buildings of the Government, the Municipality, the Old Seminary and the Palace of the Provincial Court of Justice. It is located between the streets of Benigno Malo, Mariscal Sucre, Luisa Cordero and Simón Bolívar. The government of Eloy Alfaro named the park Plaza Luis Vargas Torres, but later in 1920 it was changed to Abdón Calderón.

In the park there is a roundabout, a monument to Abdón Calderón which was inaugurated on May 24, 1931 and has four semi-circles. Today, the park has become the center of various events of importance to the city, such as Corpus Christi or the commemoration of Cuenca’s independence.

What should you visit in this charming city? There are numerous sights in Cuenca that every tourist should visit, some of them are located in the city itself, while some important sights are located outside the city.

Ingapirca – The most significant northern ruins of the former Inca Empire located on the UNESCO World Heritage List in Ecuador, combining the Inca and Canarian cultures. This is my suggestion for a fantastic day trip that you can organize with Cuenca BesTours. I had the opportunity to visit these ruins, but I will write more about them in a future blog post.

Baños – A beautiful place not far from Cuenca, this place should not be confused with Baños located in the province of Tungurahua, a town located at the very entrance to the rainforest. In this place not far from Cuenca there are thermal baths available in a hotel complex that includes several hot pools at 36 degrees Celsius and Turkish baths. Many people come here to relax in the hot saunas, swim in the hot or cold pool water and relax with family and friends. The newest addition to the thermal resorts is the beautiful Piedra de Agua. Only 40 minutes away from the center of Cuenca.

Turi – An excellent vantage point from which you can enjoy the view of Cuenca, located south of the city. It has a great view of the city both day and night.

Barranco – The Tomebamba River (one of Cuenca’s four rivers) flows through the heart of the city, creating the river area known as Barranco. The walk itself is beautiful, with paved paths on either side connected by numerous bridges. Stairs lead up steep banks into the older part of town on the north side, connecting to the restaurants and clubs of Calle Larga. Puente Roto, literally ‘Broken Bridge’, is also on the north side and is a popular gathering place. Various clubs, bars, shopping center and Parque de la Madre are lined along the south side.

El Sagrario (“the old cathedral”) – The construction of this religious building was started in 1557. Today it is no longer used as a church and has been turned into a museum. A restoration project was recently completed and the original paint and old murals can now be seen in certain areas.

Museo del Banco Central and Pumapungo – Great museum with ethnographic sections (especially interesting section on the Shuar tribe and shrunken heads) and old Ecuadorian money with a good explanation of the history, albeit only in Spanish. Pumapungo is an old site just behind the museum that requires a bit of imagination.

Amaru Zoo – A zoo and also a place where rescued animals stay, as well as those undergoing rehabilitation. This is a very fun place with a huge number of animals from Ecuador, South America and America. Their team rescued animals like lions, pheasants and crocodiles. It is very green and you can fill your time in a quality and interesting way because it looks like you are hiking along the mountain in a large eucalyptus grove.

If you have extra time, I highly recommend you to visit the museum of famous “Panama” hats – Museo del Sombrero de Paja Toquilla. Panama hats do not trace their true original origins to Panama, they are Ecuadorian hats. I believe that then the question arises for all of us, how did they get this name? One legend has it that the Panama hat got its name in the early 1900s when workers in the Panama Canal wore these hats while working on the construction of the canal.

These hats are made from a natural fiber called Paia Tokuilla, a palm-like plant that can only grow at high altitudes, the natives of the Andes have worn these hats for thousands of years. In addition to Paia Tocuillo, Andeans use Carludovica Palmata, another type of Andean straw for their Panama hats.

The first Panama hat factory was opened in Cuenca in 1836 when demand for these hats increased. These lightweight brimmed hats are great for protecting your eyes and face from the sun. A few years later, in 1855 to be precise, Panama hats attracted the attention of the world when they appeared at the World Fair in Paris. The event that transformed this hat and made it legendary was the moment President Roosevelt wore it while inspecting the Panama Canal in 1904, finally becoming famous and officially on the list of valuable Ecuadorian export goods.

Casa Paredes Roldan is a house located on the Tomebamba River and today is the location of the Panama Hat Museum – Museo del Sombrero de Paja Toquilla. It is also where the Barranco Hat Factory was founded in 1942.

Hats are still made by hand today. A live hat-making demonstration is available at the museum. You can buy the hat shown in the store or order a custom panama hat. There are different types of hat quality from basic cheap versions that are good as souvenirs to semi-fine quality hats and deluxe fine. The price of these hats can vary from about 40 US dollars for the cheapest hat to several hundred to several thousand US dollars if you want to have a really special and high-quality Panama hat in your hat collection.

When you have finished your visit to this interesting hat museum, I strongly advise you to go to the nearby market where you will enjoy a rich and varied offer of exotic fruits and vegetables that we do not have the opportunity to see in Europe.

One of the best things to do in Cuenca is to visit a traditional Ecuadorian market. One of the most authentic markets in the whole city is the Mercado 10 de Agosto. This bustling Cuenca market is a destination for hosts from the surrounding villages, and Cuenca locals love to buy fresh vegetables and fruits from the fields, meat from their favourite local butcher, or to buy beautiful flowers. Not only are there amazing stalls with products, but there are also some unusual services to be found here.

People in Ecuador firmly believe in folk herbal medicine and in the markets you can find women who professionally deal with healing using plants and it is a real experience to see and witness the healing process in the market where women in later years gently touch the part of the body where you have a problem with plants. In addition, they have numerous tinctures, herbal mixtures and teas that can treat various medical problems. This is a truly special experience and I must admit that I have not had the opportunity to see it in other parts of the world. Out of respect for the people who came to a public place for treatment because of their problem and personal privacy, I did not want to take pictures or record the healing process at the numerous herbalists in this famous market.

In addition to the rich and excellent offer of fruits, vegetables, plants, meat and flowers, you can also find cocoa and sweets made in Ecuador at this unusual market. I have to admit that sweets in Ecuador are healthier because most of them are handmade and local products are used. Just try to imagine that you can buy chocolate balls that are hand made from high-quality 70% cocoa. The prices are really affordable for this type of product and average between 6 and 8 US dollars for a package from 500g to 1kg.

After 10 years of working on the Mr.M blog, I had the opportunity to visit various parts of the world and get to know many cultures. I am always fascinated again when I expand my horizons and realize how lucky and rich a person I am at heart who has managed to realize the beauty of different cultures. This experience in Cuenca, as well as in Ecuador in general, is really impressive and amazing to me.

Cuenca is truly an unusual and charming town that impresses tourists with its architecture and exciting history. The locals are extremely warm and friendly, no one did not offer me to try their products and you can only feel such warmth of welcome and true hospitality in South America.

El Cajas National Park is a national park in the highlands of Ecuador, located about 30 km west of Cuenca. The area of ​​285.44 km2 located between 3100m and 4450m above sea level is characterized by paramo vegetation on a jagged landscape of hills and valleys. It was declared a national park on November 5, 1996.

How did this national park get its name? The name “Cajas” comes from the Quichua word “cassa”, which means “gateway to the snowy mountains” or “caka” (Quichua: cold). It is also related to the Spanish word “cajas” (boxes).

The park is known for its rugged relief terrain that features landscapes characterized by valleys nestled between mountains and hills. The park is located at an altitude of over 3100 m, which results in tundra vegetation that covers this area.

Tundra vegetation is the dominant type of flora; however, there is the presence of cloud forests and perennial high mountain forests that follow rivers at lower elevations. The Polylepis tree, also called the Paper Tree, is an evergreen with short, thick leaves, and is one of the types of flora for which this national park is famous.

Lakes and lagoons are scattered throughout the park boundaries, making them common encounters for visitors exploring the national park. Luspa is a glacial lake and is the largest of almost 700 bodies of water distributed among the valleys.

The park straddles the continental divide, meaning two rivers flow west to the Pacific Ocean and two east to the Amazon River and into the river. Mixed habitats give way to a variety of wildlife.

Popular species of wild animals such as mountain wolf, fox, ferret, deer, llama and others can be seen here. The park is also known for being home to endangered endemic bird species. The South American condor and the Curicuinga are two large raptors that are vulnerable to extinction from Ecuador. The Giant Hummingbird is another hopeful bird sighting.

Dos Chorreras was born from the inspiration of nature, the passion for hospitality and the harmony between nature and respect for the preservation of the environment. A complex of rustic bungalows, designed for comfort and well-being, is located just 4 km from the heart of the Cajas National Park. Dos Choreras is a stable, efficient, safe company committed to sustainability and community. Their dedicated team strives to meet the expectations of their guests to make their stay unforgettable.

Featuring a restaurant, bar and garden, Hacienda Hosteria Dos Chorreras offers accommodation with panoramic mountain views and free Wi-Fi. The historic center of Cuenca is a 30-minute drive away.

Hacienda Hosteria Dos Chorreras has rooms and bungalows with private bathroom, LCD satellite TV and seating area. There is a 24-hour front desk that can arrange laundry services and bicycle rental. Guests can enjoy activities in the surroundings, including fishing, canoeing and horse riding.

What delighted me in this complex is the Chocolateria, which is located within the Dos Chorreras inn complex, is a magical place that allows you to refresh not only the body but also the soul. Everything from their menu seems quite tasty, the service is very good, and the establishment itself is packed with guests because this place is so popular.

Here you can buy many interesting souvenirs, sweets, coffee, cured meats and cheeses. The prices are adapted to the tourist area and during my visit this complex was extremely visited and there was a lot of crowd. I like the service of their restaurant, the service is good and fast, and the food was delicious.

To end this travelogue, I would like to give you an honest recommendation and review for a hotel to stay in Cuenca. During the trip, the hotel where we stay is very important to all of us, because the hotel is our home in the new destination and therefore it is very important to choose a good hotel in each destination. During my stay in Cuenca, my hotel Cruz del Vado was my home, decorated with style, comfort and a beautiful atmosphere in the old heart of Cuenca.

Hotel Cruz del Vado has always been a building full of history, art and culture. Located in one of the city’s first districts in the immediate vicinity of the Cruz del Vado monument, the eponymous hotel was painstakingly intervened with a combination of traditional and modern construction techniques, preserving the essence and history of this cultural heritage. The facade of the hotel is completely clad in pink marble imported from Italy, an undeniable symbol of the luxurious lifestyle of the period in which it was built.

The interior of the hotel is also full of unique details due to its republican style and the influence of French architecture. Originally, this property was home to Cuenca’s first El Mercurio newspaper and was previously known as “Palacio de El Mercurio”. On the facade, above the main entrance, there is a plaque in honor of the celebrated journalist from Cuenca, Federico Proaño, who is still considered the best from Ecuador, an ultraconservative and champion of liberalism in the region who was exiled by President García Moreno.

In 2014, hotel management contracted with the Lloret family of architects, known for renovating and restoring patrimonial properties in Cuenca, Art Hotels Ecuador contracted to begin planning for a rehabilitation project to make the property, which has since been converted into a rental property, they are used for the operation of a top boutique hotel.

This hotel offers a rich content of services and 26 rooms are a true reflection of luxurious hospitality. The facility offers all the services expected from a boutique hotel of this category. All the way to the top floor where there is a rooftop restaurant and bar known for having the best views of the city and excellent cuisine. The Hotel Cruz del Vado team has remained true to the brand concept, as well as their motivation to find and restore buildings of historical importance, drawing attention to and reactivating the iconic sites and traditional settlements of Ecuador.

Hotel Cruz del Vado‘s rooms maintain the traditional Cuenca construction technique with bahrecua walls and are decorated with elements selected from a sublime collection of exclusive works of art that are perfectly paired with fine details such as hand-carved headboards made by skilled craftsmen. I had the opportunity to stay in a luxury apartment with a balcony and a jacuzzi.

All the spacious luxury rooms of Hotel Cruz del Vado have access to a privileged view of the Tomebamba River and the modern part of the city. The high ceilings are filled with high brick walls, which form part of the exclusive decor that can be admired while bathing in the jacuzzi, the perfect detail for any stay. All bed types consist of a plush pillow-top mattress developed by Simmons exclusively for Art Hotels Ecuador. AromaVida’s exclusive Ecuadorian organic line of bath products help rejuvenate body and soul. In this hotel, you can always count on a modern en-suite bathroom with a walk-in shower and a rain shower in which you have bathrobes and slippers that simply tempt you to relax.

Each guest room also includes iHome dual charging (quick charging dock and USB port), alarm clock/radio and access to many international channels via DIRECTV with crystal clear picture quality on 40” TVs for perfect hospitality, saving 30% more energy than conventional televisions. There is a safe in the closet, and the most important thing to know is that Wi-Fi is always free in any Art Hotels Ecuador hotel group.

I would like to give a special thanks to the staff of Hotel Cruz del Vado for their warm welcome and hosting me in their hotel. The stay in their hotel was exceptional, a unique experience that I will remember!

In the next post, I will write about other interesting localities located in the immediate vicinity of Cuenca that you should visit, if you decide to spend some time in this part of Ecuador. My dear adventurers, we have come to the end of this third special travelogue in the series of travelogues about Ecuador where we had the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of this unusual country in South America. Today’s travelogue would not be possible without the selfless help of PRO ECUADOR, the Tourism Foundation of the Municipality of Cuenca, Tour Operator Cuenca BesTours and Hotel Cruz del Vado in collaboration with local partners who allowed me to feel the spirit and beauty of Ecuadorian culture and tradition. Of course, as always, I tried my best to convey to you my impressions of this unusual experience from Ecuador.

A person is rich in soul if he has managed to explore the world and I am glad that I always manage to find partners of my projects who help me to discover new and unusual destinations in a completely different way.

I am honoured to have the opportunity to collaborate with many companies and businessmen in the tourism sector and I would like to thank the Tourist Foundation of the Municipality of Cuenca once again for this incredible adventure and for allowing me to experience the beauty of this unusual Ecuadorian culture in a completely different way.

How did you like my story about Ecuador and the presentation of Cuenca, which adorns the south of this unusual country in South America? Have you had the chance to visit Ecuador so far?

If you have any question, comment, suggestion or message for me you can write me below in the comments. Of course, as always, you can contact me via email or social networks, all addresses can be found on the CONTACT page. See you at the same place in a few days, with some new story!

In the following stories from Ecuador, we will discover some other interesting sights that you should visit if your journey leads you to this exotic country!

With Love from Cuenca,

Mr.M

This post is sponsored by PRO ECUADOR, the Tourism Foundation of the Municipality of Cuenca, Tour Operator Cuenca BesTours and Hotel Cruz del Vado as well as other local partners. This post is my personal and honest review of the destination experience.

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Letters from Ecuador: Quito, the Pearl of South America in the Middle of the World…

Adventure Travel 9 Comments

My dear travelers and lovers of unusual journeys, welcome to the new series of travelogues on the Mr.M blog. This November will be dedicated to an unusual country in the heart of South America, a country known for the best cocoa, bananas and coffee – Ecuador. At the very beginning of this series of travelogues, I would like to thank PRO ECUADOR, the tourism board of the city of Quito – Visit Quito, the Dutch national airline KLM, as well as other partners who selflessly supported my adventure in South America. With their help, travelogues from Ecuador and fashion stories were created that you will have the opportunity to read this November and December, and I sincerely hope that you will enjoy the new adventure.

If by any chance you missed reading the previous posts about the travelogue and fashion story from Ecuador or you want to remind yourself of some interesting things, take the opportunity to visit the following links:

During every trip, the hotel where we stay is very important to all of us, because the hotel is our home in the new destination and therefore it is very important to choose a good hotel in each destination. During my stay in the capital of Ecuador, my Hotel Patio Andaluz was my home, decorated with style, comfort and a beautiful atmosphere in the old heart of Quito.

Hotel Patio Andaluz is an elegant boutique hotel housed in a late 16th century colonial style house, a national monument whose walls hide centuries of history and art with exceptional architecture adorned with grand arches and interior courtyards filled with bright and colourful gardens. Because of all these unusual details, this hotel has charm and provides a pleasant atmosphere for all guests and visitors. The Rincon de Cantuna restaurant, inside its main courtyard, offers excellent options of Ecuadorian and international dishes.

Hotel Patio Andaluz has an exceptional location in the Colonial heart of Quito just 150 meters from the Main Square also known as Independence Square, a few minutes walk to San Francisco’s most famous church and square and a 5 minute walk to La Compania Church and its impressive golden interior and among other places of great importance in the colonial old part of Quito, such as museums, churches and numerous historical sites.

The hotel is spacious and in every lobby of the hotel there are living rooms and areas to relax, enjoy a drink and admire all the decorative pieces, plants and architectural details that give the hotel warmth and feel like you are at home. The Guayasamin reading room has a wide selection of literature and has a station for hot drinks, coffee and tea. This wonderful reading room is decorated with paintings by the famous Ecuadorian painter Osvaldo Guayasamino.

Make yourself at home in one of the 32 air-conditioned rooms featuring LED televisions. Free WiFi internet will keep you connected to family, friends and the world, and cable TV is available for your entertainment and learning about Ecuadorian culture and local daily life. All bathrooms have a shower and have all the necessary toiletries and a hair dryer.

I was accommodated in a Superior Premium room which has a view that is simply breathtaking as you can see the whole old part of Quito like in the palm of your hand. Located on the 4th floor, with a spectacular view of the historic center of Quito, it has a French king-sized bed measuring 2m x 2m, cable channels on a 32-inch LCD TV and air conditioning. In addition to air conditioning, the hotel also has portable heaters that can keep you warm during your stay if outside temperatures are lower than usual.

I would like to give a special thanks to the staff of Hotel Patio Andaluz for their warm welcome and hosting me in their hotel. The stay in their hotel was exceptional, a unique experience that I will remember!

Today we continue with getting to know the capital of Ecuador and recommending which places you should visit during your stay in this charming pearl of South America, which is located in the very “middle of the world”.

Today’s acquaintance with Quito begins with the most famous cathedral in Quito, which I had the opportunity to see every morning from my room’s window – Basilica of the National Vow. This basilica is also known as the Basilica of the Consecration of Jesus or the Basilica of San Juan (after the part of the city in which it is located) or simply La Basilica. This basilica is a neo-Gothic religious building in the historic center of Quito. Due to its dimensions and style, it was considered the largest neo-Gothic temple in America. In addition to being the highest religious temple in Latin America until 2017, when the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary was built in Manizales.

The Basilica of the National Vow arose from the idea to build a monument as an eternal memory of the consecration of the Republic of Ecuador to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, proposed by Father Julio Matovele, a representative of the Republic in 1883.

The project was contracted in France by the French architect Emilio Tarlier, who already had experience in similar constructions in Spain, France and England, who was inspired by the Paris Cathedral of Notre Dame, made plans between 1890 and 1896. President Luis Cordero Crespo issued a decree on the start of work on July 23, 1883, although in practice it was carried out during the time of President José María Placido Camaña, who ratified the decree on March 5, 1884.

The construction of the facility was originally planned in the El Belen sector, north of La Alameda Park, for which in 1884 the Convention provided for the purchase of land located in this area, but after preliminary studies it was determined that the soil was not suitable to build a facility of the desired size and that construction on that site would require extremely high costs. It was then decided to change the location of the building, suggesting the fifth part of the Hurtado family, located at the foot of the San Juan Hill, whose soil was strong enough to support the weight of this religious building.

During the construction of the basilica, donations were received from the faithful who gave money, participated in the construction or gave building materials in exchange for carving their names on the stone. In 1895, the state introduced a tax on the purchase of salt for the continuation of construction.

A few years later, in 1901, Father Matovele and his community of Oblate missionaries took over the construction at the request of Archbishop Pedro Rafael González Callisto, and officially on July 10, 1892, the first stone was laid. From 1892 to 1909, the Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Mary was built.

Although decorative details are still missing, it can be said that this religious building, as it is known today, was completed in 1924, when masses and bells on the towers began to be celebrated in the central part. Certain folk beliefs say that the day the basilica is finished, the end of the world will come or the Republic of Ecuador will disappear as a free and sovereign state.

The basilica was blessed by Pope John Paul II on January 30, 1985, although it was officially consecrated and inaugurated on July 12, 1988.

The Basilica of the National Vow is the most important work of Ecuadorian neo-Gothic architecture and one of the most representative on the American continent, and at the same time the largest religious building in the countries of the New World. Due to its structure and style, it is compared to two great cathedrals around the world: St. Patrick’s Cathedral (New York) and Notre Dame Cathedral (Paris).

The central part of the cathedral (nave) is 140 meters long, 35 meters wide and 30 meters high, in addition to the 74-meter height in the transept. The two front towers are each 115 meters high.

The cathedral has seven entrances, three on the facade and four on the side. A solid underground public crypt, with a kind of chapel of the same characteristics. It also has an elegant and national pantheon where the remains of several heads of state rest.

Located below the basilica, with access from the west side, there is the National Pantheon of the Heads of State of Ecuador, although not all of them are buried in this place, but only four:

  • Andres F. Cordoba (1892-1983)
  • Camilo Ponce Enriquez (1912-1976)
  • Mariano Suarez Veintimila (1897-1980)
  • Antonio Flores Gijon (1833-1915)

The construction of this pantheon is in accordance with the visit of Father Matovele to the Royal Crypt of the Monastery of El Escorial, where the remains of the kings, queens and babies of Spain rest, and was started five years after the temple, and completed by Father Rigoberto Correa.

The crypt consists of 50 French marble tombs for bodies and 150 for urns, all with tombstones with the gold shield of Ecuador. Since 2002, there has been a ceremony to ensure the eternal rest of the remains of heads of state in this place, unless the deceased or his heirs have an express will to bury it elsewhere.

After the Cathedral, my advice is to visit the Our Lady of the City of Quito, which you can see from absolutely every part of Quito – Our Lady of El Panesil. The protector of the city is also known as the Virgin of Whales because of the name of the sculpture she was inspired by. It is located at the top of the hill of El Panecillo, an unusual elevation in the shape of a small loaf of bread located in the heart of the city and serving as a backdrop to the historic center.

At 41 meters tall, if the base is added, it is the tallest statue in Ecuador and one of the tallest in South America, surpassing even the famous Christ the Redeemer in the city of Rio de Janeiro. It is also the tallest aluminum sculpture on the planet.

When the statue of the Virgin was installed, the ancient hill of El Panecillo, which is traditionally associated with indigenous culture, took on Catholic religious connotations, which is why during the Christmas season a giant illuminated nativity scene is set up and a traditional Christmas novena is held.

As a tourist spot, the Virgin of El Panesillo has become one of the main tourist attractions of the city of Quito, where you can get a privileged 180-degree view from the observation deck. The photos at the foot of the monument are one of the most popular souvenirs that local and foreign tourists take with them.

The Ecuadorian film Behind (2011) used the iconography of the monument for its promotional posters, although it is represented by the bare back of a woman pretending to be a virgin with her back to the south of the city, where the action takes place. Interestingly, the film Proof of Life (2000), starring Russell Crowe and Meg Ryan, uses an aerial shot of this monument at the end of the film. Also, the t-shirts of the Ecuadorian company Macueno used the sculpture of the Virgin Mary in their design.

The view from the viewpoint is truly magnificent and this was truly an amazing experience for me.

In addition to many natural resources and an astonishing variety of fruits and vegetables, Ecuador is also known for the Avenue of Volcanoes – as many as 61 volcanoes are located in this country, 12 of which, with as many as six active ones, are in the capital.

Ecuador is one of the smallest countries in the Americas. It lies in both the Southern and Northern Hemispheres and is divided by the Equator, after which it got its name. It borders Colombia and Peru, and on the West side it opens to the Pacific Ocean. Why is it considered that Quito is the pearl of South America in the middle of the world?

Ciudad Mitad del Mundo (The City in the Middle of the World) is a land owned by the prefecture of the province of Pichincha, Ecuador. It is located about 26 km north of the center of Quito. The grounds contain the Equator Monument, which highlights the exact location of the Equator and commemorates the eighteenth-century Franco-Spanish surveying mission that determined its approximate location. It is also home to the Ethnographic Museum of Middle Earth, a museum about the ethnography of the indigenous people of Ecuador.

The 30-meter-tall monument was built between 1979 and 1982 by architect and contractor Alfredo Fabián Páez with Carlos Manchen as president of the Pichincha Provincial Council to replace an older, smaller monument built by the Government of Ecuador under the direction of geographer Luis Tufinho in 1936. The monument is made of iron and concrete and covered with hewn and polished andesite stone. The monument was erected in memory of the first geodetic mission of the French Academy of Sciences, led by Louis Godin, Pierre Bouguer and Charles Marie de La Condamine, who in 1736 conducted experiments to test the flattening of the poles and prove the shape of the Earth by comparing the distance between the meridians degrees in the equatorial zone with the second level measured in Sweden. The older monument was moved 7 km to a small town nearby called Kalakali.

The Intiñan Museum is located just outside of Quito, right next to the Mitad del Mundo monument. Most people know that the Mitada del Mundo equatorial line is a bit far. Intiñan has his marker and is closer to the right place.

In addition to the opportunity to make great photos, this museum also offers great fun with numerous experiments! This is a great place for travelers with children who want to learn something new. You can take a tour of this museum with a guide in Spanish or English and it is included in the ticket price.

Although there are only a few actual exhibits, this museum is really well done and organized. This museum focuses on the indigenous tribes of Ecuador, including the Shuar and Waorani. There are replicas of typical houses of some of the tribes… This museum also has an interesting farm of guinea pigs, which are one of the symbols of Ecuador. There is also a tomb where your guide will explain some of the rituals that come with death for the Tsáchila people.

The main attraction of the museum is the various scientific experiments that are a hands-on experience for those who visit the museum. Here you can find interesting interactive exhibits on how the Incas determined the center of the earth, plus numerous interesting science experiments such as balancing an egg on a fingernail and the effect of the Coriolis force on the earth.

You usually start your tour of the Intiñan Museum by visiting several huts that contain everything from shrunken heads to pottery. You will also find various types of flowers and plants that can be used for medicinal purposes and are also beautiful. There are depictions of everyday life as well as various works of art. The cultural exhibits only take about thirty minutes to see and are really just an introduction to the fun of actually doing the experiments.

The first experiment was to close your eyes and walk along the equator line. Strangely, almost all visitors found it difficult to keep their balance and walk in a straight line. The guide explained to us that this is because of the conflicting pulls from the northern and southern hemispheres that make you want to lean in one direction or the other. We then watched the water being poured into the sink in each of the hemispheres and although there are ways to make it spin the way you want, when nature is left to its own design, it spins in different directions. The same is true for hurricanes and typhoons where in the Northern Hemisphere things spin counterclockwise, while in the Southern Hemisphere they spin clockwise. Water going down the drain does the same thing, counterclockwise north of the equator and clockwise south of the equator.

This was followed by another experiment that I’m not sure if it works or why it works, but our guide had us put his hands down until we were at the equator and some managed to get his hands down. We then moved to the equator line and he used one finger and was able to stop the visitors taking part in the experiment from pushing his hand down. For the end, they left the most interesting experiment balancing an egg on a nail on the equator line, which is not easy, but one visitor succeeded. All the experiments are more interesting and definitely not something you can do at home, unless you happen to live on the equator. 🙂

The visit to this museum was very interesting, I learned a lot of facts about the tribes that inhabit the part of Ecuador around the Amazon and it was a really pleasant experience and a fulfilling day. I definitely recommend making time to go to the Intiñan Museum if you are visiting Quito.

Now follows the most interesting part for all lovers of mountains and an incredible view of the heart of Ecuador. If you want unusual and great photos for social networks and to share with your family and friends an unforgettable experience from Quito, then the Teleferico or “TeleferiKo” is the ideal means of transportation for you.

The Teleferico is the famous cable car in Quito and it really needs to be on the list of every tourist visiting Quito. The lower station of the cable car is located on the northwest side of the city center of Quito. If you are arriving by Uber or taxi, be sure to ask to be dropped off at “Park Vulcano”. Vulcano Park is an amusement park, but your anyone who lives in Quito will understand that you want to go to the cable car and that this is the best way to get to the cable car and enjoy the magnificent view of the city and the amazing nature.

Once you arrive at Vulcano Park, it’s a short walk uphill and a few steps to get to the main Teleferico cable car station. This cable car is positioned high and is one of the highest in the world. The ride itself starts very high, because Quito is the second largest capital city in the world, which I explained to you in a previous travelogue. When you board the cable car, you start your ride at 3,117 meters and climb to less than 4,000 meters above sea level. The cable car trip to the top takes between 10 – 15 minutes and the view is incredible.

One small explanation for all visitors, it’s not a mountain you’re going to, it’s a volcano. The Pichincha volcano last erupted in 1999 and covered the city with several layers of ash, but did not cause serious damage. In fact, the Ecuadorian province that is home to Quito is named “Pichincha” after this volcano.

Once you’re up at the top, there are a number of vantage points depending on what part of the city you want to see. The guide explained to us that on a clear day, you can see a number of mountains in the distance, including the famous Cotopaxi. It wasn’t a particularly clear day during my visit, so I wasn’t able to see much outside the city limits. If you decide to explore the top of the hill there you can see some open space, the famous swing that is at the top where you can take great photos and some small restaurants, a bunch of picnic tables with people and some animals.

Of course, I found my favorite animals for which I came to South America and took one of the most beautiful pictures from this trip – with llamas. One photography tip, we all know that these animals have a habit of spitting when they are scared which is a normal reaction, but try to take pictures with female llamas as they don’t have a habit of spitting and are much calmer and love to take pictures. Males can be aggressive and spit, so it’s best to take photos with females and talk to him in a sweet, low tone so the animals don’t get nervous. You should always take care of your position and body language when approaching animals that don’t know you because you have to gain their trust in a short time so that the photo turns out to be a nice memory from the trip.

In addition to llamas, you have the opportunity to ride horses on certain trails and enjoy the view. Since the weather was quite windy and foggy, I didn’t ride this time even though I love horses and learned to ride horses as a child. If you decide to come here, check the weather forecast and try to find a period when the weather is sunny to be able to enjoy this adventure, purely for the better experience.

Of course, you can enjoy long walks here, just dress well because the weather here is changeable. The scenery is truly magnificent and I am sure you will enjoy the natural beauty outside the city limits.

In the next post I will write about other interesting cities in Ecuador. My dear travelers, we have come to the end of this second special travelogue in the series of travelogues about Ecuador where we had the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of this unusual country in South America. Today’s travelogue would not be possible without the selfless help of PRO ECUADOR, the Tourism Board of the City of Quito – Visit Quito, the Hotel Patio Andaluz, as well as the airline company KLM in cooperation with local partners who allowed me to feel the spirit and beauty of Ecuadorian culture and tradition. Of course, as always, I tried my best to convey to you my impressions of this unusual experience from Ecuador.

A person is rich in soul if he has managed to explore the world and I am glad that I always manage to find partners of my projects who help me to discover new and unusual destinations in a completely different way.

It is an honour for me to have the opportunity to cooperate with many companies and businessmen in the tourism sector and I would like to thank the Tourism Board of Quito – Visit Quito for this incredible adventure and for allowing me to experience the beauty of this unusual Ecuadorian culture in a completely different way.

How did you like this story of mine about Ecuador and the presentation of Kita, which adorns the heart of this unusual country in South America? Have you had the chance to visit Ecuador so far?

If you have any question, comment, suggestion or message for me you can write me below in the comments. Of course, as always, you can contact me via email or social networks, all addresses can be found on the CONTACT ME page. See you at the same place in a few days, with some new story!

In the following stories from Ecuador, we will discover some other interesting sights that you should visit if your journey leads you to this far away country!

Blogger greetings from Quito,

Mr. M

This post is sponsored by the Quito Tourism Board – Visit Quito, PRO ECUADOR, Hotel Patio Andaluz, the airline KLM and other local partners. This post is my personal and honest review of the destination experience.

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Letters from Tunisia: Kairouan, the holiest Muslim City on the African Continent…

Adventure Travel 6 Comments

My dear travellers and lovers of unusual trips, welcome to the new series of travelogues on the Mr.M blog. The month of August will be dedicated to an unusual country on the African continent – Tunisia, a country known for its olives. At the very beginning of this fourth post in the series of travelogues, I would like to thank the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Tunisia – Discover Tunisia for the warm invitation and hospitality. With their help, travelogues and fashion stories were created that you could read during the month of July, but you will have the opportunity to read them during August as well, and I sincerely hope that you will enjoy the summer season of posts on the Mr.M blog.

If by any chance you missed reading the previous travelogues from Tunisia or you want to remind yourself of some interesting things, take the opportunity to visit the following links:

The Republic of Tunisia is the northernmost country in Africa. It is part of the Maghreb region of North Africa, bordering Algeria to the west and southwest, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. It houses the archaeological sites of Carthage dating back to the 9th century BC, as well as the Great Mosque of Kairouan.

Tunisia is known for its ancient architecture, markets and blue shores, it covers approximately 164,000 km2 and has a population of around 12 million. It contains the eastern end of the Atlas Mountains and the northern part of the Sahara Desert, and much of the remaining territory of Tunisia is arable land. With almost 1,300 km of coastline, it includes the African junction of the western and eastern parts of the Mediterranean basin. Tunisia is home to the northernmost point of Africa – Cape Angel, and its capital and largest city is Tunis, located on its northeastern coast, after which the country gets its name.

The fourth blog post in the series of travelogues about Tunisia will be dedicated to the holiest Muslim city on the African continent – Kairouan. It is known that Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem are the holy triumvirate of holy cities that Islam has. After them, according to some sources, the fourth holy city of Islam is Kairouan in Tunisia. This city is considered the first Muslim city of the Maghreb and also the holiest Muslim city on the African continent.

Kairouan is a city in central Tunisia and the capital of the province of the same name. It is located 150 kilometers southwest of the capital of Tunis and fifty kilometers west of Sousse. Inhabited by approximately 140,000 inhabitants, it is often referred to as the fourth holiest (or holy) city of Islam and the first holy city of the Maghreb. The first Arab city in North Africa, a city that was an important Islamic center in Muslim North Africa, Ifrikiia until the 11th century.

With its medina and markets organized by oriental-style corporations, its mosques and other religious buildings, Kairouan has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988. Later, in 2009, it was declared the capital of Islamic culture by the Organization of the Islamic World for Education, Science and Culture. The town is also famous for its handmade woolen carpets and pastries including makroud.

Makroud is a cake consisting of a series of layers of dough filled with couscous semolina and date palm paste, there are also variants in which walnuts, almonds or pecans are used instead of date palm.

The Great Mosque of Kairouan, also called the Mosque of Oqba Ibn Nafi was founded in memory of Oqba Ibn Nafi is one of the most important mosques in Tunisia. Historically the first Muslim metropolis in the Maghreb, Kairouan, whose political and intellectual heyday was in the 9th century, is reputed to be the spiritual and religious center of Tunisia, also sometimes considered the fourth holiest city in Sunni Islam. Representing the emblematic edifice of the city, the Great Mosque remains the oldest and most prestigious shrine in the Muslim West. Figurant, from the Beylic Decree of March 13, 1912, in the list of historical and archaeological monuments classified and protected in Tunisia was also classified, with the historical ensemble of Kairouan, as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.

Originally built by Oqba Ibn Nafi in the year 670 (corresponding to the year 50 of the Hegira) when the city of Kairouan was founded, it was expanded and rebuilt in the 8th and 9th centuries. This mosque is considered in the Maghreb, the progenitor of all mosques in the region, as well as one of the most important Islamic monuments and a universal masterpiece of architecture. From an aesthetic point of view, the Great Mosque of Kairouan appears to be the most beautiful building of Muslim civilization in the Maghreb. The age and quality of the architecture make it a jewel of Islamic art. There are many works and handbooks of Muslim art related to the history of the mosque. In addition to its artistic and architectural importance, according to the Tunisian scientist and Islamologist Mohamed Talbi, “it played a key role in the Islamization of the entire Muslim West, including Spain, and the spread of Malikism.”

During the reign of the Aghlabid dynasty in the 9th century, with the help of major works on reconstruction and beautification, the Great Mosque got its present appearance. Remarkable in its overall unity, as well as in its enormous dimensions, the fame and prestige of this place of prayer derives from its contribution to the acquisition and transmission of knowledge, especially between the 9th and 11th centuries. century. The university, composed of scholars and jurists who teach their teachings in the mosque, is a training center for both the teaching of Muslim thought and the secular sciences. With the decline of Kairouan, which began in the second half of the 11th century, the center for intellectual training then moved to the University of Zitouna in Tunis.

I will tell you something more about the origin and history of this mosque. When Kairouan was founded in 670, the general and Arab conqueror Oqba Ibn Nafi (the founder of the city himself) chose the location of his mosque in the center of the city near the seat of the governor. This initial place of worship was built between 670 and 675. Shortly after its construction, the mosque seems to have survived, between 683 and 686, during the short-lived occupation of Kairouan by the Berbers led by Koceila. Later, the mosque was rebuilt by the Ghassanid general Hasan Ibn Numan.

With the gradual increase in the population of Kairouan and faced with the consequent increase in the number of believers, the mosque was no longer sufficient to accommodate them, Hisham, the Umayyad caliph of Damascus, carried out numerous reconstructions through his governor Bichr Ibn Safwan. The process includes the renovation and expansion of the mosque in the period between 724-728. years. In order to expand it, he first goes to buy the neighboring land belonging to Banu Fihr, the Quraysh clan whose most prominent representative is Oqba Ibn Nafi.

He then allowed the mosque to be demolished and then rebuilt, all but the mihrab. Construction of the minaret began under his auspices. After that, in 774, a new reconstruction followed by changes and beautification was carried out under the administration of the Abbasid governor Yazid Ibn Hatim. Under the rule of the Aglabid rulers, Kairouan was at its peak and the mosque took advantage of this period of peace and prosperity. Not long after that, in 836, Ziadet Allah I rebuilt the mosque again and for the last time, it was at that time that this religious building got, at least in its entirety, the look we know today.

Thus, the current state of the mosque dates back to the 9th century, during the reign of the Aghlabids, with the exception of some partial restorations and some later additions that were made at the end of the 11th century and after. During the 20th century, several actions of conservation and restoration were carried out, first between 1910 and 1920 by the Service of Antiquities et des Arts de la Regence, and then during the first half of the 1960s, especially in 1964-1965. department of historical monuments of the National Institute of Archeology and Art. Not long after that, in 1967, major restoration works were started on the entire monument, which lasted five years.

The latter, led by the Department of Historical Monuments of the National Institute of Archeology and Art in collaboration with the Italian architects Riccardo Gizdulich and Paolo Donati, ended with the official reopening of the mosque, in the presence of Habib Bourguiba, the first president of the Republic of Tunisia, and his Algerian counterpart, Houari Boumediene, during the celebration of Mouled 1972 . years. In the middle of the 1980s, the building underwent additional restoration work, which mainly related to the exterior walls and their buttresses, the ceilings of the prayer hall, as well as the minaret.

Kairouan was founded on the line of confrontation between the Byzantines and the Muslims with the aim of becoming a foothold in their campaign to conquer North Africa. The location chosen for its establishment, inland, seemed particularly inhospitable, but it was far enough from the coast to avoid the attacks of the Byzantine fleet that then controlled the Mediterranean Sea. It also overlooks the mountains that are the refuge of the Berbers. Kairavan or the name for the garrison camp, gave its name to the locality and later to the city. Kairouan then had a dual military and religious function, ensuring holy war and defense of the newly conquered lands. The city is thus the first Arab city in North Africa.

After fighting between the Berbers and the Arabs during the Arab conquest, Okba Ibn Nafi was killed by the Berber chief Koceila, who occupied the city of Kairouan from 682 to 684. He renamed the city by inserting his name into Takirvant. A few years later, an Arab army led by Zuhayr ibn Qays defeated the Koceila army at Mames and captured Kairouan between 687 and 689. Okba Ibn Nafi builds the Great Mosque of Kairouan in Kairouan. Legend has it that at the site of the future Kairuan, a soldier from Okba would come across a golden cup buried in the sand. This cup would have been recognized as missing from Mecca a few years earlier, and when it was unearthed, a spring of water would have erupted, providing water that would have come from the same source as the holy Zamzam in Mecca.

This story made Kairouan a place of pilgrimage and then a holy city. Around 775, Abu Qura besieged Kairouan and spread Sufrit Kharidism there for a while. Having become the capital of the Aghlabids, the city prospered rapidly during the 9th century to become the main seat of power in Ifriqia and a great center of influence for Arab culture and Islam, rivaling other centers of the Mediterranean basin. It is a major city of trade and science known for its Malikite school of law and medical school formed by Ishaq Ibn Imran.

Kairouan also plays a significant role in the Arabization of the Berber and Latin-speaking population of Ifrikia. In 909 the Fatimids, the Ismaili Shiites, led by Abu Abd Allah ah-Chi’i, captured Ifriqiyya and made Kairouan their residence. But the city lost its status with the establishment of the Mahdiyya on the east coast and its declaration as the capital of the Fatimid Caliphate.

But ethno-religious tensions with the city’s strictly Sunni population forced the Fatimids to abandon the stronghold they had built to join Egypt around 972-973. year, where he will establish Cairo, the new center of the caliphate. Meanwhile, Kairouan is captured by Ibadi Abu Yazid who, with the help of the city’s Sunni population, manages to briefly break the Fatimid hegemony between 944 and 946.

In the middle of the 10th century, Kairouan had more than 100,000 inhabitants. The city’s water supply is provided by a network of pipes coming from the surrounding mountains and a large number of cisterns distributed in the city and under the mosque. Large reservoirs dating from the Aglabid era are still visible today. After the final retreat of the Fatimids, it was a vassal dynasty of the latter, the Zirids, that took power in Ifrikiya. Al-Mu’iz ben Badis, its most famous representative, led a policy in favor of the Sunni population. The city then experienced the last period of development in its history. Indeed, in 1054 the Fatimids of Cairo organized a punitive expedition against the Zirids who had become dissidents: the Bedouin tribes of Hilal and Banu Sulayma attacked the city, destroying it almost completely.

Later, in 1057, Al-Mu’iz ben Badis fled to Mahdi and surrendered Kairouan and its surroundings to plunder. With the rise of coastal cities under Hafsid rule, and mainly Tunisia, Kairouan inevitably declined. In 1702, Husein I er Bey rebuilt the fence and many mosques 26 . During the French offensive to take control of the country, troops under the command of General Etienne occupied Kairouan on October 26, 188127. The occupation of the city paralyzed the resistance and accelerated the subjugation of Tunisia. During the French protectorate, the city nevertheless became one of the centers of nationalist resistance.

Since December 9, 1988, Medina of Kairouan has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List by fulfilling five out of six evaluation criteria. It should be noted that in order to be classified as a World Heritage site, a site needs to meet only one of the six criteria, and among the sites classified around the world, few, like Kairouan, meet all five criteria. On the one hand, the Great Mosque is one of the main monuments of Islam and a masterpiece of universal architecture. It served as a model for several mosques in North Africa, especially in terms of decorative motifs.

On the other hand, the Three Gate Mosque, built in 866, is the oldest of the carved facade mosques in Islam. Kairouan also offers a remarkable testimony of the civilization of the first centuries of the Hegir in Ifriqia and its traditional Islamic architecture, linked to its spatial configuration, has become vulnerable under the influence of economic changes and represents a precious heritage. Finally, Kairouan is one of the holy cities and spiritual capitals of Islam.

In the heart of the old part of Kairouan there are several mosques, sometimes without minarets, which at that time were used as places of prayer for the inhabitants of the district. The oldest is probably the Ansar mosque, which, according to local chronicles, was founded by the Prophet’s companion Ruwaifi ibn Thabit al-Ansari. This is more a matter of legend because the foundation of this small courtyard mosque, with its open prayer hall and archaic mihrab, could not be determined by previous archaeological excavations. In addition, the site was renovated in 1650. Al-Dabbagh, a local historian, mentions in some writings that the mosque was very popular among Muslims seeking blessings: clay handprints on the white outer wall testify to this very common practice of worship in popular Islam, including until today. There are other mosques in the medina that originate from the Beylik period, such as the Al Malek Mosque (18th century) or the Al Bey Mosque, whose construction dates back to the end of the 17th century.

Under the northwestern wall of the city, behind the imposing minaret of the Great Mosque, lies the cemetery of the little-known Tunisian tribe Avlad Farhan, whose specialty is the special arrangement of their graves, unusual for a Muslim cemetery. Some, rows in pairs and surrounded by a low wall, are the last resting place of the patron saints of the tribe. At the end of the tombstone, the name of Allah is added in clay.

Members of the tribe now live throughout Tunisia, but continue to bury their dead in this cemetery set up beneath the city walls. On the anniversary of their death, as well as on certain holidays, candles are lit in a small niche placed in the tombstones.

In their 1882 report detailing their scientific mission to Tunisia, published in the Bulletin of African Correspondence, the French Orientalists Octave Hudas and René Basse called upon a collection of manuscripts they could see in the Great Mosque of Kairouan, in a closed room. near the mihrab. In 1897, the ministerial official of Tunisia, Muhammad Bek Bajram, presented to the Geographical Society of Egypt a report on his mission to Kairouan where he presented the details of this collection of manuscripts, which, according to his information, would be stored in an arranged maksura by Al-Muizz ben Badis in the mosque.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tunisia has provided premises for the conservation of manuscripts, photographic laboratories and restoration of documents in the former summer residence of President Habib Bourguiba located in Raqada, twelve kilometers from Kairouan. There is also the Center for the Study of Islamic Civilization and Art, to which a small National Museum of Islamic Art has been added, which exhibits works from the Aghlabid and Zirid times.

The vast majority of the manuscripts relate to Islamic law and represent the world’s oldest documentary collection of 9th-century Malikite legal literature. Some were written during the founding period of Malikism, between the writing of Al-Muwatta by Malik ibn Anas and Al Mudawwana by Imam Sahnoun in 854. Biographical and bibliographical studies of the orientalist Miklos Muranii published in 1997 represent the current state of research on the scientific world of Kairouan. Also, the library has one of the richest collections of ancient Qur’anic codices, including fragments of the Blue Qur’an, written in an archaic script without diacritical marks, dating from the late 9th and early 10th centuries.

From the inventory of 1293-1294, there were several copies of the Blue Koran, some parts of which are now in private collections. Although the origin of these codices still remains unclear, it is now accepted that the blue parchment sheets and their golden illumination were made in Kairouan. A Hebrew document, the Genizah of Cairo, which dates from the tenth century and is therefore contemporary with the creation of the Blue Qur’an, mentions the export of Egyptian indigo to Tunisia. This product was the raw material used to dye leather when making parchment. However, we know nothing about the commissioner behind this business.

In the first centuries of the Islamic era, the Aghlabite Emirate of Kairouan partially paid the tribute of sovereignty to the Caliph of Baghdad with carpets. The production of the “Kairouan carpet” really begins in the 19th century, and the city remains the main production center of the country. At the beginning of the 20th century, the quality of carpets deteriorated due to the abuse of artificial dyes, which led a Kairouan family to produce allouch, a new type of hand-knotted carpet that took on the colors of sheep’s wool. of which the hexagonal field occupies the center with a diamond-shaped pattern. Little by little, alucha evolves towards complexity and polychromy, texture increases and Persian influences are felt with the appearance of zarbia recognizable by its brown-red color.

A Kairouan rug is a knotted non-woven rug made of wool or cotton – especially for the weft and warp – and less commonly of linen. It can be painted in natural shades from white to brown to beige gray when it is of the alucha type. The wool is always thick, because it is sheep, but dromedary or goat hair can be used. The patterns are geometric, but they can also be stylized flowers, giving the whole a symmetrical look with a predominance of the diamond shape.

My dear travellers and adventurers, we have come to the end of this fourth special travelogue in the series of travelogues about Tunisia where we had the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of this unusual country in the northern part of the African continent. Today’s travelogue would not be possible without the selfless help of the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Tunisia – Discover Tunisia in cooperation with local partners who allowed me to feel the spirit and beauty of Tunisian culture and tradition. Of course, as always, I tried my best to convey to you my impressions of this unusual experience from Tunisia.

A person is rich in soul if he has managed to explore the world and I am glad that I always manage to find partners of my projects who help me to discover new and unusual destinations in a completely different way.

I am honored to have the opportunity to collaborate with companies that are the very top of the tourism industry and I would like to thank the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Tunisia once again for this incredible adventure and for allowing me to experience the beauty of this unusual Tunisian culture in a completely different way.

How did you like my story about Tunisia and the presentation of Kairouan, the holiest Muslim city on the African continent that adorns the heart of this unusual country? Have you had the chance to visit Tunisia so far?

If you have any question, comment, suggestion or message for me you can write me below in the comments. Of course, as always, you can contact me via email or social networks, all addresses can be found on the CONTACT page. See you at the same place in a few days, with some new story!

In the following stories from Tunisia, we will discover some other interesting sights that you should visit if your journey takes you to this unusual country!

From Love from Kairouan,

Mr.M

This post is sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Tunisia – Discover Tunisia, as well as other local partners. This post is my personal and honest review of the destination experience.

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Postcard from Sri Lanka: Signs are everywhere…

Adventure Travel 5 Comments

Hi everyone, how are you today? I hope you are well and you are spending this sunny Sunday in nature with your family and friends. Sunday is reserved for some good time,  a nice rest with people who you love and for that famous psychic preparation for the next working week. Do you have any special rituals? I’d love to share with me some of your tricks!

Today, I decided to continue with a series of posts from Sri Lanka, so my best therapy right now is the writing of this post. When I’m writing posts I’m so calm down and I feel some peace. Honestly, I’d love to find some new hobby! ?

 

 

In the previous post, you read how I arrived in Sri Lanka and how our first blogging days looked like there. Sri Lanka is an exceptional island. I felt the freedom to give it the nickname – The Island of Dreams, this epithet simply best describes an island like Sri Lanka. On Sri Lanka everything is possible! ?

 

 

These days I got a lot of questions about how I manage to travel and spend time on nice and exotic destinations? I decided, as always, to sincerely discuss with you about this. I’m sure that you have ever heard of Press Trips – Media Trips so far. What are those trips? Traveling for the media is a special type of travel where representatives of various media outlets (printed media or online media) are invited to visit the particular destination.

 

 

This time I received a kind invitation from the Tourism Board of Sri Lanka to visit their country. This was an exceptional honor for me, because since now I only had only the opportunity to hear the wonderful experiences of my friends and acquaintances about this  wonderful island. Without thinking, I accepted the invitation and I started to pack my bags for this journey.

 

 

Press trips are very interesting and educational, when you have chance to meet with some new religion and to learn something new about culture and their customs. On the other hand, press trips can be very hard and literally to kick you off your feet. I admit, I am a person who is not perfect shape, but adrenaline and the desire to discover new things are stronger and I’m just push myself to go further.

 

 

At the end, everything comes around to you again! Just imagine the fact that you are traveling a long distance and that you have to change the hotel almost every day, maybe it’s fun to do it, but think again… 11 days, 10 nights, 8 different hotels. Little Marko needs to unpack, iron the nice things you will wear that day, pack them again. Do not think about those lizards on the wall that you first thought were those are nice toys on the wall.

 

 

My first contact with the Resort type of hotel in Sri Lanka was fun, crazy and unforgettable. At a first sight, I was surprised and delighted by the details, real lizards on the wall, I thought that they are a nice decoration on the wall until they started to move their tails and they were making some strange robotic sounds, which made me really think their batteries were out and my first thought was: “Oh, my God is how I will sleep tonight!”. Believe me sometimes I have a problem when I’m traveling, maybe first two or three days I sometimes don’t sleep at all and you can guess that feeling of tiredness is always uninvited guest on the trip…

 

 

With smile on my face, I get out of my hotel room and I went to see what is waiting for me for the dinner. There was live music, instruments that I haven’t had the opportunity to see before. Instruments that attract attention with their interesting shape, but believe me with the magical sound that I you imagine that you are in heaven… Good mood, nice food and hanging out a little with my colleagues. We had some conversation about some of our experiences from previous press trips.

Everything was just perfect until I just heard a sentence that I did not want to admit that it was true: “Marko, those are geckos, they are not toys, they are real lizards! “. I am a huge animal lover, there is no animal that I didn’t have as a pet, the list is long… I’ll just say that I had a wonderful pair of Canadian squirrels, then you can understand how much I really love animals … It’s all nice, but reptiles and insects are not exactly my favorite animals, I really love when I meet them for a few minutes outdoors and everyone after goes their own way.

 

 

The time has come to go back to the room… Now I knew that my childish statement that in my room are the simple lizard’s toy wasn’t true, so I could only pray to God that they went outside somewhere, it’s night for God sake, they also have some interesting night life. I entered the room and I felt so happy because there were not lizards in the room, you do not know what relief was in that moment. Don’t worry it was not the end, I had a crazy night with lizards, I didn’t sleep that night at all, but I realized the next evening that he was just a passing guest, just like me!

I would like to share today with you the photos that I have made in the hotels. Very interesting landscapes, who would say that a man can do so well photos in a hotel, I learned a lot of wise advices in one of the hotels… Because of that, this post was given the title: Signs are everywhere. So let’s start!

 

 

The first hotel that I’m about to write today is a true paradise for all our senses. Beach, melody of waves, a coconut… I walked almost a mile by the beach and I didn’t have the chance to meet anyone. You can just sit on that perfect beige sand and watch how the Indian Ocean waves showing you their beauty. Hotel Jetwing Surf is the first surf luxury resort hotel of this type in Sri Lanka. It was opened in December 2017, it’s still a pretty new, but because of the staff you would never notice it, you would think that this hotel has been there for a long time.

Why is this hotel special? It is special because of its position and in less than 2 minutes you have the opportunity to enjoy the charms of the Indian Ocean. The hotel consists of 20 charming villas, very interesting design. I saw the first time a squirrel on the coconut tree. It was so funny!

 

 

I was impressed because of special faucets whose was made of special shells, very unusual and original! The bathroom of every villa is located outside and is a very unusual concept, showering under the coconut tree is an unforgettable experience… Don’t worry until then I got used to the lizards and other animals. The hotel is very interesting and anyone who is planning to visit Sri Lanka and you want to explore to the east  coast should visit this amazing hotel.

 

 

 

New morning, new challenges! It was time for little Marko to pack up again, to check all his stuff and just try hard not to forget the chargers for his “toys” (cameras)! We said bye to the wonderful staff from the hotel and continue our journey in our famous white blogger van.

The trip to the next hotel was very long almost 7 hours drive, and if we count on a break for lunch, then it’s a trip of some 8 to 8 and half hours…

 

 

For the first 2 to 3 hours I have to admit that I was a hero, but the tiredness finally defeated me. My colleagues somehow successfully tried to wake me up when we reached this beautiful waterfall. The smell of water, the sound of the water that cross the rocks, and you make sure you do not splash your camera… It was a real adventure! As soon as I returned to the van, I decided to continue with my beauty sleep for the rest of the trip. 😀

 

 

Destiny wanted from me to wake up a few minutes before coming to the next hotel. It was so quiet in the van because youtubers have slept… I managed somehow to catch the Internet because it was possible only in the cities because of the provider network. The phone started to act so crazy, I thought it would explode of vibrations because my mom’s 275 messages: “Where are you ?, Markooo where are you?” And other famous messages that you all know well when your mother is looking for you. I just started to eat that cold lunch because I slept that most important part – LUNCH!

Thanks to my colleagues and drivers who were wonderful so they knew about what I was eating, they ordered for me and saved my lunch, but my mother, as always, knows to catch the right moment, she called me againg… Thanks God I managed through a whisper to explain to my mother that I was not kidnapped, I just slept a little and I’m just trying to eat something right now and just to explain to her that she was interrupting me while I was trying to eat something and I didn’t want to wake someone from the group they slept so tight.

 

On this trip the Sri Lanka Tourism Board managed to fulfill all my expectations, each hotel was better than the previous one. I will not even mention the food, I always had the feeling that I am in paradise when I see all those wonderful cakes! Thank you for this wonderful experience!

 

 

When we arrived at another hotel, we didn’t have the feeling that we are in Sri Lanka. This hotel with it’s elegance and formal looking at first glance there is no exotic note that is expected to be when you are in a place like Sri Lanka. Welcome to Grand Hotel Nuwara Eliya!

This building was originally a  holiday residence of the famous governor Edward Barnes. Today, this beautiful huge villa, called by some in the joke, has nearly 160 rooms. Impressive, isn’t it?! Interestingly, the construction of this residence cost less than 10,000 British pounds. Of course, you must have in mind that the money at that time had a completely different value. ?

 

 

Hotel Nuwara Eliya is well known for its gardens. To remind you, in this post, I wrote about a hotel in which I learned some very wise things which changed my view of life. In gardens of these wonderful hotel you have wooden boards that show a certain periods in the life of one man with a little help of wise sentences. It depends on us which way we will choose in life, but signs along the way can be of great help in life.

 

 

Beautiful flowers, roses, magnolia trees… A true paradise for all our senses! If you are a huge fan of bright colors, this place is perfect for you! If you like nature, this is the right place for you! I had the opportunity to rest a little and enjoy in the beautiful sun rays in this charming garden.

 

The feeling is gorgeous, you just need to close your eyes and to listen the sounds of the birds and you will have some new moment to remember for the rest of your life.

 

 

Sometimes photos are very powerful, the real power of photography is incredible. A month ago, I was in this beautiful place today as I write this post for you, when I’m looking at these photos they reminds on that incredible journey, I even feel the scent of flowers in that garden. These are not hallucinations, they are just nice memories.

 

 

Guys, we have come to the end of this second post from this series of posts about my adventures from Sri Lanka. I sincerely hope that you enjoyed and I would love to hear your opinion. Have you been in Sri Lanka? Are you planning to visit this tropical paradise? We’ll see next week what Sri Lanka has to offer us and we continue this amazing adventure! ?

If you have any questions, comments, suggestion or message for me you can write me down in the comments. Of course, as you know, you can always contact me via mail or social media, and you can find it on the CONTACT page.

Best,

Mr.M

 

 

The post is sponsored by the Tourism Board of Sri Lanka, the hotel chain Jetwing and the Hotel Nuwara Eliya. For all those beautiful photos I used the Sony Alpha 7r camera.
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