El paramo

?and the view in the light of day. Spectacular!

Stu and I walked around and made an inventory of the camp this morning. All in thatch and adobe, hard packed Earthen floors and rustic. There is a kitchen with water and even a gas stove, a couple cabanas with beds, and a trail to a real bathroom below. Posh, even though there is no electricity. All we need, all to ourselves.
We had to get back to pick up Coral, my co-instructor, and old acquaintance from grad school believe it or not. On the way back Big Blue broke down. One of the connectors to the battery twisted through. Oh man, harbingers of things to come I?m sure. This is only day two. Luckily we were on a hill and were able to push and jump start it again driving all the way back to Cuenca with barely enough gas but unable to stop and turn off since we can?t start again. HA! We went straight to an electrician and eventually got it fixed. Saw Stu?s office, met a new friend, Marcello, a young guy who does web design, copies, etc stuff next door and also has a passion for photography. He loved my photos and the new web site, in fact, take a look. http://www.jesselewisphotography.com/ New friends already, no doubt another good sign.

I picked up Coral in the evening and it was a funny, happy catch up. Throwing the bags down and heading into el centro for dinner. Then Marcelo called and we met for drinks after dinner at his girl friend?s place high up in a gorgeous old colonial hacienda style building in the center of the city. Many drinks of sugar cane liquor and sprite, muddling through too much, too fast Espanol to process, and eventually bidding adieu until soon. Already we have been invited to dinner tomorrow night with yet more friends.

A busy, busy day, so much information and new things to process. I snapped this shot in the morning leaving high camp. El paramo, in all its beauty....