We were headed to Cuenca (Coo-ehn-cah) to be in position to visit Cajas (Cah-ha-ss) National Park. From Vilcabamba, we took a local bus to Loja (Low-ha) where we would catch yet another bus to Cuenca.
We traveled through cropland and pastures on a magnificent highway. On our motorcycles we would have thoroughly enjoyed turning and weaving our way down this concrete . . . concrete, not asphalt, ribbon of adventure moto-touring. In places, construction was under way. No day-glow orange cones used here, people will drive over them to access the unfinished sections of road. Instead, rocks make the point clear. Couple this with the reinforcing steel protruding from the unfinished edge should certainly drive the point home: Stay off this section of road!!
As we neared Cuenca the rain began in fits and starts. We arrived in Cuenca and hopped a taxi to a hostel near the central part of town. We wanted to stay at the Macondo hostal, however, we found them to be booked. We were directed to Hostal Chordeleg where, after trooping about the darkened rainy streets of Cuenca, we did find a room.
Kathleen and I set out for some dinner and to find a better place to stay after our first night. Hostal Chordeleg was kind of run down, and the raw sewage smell emissions percolating up from the shower and sink was enough to singe nostril hair. We had been told by a couple at Cabañas Rio Yambala of a restaurant near the cathedral in Cuenca. Sure enough, their directions put us in Raymipampa Café. We enjoyed a meal here before setting off in search of a better hostel for the following nights. We managed to find one – Posada del Angel. Kathleen and I returned the Hostal Chordeleg where we kept the bathroom door shut to reduce the sewage odors. Tomorrow, we were going to change hostals.
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