All Over the World

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Cuenca's Beautiful Vistas

View from our apartment balcony

From the Dos Chorreras Lodge entering Cuenca

Shelly and the swans

We are spending the Memorial Day weekend in Cuenca with great friends from Albuquerque: Pat, Debbie, Cindy, and Bill. Cuenca is a beautiful town sitting at 8500 feet elevation in the Andes. It has great architecture, climate, cuisine, and culture. Approaching from sea-level Guayaquil, it is a steep climb, and we each had a bit of dizziness on arriving. A cup of mate de coca (tea made of coca leaves) helped ease the adjustment. Coming up the hill are the stunning settings of Cajas National Park and the rustic Dos Chorreras lodge. A lunch of grilled trout and locro de papa (potato soup) was just right. We are staying in an apartment in the historic center we found on airbnb. A wonderful, relaxing time.

Great food and a quiet venue

Waterfall Freefall

Llama Mamas and Papas

Well preserved steeples

Friends from home at Cajas National Park outside town

Happy travelers

Courthouse atrium on the town square

Cajas National Park

Saturday, May 16, 2015

Pablo Neruda, Chilean Poet

Shelly at Pablo's house

The view from Pablo's garden

We've been spending more time appreciating the arts and artists of South America. While in Valparaiso, Chile, we visited the hillside home and workspace of the Nobel Prize-winning poet and political activist Pablo Neruda. Neruda (1904-1973) was well known for his love poems, and he was also a communist and socialist politician and diplomat. He supported the election of the socialist government of Salvador Allende, and was appointed to diplomatic posts in Argentina and Europe. He spent time in exile from Chile, and died shortly after General Pinochet's coup in 1973. A very interesting life, read about it here. His Valparaiso home is now a museum and sits on a lovely promontory overlooking the city and harbor. Indoor photos were not allowed, so we had to be satisfied with these outdoor shots.

Next to the home is an auditorium for poetry readings
and public events

Neruda's larger than life statue in a local park

Home is three stories high,
with great views
from the top floor bedroom and studio

Two old men hanging out in the park

Saturday, May 9, 2015

Oswaldo Guayasamin, Quito Artist

We went to visit the museum and home of Ecuadorian artist Oswaldo Guayasamin in Quito. Guayasamin (1919-1999) was one of Ecuador's most famous and celebrated artists and sculptors. His unique style is unmistakable, and he was prolific. His home overlooks the city, and has a wonderful collection of other people's works of art. The museum is full of large Guayasamin pieces from all the decades of his long career. Oswaldo Guayasamin was born in Quito in 1919 of a dad who was an indigenous Quetchua taxi driver and mestizo mother. He began creating works of art at the age of seven. He soon became a well-known artist creating a Pan-American art of human and social inequality which achieved international recognition. While Guayasamin was still a student, his best friend was killed during a demonstration. The event would later inspire one of his famous paintings, "Los Ninos Muertos". He was greatly influenced by some historical world events such as the Mexican revolution, the Great Depression, and the Spanish Civil War. If you are ever in Quito, this place is a must see!

This image of mother and child
is used by UNICEF

Guayasamin self portraits

Guayasamin's bust

The house has a great view of the city

Beautiful profiles

Friday, May 8, 2015

Quito by Day and Night

Sun down, Quito lights up

We love visiting Ecuador's capital, Quito, every chance we get It's a beautiful colonial city high in the Andes mountains with an amazing array of cultural attributes, interesting museums, and wonderful friendly people. We spent a long weekend there recently, and we can't wait to return!