Views from Cuenca I forgot to share

City Tour, Panama Hat Co

This week I went to the banco central museum, took a walking tour of the city and went to the panama hat co

Despite living here for two plus weeks, I don't frequent the historical center often. Thus, I gained a renewed appreciation for Cuenca.
The banco central museum is built on top of the ruins of the second largest Inca city, Tomebamba. I also learned about the different indigenous peoples of Ecuador,( of which there are many). Music was used as a way to communicate to other worlds and the gods of the varying elements ( sun, moon,wind, ect) Not only did they have advanced textiles, musical instruments, trade routes, and irrigation systems- they did it all about more than 500 years before Europe did. Yet, when the Spanish arrived, those indigenous people needed to learn to live in civilized society!!
The colonial influence is everywhere in Cuenca and the people are very catholic. There is a convent 5 mins from my apartment. I could not imagine being cloistered anywhere for my entire life!!
Learned a lot about saints and the like, however, the coolest thing was the trip to the panama hat company. I'd never heard of these hats, but I have heard of Hermes!! They make all the hats for Hermes, fendi and the like in Paris. I got I see how all that hats are made and why pricing is different based on the amount of fibers woven ect. I hammed it up and took some photos with hats and nearly died when I saw a 1000 dollar price tag! A bargain compared to the 3000 it would be at Hermes. One hat can take 6 months to weave!!!
Also I included pics of famous people wearing the panama Cuenca hats, including: Sean connory, princess di, Julia Roberts in pretty women!!
Wish I could have got my gma one she would have loved them

Also love my host fam more and more!! I slept in and moncia made me breakfast in bed!! So cute.

Banos and a much needed weekend away

I'm currently on the bus back from Banos, it about an 7 hr ride, but due to traffic it will be about 9. I've moved mile in the last hour!
However, I had such a good time on my four day weekend!!

Banos is famous for its fun activities, and hot spring baths, active volcanoes Targungura and it's awesome mountains.
I traveled with a cool program leader from my school ( Lisa, 25, speaks French and Spanish, from Syracuse) and her novio Christian ( a guide in cajas national park). I almost missed the bus because I couldn't find a taxi! Dania, a woman who works at the school, saw me, took pity and her husband and three kids made room in their tiny car to take me to the station!! Lifesavers.
The bus ride was uneventful and we got to ambato about 9. Then, sardine packed a local's car who took 5 of us on to banos for 5 bucks a person( deal)!!
I ended up at the wrong hostal at 2 in the morning and called my friend from Guayaquil to see of there were up and could help me out. Calling from the Kitchen of wrong hostal number 1, I see Mentijte ( friend) on the porch, laughing.. Guess I found one right place. I crashed in a tiny twin bed with another girl, Charlotte Id met in Cuenca.
5 hrs later, I woke up to an offer to go canyoning ( repelling down water falls, in a wet suit). Off I went, followed by Chiva ride ( open car that tours to the nearby volcanos and water falls)
Back for a shower then out to party, and the next day... Bungee jumping off a bridge.
Okay, so I got up the platform, then chicken out, but got back up after my friend lived the first time haha ( pics below)
To reward out selves we headed to an awesome spa, and had a beautiful barefoot walk in the spa gardens. ( hour hot rock massage 25 bucks) The pics below are from that walk and life quotes accompanied us on out walk.
The rest of the weekend was spent walking around the town, eating awesome food and shopping.
Perhaps the quirkiest thing that happened this trip was my encounter with Kelsey B. Charlotte and I were getting eggs in the hostel kitchen and I saw two American girls, one looked reeallllyyy familiar. After chatting for a bit, I learne they were students from Quito and Kelsey went to Niwot high school( about 5 mins my house), and now CC and we have mutual friends!!!! Even funnier is that she knows Charlotte's twin who also goes to Colorado College.

As vast as the world is, these crazy coincidences happen a lot.
Met up with Christian and Lisa for a delicious breakfast and the best coffee I have had yet and four days later, I'm Cuenca bound again.
There are about 18 people in the group I'd met in Gayaquil and it's wonderful to have awesome people to meet up with around the country. I hope to visit a few of them back in the states and Canada when I get back!!
On a more somber note the day before we left 26 people died in a bus crash on the same route that we will all take out of Gayaquil. We all changed out plans to make sure to take only day buses and understand that there are always risks associated with traveling and how lucky we are to be safe and living such an adventure, and that there is nothing more you can do but be as safe as possible.

I'm also very excited to have met Lisa because she is awesome and going to Denver in 3 weeks for an international education conference. I'll be able to assist her in seeking out some awesome food and of course great coffee hangouts. ( Kaladi, anyone!?)
My Spanish is coming along and now I get the gist of most traveling and necessary vocabulary which is a blessing. I would recommend for anyone traveling to South America to learn " survival spanish" here it is necessary.
I was getting a bit cloistered in Cuenca and missing a couple convinces of home. However, after this awesome weekend, my travel vigor has been rekindled.
This week I also have decided to Change my flight home to leave from Lima instead of Quito, the change fee
will be more affordable then traveling back to Quito. I'm hoping to also hang with my friend Milena in Tampa for a few days at the end of this journey. Hope it all works out.

Carnival! Banos de Ambato

No pics this time, sorry guys! Today, i went to the market and got the most amazing mangos for 2 dollars. I will take some pics next time I go, because it is very impressive. There are fruits I have never seen before and indigenous to Ecuador. This weekend is also carnival.
Carnival is the celebration of lent and 40 days before Easter and everyone gets a four day weekend. There was a huge parade yesterday, lots of spuma attacks ( a foamy party spray, kind of like silly string, but messier) and music.
I'm leaving today to go banos de ambato." The adventure Capitol of Ecuador" and will hopefully raft, horseback ride and meet up with some friends from Gyaquille. I am traveling 6 hrs on bus with another girl from the school who is going! I am very excited to check out the public transportation! It will be really nice because Lisa and her boyfriend speak fluent Spanish soo a bit easier for me!
Also slowly learning more, I had ambitions of being conversationally fluent at the end of this program. Now I realize I will have a great base and be able to get around, understand the necessities, but will be far from spewing Espanol. This realization is a bit frustrating because I am studying harder than ever and feel constantly stuck. "poco a poco" they say!
Really excited to leave the city and have a break, it is much needed.
Talked to quite a few people this week and made me realize how much I miss everyone!! Hope all is well:)

Also.. I'm beginning to miss several American things:
1. Peanut butter
2. WHOLE Wheat bread
3. Water, that's safe to drink from the tap
4. Yoga and gyms..I constantly feel restless from lack of consistent exercise.
Another thing I'm a wee bit concerned about!! When I go to the biological reserve I'll be very Internet limited. Which means I have to plan everything for the rest of my trip( Galapagos ect) why I have the chance!! Lots of work, but I'm not complaining.
Nos vemos!
Love from Cuenca,
Mackenzie

Feliz un dia de St. Valentino

Busy week!! Trying to finish essays for summer jobs, be social, run errands and do five hours of Espanol a day!! However I had time to get chocolate roses for mi hermanos and came home to a torte concinar by my very own Danelia!! Who needs love when you have these two cuties!!
Also, i have included a brief apartment tour..MTV cribs style, yo. (Just kidding! )