Wednesday 24.9.14 – Coca – Cuenca

4am the music started, I was sure it was in my dream. Started to get ready only to realise I had packed ALL my shoes in the case, now downstairs in the canoe – bugger, bugger, bugger. Ran downstairs, bag wasn’t totally at the back, after struggling to read the combination lock in the dark, I managed to get my shoes, felt like a bloody dill though. The crew are really pushed today to get us all packed, fed, off the ship and into Coca in time for the early plane to Quito and Cuenca.

Forgot to mention also at dinner last night, our plans for today TOTALLY changed. The airline TAME have cancelled our flight between Quito and Cuenca, so now we fly from Quito to Guayaquill for a 2.5 hour bus trip to Cuenca. Ah, South America – gotta love it (so far no-one I have spoken too got to Quito on time as scheduled, many lost bags for a few days)

SO in summary:
Up at 4am, breaky at 4.30, depart 5.00, Coca – 7.15, Coca airport -7.45, due to depart at 8.30, left at 9.10 on board an A320, arrived Quito – 10.40, depart Quito for Guayaquill 11.25 on A319, arrive Guayaquill – 12.15, onto bus at 1.00, entered El Cahas National Park – 2.30, arrived Cuenca at 5.30ish and finally to hotel about 7.30…stuffed!

The bus trip was through mountains and we drove through the cloud forest up to 4165m, where we looked down onto the clouds.

Some fantastic views but nigh on impossible to get through the bus window. We stopped for a view at 3 cruce’s (3 crosses) at 4100m, was feeling pretty #$%@ on the bus, much better out in the fresh, cool and invigorating air. Many were snoozing on the bus, but I must say the bus trip today was through some really interesting countryside.

The crew on Anakonda have done an unbelievable job to get us and our luggage to Coca in time – we travelled at least 30-44 minutes of the two hour trip in the dark.

There was some lovely light as the sun rose, but only had the little camera. As it turns out my old Canon powershot would have been handy with its digital zoom.

Finally the sun rose and threw some light on the
situation.

Avel, snuggled up under a poncho and slept a fair bit
of the way to Coca.

Oil company burning off the
natural gas byproduct.

Suzie having a bit of a nap on the trip, think Carla
might be napping in the background too.

Beautiful golden light as the sun rose.

Arrived in Coca, not sure what the story of the old
plane was.

The flight from Coca to Quito was great with a window seat and able to see Cotapaxi and I think Cayambe volcanoes, plus the jungle and rivers, Andes mountains and into Quito city. Hoping to the see the new road from the air but no luck flying in.

Second flight Quito to Guayaquill had a window seat again, with Setsuyae and Veronica this time. In our airport time we managed a coffee and to buy some sangas for lunch and chatted some of the group.

Forgot to blog! Roberto met us at the airport and tells us the busride to Cuenca is 4 hours at least, but through some of the best countryside and landscapes in Ecuador!!!! (we are pretty sure he is telling us what he thinks we want to hear)

Talking to a young girl at the lounge in Quito, she told us Guayaquil is hot and Cuenca is colder than Quito, trying to dress for the weather is doing Suzie’s head in, I don’t feel the cold to the same extent. So today we have been hot in the Amazon and Coca, cool in Quito, hot in Guayaquil and then cool in Cuenca, along with being at sea level and climbing up to Quito, back to sea level in Guayaquil and up again to Cuenca, it’s doing my ears in.

Flying out of Coca, with the Napo River winding
through.

River and jungle.

Volcano - maybe the top of Cotapaxi.

Another Volcano.

Arrival into Guayaquil airport. 

A lovely vertical green wall and orchids at luggage
carousel area at Guayaquil Airport.

Orchids.

Drove 4 hours with lots of good scenery, saw locals selling live guinea pigs from the back of a ute, visited the Panama hat factory in Cuenca (LOTS of hats purchased) It was late and dark almost by this time, we did a quick visit to the main square in the Old town of Cuenca, there was some sort of parade/celebration going on, so we had a look and at the main Church and Supreme Court.

The hotel was lovely, dinner etc, everyone totally stuffed and needing to get to bed.

The Three Cruces (Crosses) mark
the spot where three adventurers died,
at least I think that was the
story. Either died of cold or asthma.

View of mountainous Andes from the bus...those
#@#$% power lines were everywhere.

Some alpine flowers at Tres Cruces.

A lake view in the mountains of El Cajas NP.

We were above the clouds for a lot of the trip.

A church in one of the towns.

Visiting the Panama Hat Factory.

We were given a complimentary
Canelaso drink at the Hat factory.

More scenery.

Here we are at the Tres Cruces.

Cuenca square and church.©Suzie Sloan.

Some of the participants in some sort of parade
through Cuenca.

Church door.

Our hotel - can't recall the name. Might remember
to look it up.