Nomadic Texan

Traditional Indigenous Dress

One still experiences the Indigenous groups from the Andes while touring Cuenca. Both men and women wear this dress and each area is identified by different colors and hat styles.

It is an explosion of variations that is unique to each of their cultures. I am fascinated by each group’s scheme and can sit and watch the wonderful parade of people walk by all day in Cuenca.

Okay so I am not really a “little” piggy. I am a rather large piggy for my height. That is one of the reasons I keep coming back to Cuenca is to help myself lose weight. Each time I visit I lose ten to fifteen pounds. This is obviously a result of walking everywhere I go and significantly more than I do back home.

It is also a result of “The Amoeba” that exists and all Ex Pats meet about ten days into their visits. I have lost about 8 pounds and a notch on my belt, so I am well on my way! Saturday in Cuenca is “Market Day” and the locals come to Cuenca, shop and try to secure their food, supply and trinket needs.

I started walking around after my fabulous Thai dinner and wound up on Presidente Cordova, on the south side of the San Francisco Market area. It is basically an entire square block with booths and small paths, that lead every which way through the maze of cubicles dedicated to various and sundry items. I am always fascinated by what you find at these markets. I was not disappointed this past Saturday.

Aisle Between Booths at the San Francisco Market

This ia typical photo of one of the booths in the middle of the square and as you can see the stall is offering a variety of merchandise. Of special note was the amount of children’s backpacks being sold at a majority of the booths. I guess as school is about to start again, they must be a popular item.

Booth in Middle of the Market

Along the North side of the square and actually across the street is a set of booths that retail mainly clothing products made by local artisans. You can find a great poncho, shirt, scarf, bag or hoodie, if you can locate the appropriate size. This is an issue at times. The thing I like about the entire market is that you shop knowing the first price quoted is the “Gringo” price and if you don’t barter you are crazy. That is half the fun in my mind and the vendors seem to relish the practice.

Saturday Markets for Woven Goods and Various Apparel

As you leave the San Francisco Market square you come upon the Flower Market section and I could spend hours looking at their crafts. Sometimes I do actually spend a large amount of time, as their talents are very impressive. I always seem to take massive amounts of photos and cannot walk by this market, which is open daily, without at least one photo.

Flower Market at the Sanctuary by the New Cathedral

As I left the flower market and went across the street I noticed that several booths lined the side of the New Cathedral and were selling various items. The first one made me wonder if I had taken a wrong turn. This was my first time to see a Ecuadorian dressed up like an American Indian. He was playing the pan flute, which were also being offered for sale, along with CD’s of their music!

Ecuadorian Dressed Up Like an American Indian

As I strolled along the wall I encountered many more vendors and tried to capture as many different wares as were being sold. It was impossible and I could only capture a few that I will share with you now. As you are keenly aware, I am a “Hat” freak and really, really like to collect hats. I found many that would suit my tastes, but I also have to remember that I have three and a half more weeks to make a choice!

A Hat Vendor

I was drawn to this booth as a result of the tiny figurines and the intricate artwork displayed in their dolls. It was amazing and so detailed. One can kind of get a picture of the size by comparing the items to the hand in the photo. This was directly beside a booth of ceramic cars and trucks modeled after the wooden toys in the US built in the early 90’s. I asked the clerk how long it took to make the ceramic vehicles and he told me 30 minutes each. I couldn’t believe it.

Small Doll Replicas

It was strange to be back in a time zone and see these wares at the incense and globe booth. For a minute I thought I had traveled back in time and landed in the 60’s. Then I woke up! Really found this strange, but Ecuador did legalize small amounts of Ganja recently.

Lampshade and Incense Vendor

This pottery booth contained a wonderful collection of hand painted ceramic wares and drew my attention immediately. If I actually resided in Cuenca, I would lay out the few dollars needed to purchase some of these vases. They have no shortage of flowers that can be used to fill the vases and I can look at fresh flowers every day of my life. My wife Kim, said one of the reasons she married me was a bouquet of roses I sent her after our first date. She told me many years later she was hooked at that point. So guys buy your lady flowers!

Pottery Vendor.

Again my “Hat” fetish was drawn in to play and I had to stop and look at these of higher quality than the first booth. I could look at hats all day. I tend to buy hats with broad brims, but am open to a Fedora style and may make that step this trip.

Upgraded Hat Vendor

I hope you enjoyed the photos and I encourage you to dedicate at least a half day (and make it a Saturday) to shop at these markets. You will find great bargains and wonderful souvenirs that you can either share with friends and family or keep yourself. Saludos mi amigios!!!

Saturday Markets Were a Challenge With All the Rain

One can casually stroll about Cuenca and discover a shopper’s paradise a block away from the New Cathedral. The Market is located in front of the San Francisco inclosed markets and you will find very economical deals. In addition you can barter the price and you learn after a awhile that the original price is a “Gringo” price and is only paid by the naive tourists. There are tons of examples of weaving and clothing products and more than likely you can find a shirt, a blouse, a bag, a shawl or a scarf that you really like.

The only issue I find is that larger individuals cannot locate an appropriate fitting sample. If you are 6’4″ or so, you will not be able to locate a shirt that fits you. The sizes are all established based on the traditional sizes of the Ecuadorian population. It is a blast though walking and looking at the wares and seeing how good of a negotiator you are. Buenos Suelte!

Every time I visit Guayaquil I stay at the Oro Verde and I have developed a relationship with the general manager and the front desk manager of the hotel. On this trip in I was placed in a section of the hotel that has been completely remodeled and is called the “Leading Suites” after the Leading Hotels of the World, an illustrious company of which this hotel is a member. It is a luxury group of hotels that are located around the world and have operations in most major cities and countries of the world. They also have extraordinary assets in some of the most remote areas and they aim to preserve the surrounding ecological treasures of each location. I love this approach.

Entryway View to the Leading Suite

The room was decorated in a more modern furnishing than the past rooms I have stayed in with this very historical hotel. I learned later that all the rooms are targeted for this remodel and they have something like 98 rooms left to go out of the 230 rooms available. I have to admit I wasn’t aware of this tower and additional rooms of the hotel. I though the hallway off the front desk led to shops and conference rooms. One has to have a dedicated key to even get the elevator to take you to your room.

Two Queen Size Beds

As expected the room was elegant and functional and designed for the guests comfort. I was taken back by the size and layout of the room and normally wouldn’t expect such a large area dedicated for a guest room. I am attempting to illustrate the room’s appeal through my photos inserted in the blog and hope that my novice photography gives you an idea of the room’s attributes. They are fantastic.

Dining Area

There is a separate area for dining, a fully apportioned living area with a huge LED television set mounted across from the very soft couch. I melted into it after my long day of traveling. This room has a desk with full Internet capabilities and needs.

Living Area with Desk, TV and Expected Furnishings

Additionally, there is a wet bar with coffee, microwave, safe and a refrigerator stocked with your favorite beverages. This leads into the bedroom which has two queen size beds that are more than comfortable. After a snack and a beverage I  literally fell asleep fast and became a part of the mattress that surrounded me with comfort and relieved every weary bone in my body! I was in heaven.

Wet Bar, Safe, Microwave and Refrigerator

There is a closet area with a full size ironing board, closet to hang a full wardrobe, storage for your unmentionables and a “European Trouser Pants Press” for the gentleman or lady concerned about their appearance. The room was more than large enough to perform your ironing needs and have a guest discuss your daily plans. It was a large area devoted to apparel upkeep.

Closet Area

The bathroom was very nice, but only had one sink. I would think would be an issue if a couple was traveling together. Hopefully this can be remedied and should be, as the counter space is more than ample to hold a second sink. The shower has a rain head and operates wonderfully I did not want to get out. All the items one might forget that is used in the bathroom is available including toothbrush, razor, sewing kit, comb, soap, shampoo, rinse, bath oil and hand lotion. If you need it they have it.

Shower

The next morning both management gentlemen I know, left business meetings to come see me before I left their fabulous hotel. I appreciated this gesture more than they will ever know, but I should have expected it, as the customer service in this hotel is and always has been impeccable. One will not find better service anywhere in the world. I do not receive free rooms, but I do get upgrades each time I visit, so in the spirit of full disclosure it is relevant to mention I receive free upgrades at this hotel. This does not sway or effect my opinions and the opinions relayed in this post are 100% all mine. Saludos!

The Hats on The Airplane

As I boarded my flight in DFW heading for Miami and eventually Ecuador, I found my self sitting beside two sisters that were lovely, intelligent and worldly traveled. They both were fair skinned and blond headed, but spoke perfect Spanish. I was puzzled to say the least. We started a conversation as I inquired about the hats one of them was holding. You know how I love hats! This was after hearing them converse in excellent Spanish. I asked them where they were headed and where they lived, etc.

One was 23 and working on her Master’s thesis in London and was studying Neurology and Photography. She was mature and we discussed her eventual plans to lecture. The other happened to go to high school in Austin and now was attending The University of Texas studying Fine Arts. I was amazed and asked them how they came to be such excellent Spanish conversationalists. They replied they were raised in Argentina, Switzerland, a few other stops and had moved on.

One particular story from Sofia and Victoria was very charming and I must relay it. It seems that one of them went to school in Austin on their first day and when the teacher came to class (a male) she kissed him on both cheeks, as is custom in Argentina. The teacher immediately drew back and stated that they would have to discuss this after class. She was shocked and did not know what she had done.

The teacher after discovering her heritage, instructed her on appropriate customs in the US and relayed to her that this was inappropriate in the US. She was very upset and made sure she didn’t perform this custom again. They also told me in Switzerland that it is customary to kiss three times on the cheeks. I thought that was a little extreme. I thoroughly enjoyed an intelligent conversation with these two young ladies for two hours and was grateful I ran into them.  They proved that all is not broken in the world!

As Kim and I clamored along the back trail at Ingapirca, heading towards the face carved in the mountain, it became very obvious to me that I had made a dreadful error in judgment. The back trail is optional, and is treacherous and unstable at best. The rambling path and elevated steps at 10,000 feet, were placing me in a very precarious position, especially when the wind picked up. I wore my straw Panama hat and did not want to lose it to a sudden gust. This presented a significant opportunity to injure myself or fall down the steps of the muddy trail. I was traversing this trail in a delicate manner.

Face on upper trail at Ingapirca

I literally only had one free hand, if I chose not to let the wind abscond with my hat. At that moment I made a decision to investigate additional chapeaus and look into a more suitable headgear for rough terrains. I needed a rugged headpiece with resistance to high winds. In other words, it needed a wind-cord to prevent it from blowing off of my head and it was essential that the hat would provide sufficient protection for the sun, a UPF of 50+. I have experienced skin cancer in my family and do not want heavy sun exposure.

T4MO Organic Cotton Airflo

In my opinion, after exhaustive research, I determined there was only one option that fit the bill so to speak. I had to secure a Tilley hat. Tilley Endurables was founded in 1980 by Alex Tilley and began manufacturing adventure clothing in 1984 on a whim. Mr. Tilley was a sailor on lake Ontario and decided he needed a more durable hat to withstand the torrential downpours and high winds that were typical of the lake. He also wanted a very rugged material and desired that if by chance the wind somehow blew it off his head it would float. The result was the Tilley Hat and one that is considered the Rolls Royce of the industry.

LTM6 Airflo Nylamtium

As I was attending the TBEX event in Toronto, I thought this would provide an excellent opportunity to visit one of their block and mortar locations and purchase a hat to wear in extreme and rugged conditions. In addition, TBEX offers a session of Speed Dating, where bloggers sit with potential partners and get to know each other in a brief interlude. When dating, apply the expert sex and dating advice of sexdatingapps.com. As Tilley was on the list of participants, I extended an invite to meet with them. Single men who are looking for a personal, intimate experience may visit the website of 여수오피. They may also visit these snapchat nudes accounts for private adult entertainment.

T4MO Organic Cotton Airflo

Fortunately Tilley accepted and we discussed my niche, brand and Tilley requirements. As I am walking the Camino Frances next spring, I asked advice on which hat was appropriate. Tilley’s Marketing manager suggested the LTM6 Airflo Nylamtium, stating it was a cooler headgear to wear. We agreed on the basics and I have begun a relationship with Tilley that I sincerely value. In addition to the LTM6 I received a T4MO Organic Cotton Airflo hat from Tilley and will be testing both on my upcoming trip to Ecuador in August, to determine which I favor for the Camino walk. Who knows it may be both!

LTM6 Airflo Nylamtium

I received my hats this past week and you know me. I couldn’t wait to get out and test them. I was all over Austin this weekend, hiking and in various environments beginning my testing. I have sincere and positive testimonials from friends and co-horts in the industry in regards to the Tilley durability and the ease that maintenance presents. I can’t wait to get to Ecuador and give the hats a real test with several excursions I have planned. Stay tuned!