Wed 28 March 2012 Having done most of the leisurely sightseeing I intended, including going back to try to Iglesa Santo Domingo (and failing: they seem to be either having services or closed, although I always feel a bit disrespectful taking photos or worry that I'll be censured for doing so), I had time to look around the numerous "boutiques" (tiendas: small shops) in Cuenca. None of your massive malls here, at least not in downtown Cuenca that I could see...

Sat 24 March 2012 - to Mon 26 March 2012 Well, today, was going to be the day that I tried to get to the Bosque Protector Cerro Blanco, a 50 square kilometre dry coastal forest, having wildlife of howler monkeys, anteaters, deer and birds. According to my guidebook, if you want to go without making a reservation, weekends are the best, so I saved this day for my visit and got a taxi to the bus terminal. Oh my God! The bus terminal at Guayaquil is a nightmare...