It was 47 degrees in Cuenca this morning and it has rained off and on for the past couple of days. We like our hotel very much but heat is not available so we sit inside wrapped in blankets. Raindrops haven’t stopped us from exploring the city – this church with three blue domes is in the center of the Old Town.
We visited the Pumapungo Museum which houses an excellent collection of pre-Colombian artifacts, shrunken heads, and, outdoors, there are open-air Incan ruins. It’s a fantastic museum!
We discovered the charming little Restaurante El Maiz on our walk back from the Museum. The food is traditional Ecuadorian with fine European touches as the chef has studied in Spain and Italy.
The chef was happy to talk to us about the food as our lunch was late and we were the last remaining customers. He made a chimichurri sauce and brought a dish with herbs to show us the ingredients he used. Fresh parsley, oregano, thyme, cilantro and garlic.
The final result was perfect with slices of warm baguette.
Grains are a staple grown in Ecuador and this beautifully presented quinoa salad was a delicious treat.
Larry’s plate with pork, sweet potato, avocado and an eggy-corn dish was great as well.
This is a restaurant that we enjoyed so much that we hope to return.
Our next stop was a dusty, curious antique shop owned by a very elderly lady. To enter we were instructed to ring the bell three times and then wait. She has collected pre-Colombian artifacts -some original (she said) locked inside a glass case and some reproductions on shelves scattered around the room. These are a sampling of the keys she has collected.
So, we were tempted to buy something but knowing nothing about collecting Ecuadorian antiquities we thought it best to leave empty-handed.
We like Cuenca and appreciate the cooler weather but the rain – not so much. Maybe blue skies and sunshine will appear mañana!