The La Joya Thai Restaurant Really Does Exist!!!

In March when Kim and I were in Cuenca last, we attempted several times to eat at this restaurant. The first time we couldn’t locate it, as the address was only represented by the cross streets. This is common in Cuenca. This can be very confusing at times, as the actual location can be over a half block away and you […]

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Photo of the Day #15

    I read earlier in the day yesterday that I could go around the corner and see a few examples of Artisan work, at the Mayors Gallery on the corner of Presidente Borrero and Simon Bolivar here in Cuenca. I am always enthusiastic about seeing local artists at work, where ever in the world […]

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Humitas, Quimbolitos y Tamales

After a day of walking around Cuenca and photographing the amazing architecture, one builds an appetite. My friends at Mio Tours introduced me to this rather small eating establishment in Cuenca. It is locate off Gran Columbia on calle Presidente Borrero before you get to calle Simon Bolivar. You really have to look for it as […]

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Photo of The Day #14

    This is the lady that I have bought all my fruits and veggies from. The bananas I bought 5 days ago are still good. She has the biggest avocados in the Mercado and looks for a green one and a ripe one for me each time I go. Her tomatoes are so tasty […]

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To “Cuy” or Not to “Cuy”

I have traveled to Ecuador several times before and have always decided not to try the food that is indigenous to the area and a staple item on the Inca’s diet. The last time Kim was with me and out of respect for her feelings I didn’t partake. This trip I couldn’t wait to dive […]

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Photo of the Day #13

    The first time I saw this I was petrified it was filled with illegal substances and would not set well with my mature body. I rarely drink soft drinks at home, but have to indulge when I see a bottle of this South American drink. Funny its produced and distributed by Coca-Cola, who […]

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The Magic is Getting Better at the Oro Verde

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 […]

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Photo of The Day #12

    I am not totally sure why I am so drawn to old doors, but I may be obsessed  when it comes to capturing the multitude of door images that abound in the world. Primarily my “Collection” is from Cuenca Ecuador and the El Centro or Old Town part of the city.   There […]

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The Road Most Traveled

  Every time I visit Ecuador I fly into Guayaquil and stay over night. There are no “direct” flights to Cuenca from current airline operations. I can either fly back to Quito spend the night and then fly into Cuenca or I can stay overnight and take a shuttle to Cuenca the next day. At my age the Quito route is about 25 […]

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Photo of The Day #11

  I love the old part of Cuenca. It has been around for hundreds of years and the Parque Calderon pictured above is at the center of this section of town. It is bordered on one side by the New Cathedral and on the other by the Old Cathedral built in 1557.   Both are […]

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Photo of The Day #10

  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 […]

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Photo of The Day #9

    I absolutely love street art and actively search it out, no matter where I go in the world. Cuenca has some of the most appealing street art I have encountered. This photo was taken on a stairway from the Rio Tomebamba up to Calle Larga. The steps have wonderful art on both sides […]

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Photo of The Day #8

  I will never be able to get over the quantity and array of fresh fruits and vegetables available, in the Mercados in Cuenca. The assortments are mind boggling and I would say that I have never seen about 40% of the offerings.   As I will be there for an entire month plus a […]

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Photo of The Day #7

  On my first trip to Ecuador in October of 2011, I learned that they have a plethora of crabs available and the crabs are packed up in large bundles for sale at road side stands. It is an amazing site. I am positive I will see many again when I return to Cuenca in […]

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Is It Possible to Eat Ice Cream and Lose Weight

One of my passions in life is very unhealthy, completely degenerate in nature, filled to the brim with sugar, butter fat and other high caloric ingredients, but I can’t help myself. I am addicted to it. I love sampling the many flavors and I love the various methods of serving it. At home in the […]

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Photo of The Day #6

    I was fortunate enough to help Homes of Hope over Memorial Day weekend in Tijuana, building a home for a deserving family. We stayed at the Rosarito Beach Hotel and I finally got a chance to explore the beach, the last night we were there for about 30 minutes. This photo spoke volumes […]

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Photo of the Day #5

  The Mass Transit system in Toronto was fantastic and ran virtually everywhere one needed. Most of the sports stadiums, conference centers, restaurants and the “Entertainment Area” are downtown and close to lake Ontario. There was always a Monorail available from most venues. On Spadina street they came every five or ten seconds and stopped […]

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Photo of the Day #4

I captured this photo, on Kim and my second day in Cuenca. We were walking back from exploring El Centro, the old town section of Cuenca and saw this door on one of the plethora of cathedrals in the city. I am fascinated by doors and am obsessed with taking pictures of doors that appeal […]

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Photo of The Day #3

  As our son and I walked through a mall in Japan, we came across this beer display during the beginning of Cherry Blossom season. I was floored by the pink color. In the US, all beer displays are masculine oriented and one would never see such a base wrap or theme, associated with a […]

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Photo of the Day #2

The first time I visited Cuenca, I wondered off from the Casa Ordonez  boutique hotel I was staying at, to the center of old town called Parque Calderon. I noticed on one side of the park there was an elaborate cathedral and had to investigate it. This is the photo of the altar from the […]

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Amateur Traveler Episode 471 - Travel to Austin, Texas