The famous Cuenca hatter We have decided that today is going to be devoted to wandering around the colonial streets of Cuenca. Our goal is to get lost ... and to see a majority of the hundred or so churches in town. We dine on fresh fruit and pancakes at Hotel Crespo before venturing out. Cuenca is mostly deserted at this early hour. Even though we are in the heart of tourist district, I don't feel as if Cuenca would even be on the same scale as other "touristy" destinations. At around 9 AM, the streets fill with kids walking to school and adults walking to work. There is a distinctly business feel to the air. People seem to have a purpose to their day. We don't see much in the way for other travelers. I love it! The colonial architecture makes this the most beautiful city in Ecuador, in my mind. It reminds me of a larger, less-gringo version of Antigua, Guatemala. Cuenca is known to be the center of art in Ecuador. We visit several excellent galleries and I'm tempted to buy an especially impressive oil painting. Cuenca is also famous for its Panama hats. Strangely enough, Panama hats aren't from Panama; they're from Ecuador. The indigenous people outside of Cuenca make the hats from a local plant. They are finished in Cuenca and sold all over the world. They received the name "Panama hat" because they were initially exported through Panama and to the rest of the world. Great story, but one that must make people from Cuenca a little annoyed! I buy a few hats for myself and one for my dad. Between the shopping and the church-seeing, it has been a productive day and we return to Hotel Crespo for the night. The hotel is one of the oldest in Cuenca and still has its original architecture and old-world charm. The location downtown isn't too bad either ....
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
2 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.
