Well what a busy couple of days again. I am writing this from our hotel/hostel in Guayaquil. We arrived here about 4.30 this afternoon flying from Cuenca where we have been for the last two nights.

So to bring you up to speed, we arrived in Cuenca late on Wednesday afternoon (we travelled straight from the Inca Fortress of Ingapirca). Our hotel, the Santa Lucia was just beautiful. Very old family home renovated (took over 19 years) to a hotel. One of the pic's shows the central plaza where you have a dining area and casual seating. The rooms above surrounding the plaza are guest rooms ours was up and to the left. Lovely rooms but all the noise carried easily so we used our trusty earplugs each night.

On Thursday we did a full day out with a guide for a city tour and great lunch. Cuenca is Ecuador's third largest city but it some how manages to still feel very traditional. Its red tiled roofs, cobblestone streets and flowery plazas make it really special. We personally liked Cuenca more than Quito. Whilst being busy with lots of people and one way traffic it was still easy to get around. We visited many places like the Plaza of San Sebastian which has a colourful artisans market where I bought two jackets in traditonal style for grand total of $40... good value.

We also went to one of the many indoor local markets that sell everything from flowers, fruit, meat, cheese, clothes, and even a section where you tell the lady what your problem may be ie sore throat etc and they make for you from all the plants a mixture to drink we loved this market for all it's sounds and people.

Cuenca has 52 churches.... 1 for every week of the year hey.

We where given a guided tour of the Panama Hat factory where the hats are made by hand and also shaped by machines that were over 100 years old. Panama Hats are not made in Panama, they were taken to Panama by a famous person where they became popular and know as Panama hats. So now you know.

This morning while we still had some free time before having to go to the airport we went out for another walk around the city. I nearly got cleaned up by a mirror on a big bus !!! No I wasn't walking on the road I was on the footpath but the streets are narrow and so are the paths. Close call..... nah not really. Out and about we came across an ancient Inca site. It was discovered in 1972 by a construction company. many relics where found when it was completely uncovered. We had a wander around and amazing to think it was only about 20 minutes from hotel near the river and with houses next door to it. The place was called Todos Santos Mills. Pretty Cool.

After that we headed back to our hotel to do our check out then went out to a local caffe and ordered in spanish our lunch. Clever you think?? Actually was pretty easy saying two hamburgers and two coffees please. lol....

Well that is it for now we are up early yet again, this time up at 5am for a 7.30am flight to Lima tomorro so gotta get some sleep. Next installment from Lima......