Last day in Cuenca-a few more sights and random observations

Having passed up my last chance to go to Cajas National Park, I decided to hit a few of the museums I had previously skipped. Right at the end of my street is the Aboriginal Culture Museum, $2. Not plush, but a lot of really old and cool artifacts.

Cheese graters from B.C.

Sorcerer's cauldron

Gold teeth

Cool pot...big

Down the street I passed a guitar maker shop...

Then onto an interesting archeological site where a family about 100 yrs ago wanted to renovate their house an discovered these layers of ruins underneath. First the Canari, who were here from before Christ to about 1460 AD. Then the Incas came, until 1540. Then came the Spaniards. This spot originally served as a grain mill, but then there are the layers on top...all right in the middle of town, of course.

 

Then I went looking for the Museo Quinta Simon Bolivar. The Liberator of the northern half of South America interests me, and I hoped to learn more about him. Turns out it is just the site (not even the original house) where he stayed for a short time while planninf the final push to erradicate the Spanish Army from Peru to the south, and where he would have the famous rendezvous with San Martin, the Liberator of the south.

Along the way I stumbled on the Musem of the Art of Fire. This also sounded good to me with my backgroung in casting bronze. I thought it would include bronze and glass, but it was just ceramics. This was the piece in the park outside that attracted me.

 

For hundreds of years the locals have come to these rivers to wash laundry and lay it put to dry.

I walked about 20 blocks to revisit the Park of Human Rights, to take more pics of the placques, thinking I might use this material in my classes. I strolled through a few residential neighborhoods that were a bit more tranquil than Old Town.

 

 

And on down the avenue of the Monuments

Traditional garb

One of several large hospital compexes

School of Civil Engineering

150 yr old high school

 

One dog contemplating how to get some of another dog's lunch, but the other dog is bigger...

Back across the Tomebamba to Old Town and up the riverside hill...

 

Can't go by the market without anoher smoohie. Here are the fish stalls...$3/lb for tuna

Stopped for a pastry $.75

Love these old houses, the balconies with the really old wood protruding to support he marble platform and iron work. Note the roof, too. The painted columns really dress it up. Inside, I am sure ther is some sort of atrium. There always is.

I arrive at the Modern Art Museum and they are between exhibits, but here is a guitar recital for university students. I stayed for the whole 2 hrs. Resting my feet and thoroughly enjoying the classical offerings. I will try to add a video, but it is not cooperating on mobile devices.

 

Split dinner wih small portions between a Colombian restaurant and another visit to the same Spanish restaurant (across the street) as last night. $3.50 for chorizo and guacamole on special Colombian bread, and $4.50 for shrimp in garlic sauce tapa with the family from Bilbao.

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