We’ve been in Ecuador for just over a week now, and so far I am totally in love. Not only are the sights we’ve visited beautiful, but the people we have met and the experiences we have had have all been so beautiful. I loved visiting Mindo, where we stayed at a butterfly sanctuary and got to swim in rivers flowing from waterfalls (pictured below). Ecuador has been filled with delicious food, and a lot of it, and great experiences. In Quito, where we first arrived, we stayed in a hotel right in the middle of the historic city center and got to eat breakfast looking out on a beautiful view. We visited many beautiful churches in Quito (pictured below), and also went to the equator! Where of course I got sunburnt.
The next part of our experience began on the short, 35 minute plane ride to Cuenca where we met our host families. We were all greeted with smiles, hugs, and cheek kisses by our families for the next 3 and a half months. My immediate family (the people living in the house) is simply an elderly couple, Rita and Jaime, and they are so cute and hospitable. Rita tells me at least once a day “¡Estás en tu casa!” (“You are in your home!”). Along with the perfect host family I have discovered Cuenca to be such a perfect city. It has the greatest mix between a big city vibe and the friendliness and accessibility of a little city. On top of it being gorgeous.
We also got to visit our school, Amauta, right in the middle of downtown Cuenca. It is walkable distance from my house , about 15 minutes, and along the early morning walk I get to walk along el Río Tomebamba and smell the delicious Panaderías that occupy at least one storefront on every block.
So far Cuenca has been such an amazing experience and I can’t wait to see and experience more here as my time goes on.