WHERE WE LIVED IN CUENCA, ECUADOR |
Our first apartment in Cuenca's Historic District was on the third floor of a walk-up. the first time we climbed the stairs, we thought we were about to die.
It was like trying to breathe through jello. My chest hurt and it took ten minutes to finally catch my breath. |
We got used to the thin air and climbed the stairs several times a day without breaking a sweat. But, that took another week or so.
Plan and take your time. It may take longer than you think to acclimatized for life in the Andes. |
Our apartment was on Gaspar Sangurima near Estevez de Toral, eight blocks (7 minute walk) to Parque Calderon.
Rent for our modern three bedroom - two bath, fully furnished apartment (including washer and dryer) was $589.00 per month. Wi-fi internet access was included. One problem, there wasn't any wifi when we arrived. If you spend much time in Ecuador you will hear the phrase - manana doesn't necessarily mean tomorrow, it just doesn't mean today. The owner of the apartment tried very hard for a month to get the service that had been promised to us. But we made it clear that if she couldn't provide the service within a month we would have to move |
Buildings were cheek to jowl in this area of Cuenca and the apartment compound was behind a gated and locked wall. We were across the street from the monastery Hemanitas de los Ancianos Desamparados Hagar Cristo Rey. Directly across from our apartment was a two-story statue of Christ, mounted on the monastery wall, blessing passers-by. The monastery was huge, taking up an entire city block.
Each morning we were awakened at 8 o'clock by bells, calling the faithful to early morning service. One morning the priest responsible for ringing the bells for the early morning service, must have overslept. Rather than the dignified melodic call to worship we become accustomed to, we were awakened by hurried, chaotic bell banging at 8:!5. That only happened once in the month we were in the apartment. |
The view from our apartment overlooking the old city.
Seventy five percent of Cuenca's population live outside the historic centre. The newer districts feature a mixture of the city's first suburbs plus many modern mid-rise condominiums.
Our second apartment was just outside ofthe Old city, in a six-year-old condominium on Avenida Ordonez Lasso, in an area nick-named "Gringo Gulch" because of the large ex -pat community. |