Dolor

Tenemos mucho dolor in nuestros cuerpos. Much pain everywhere. The horse ride is making itself known. My pobre pequeno  caballo is getting his revenge. Becky esta mismo (same). Trip back went much better despite having to make connections. Only bad thing was the van was full. Becky got stuck in the jump seat for four hours. I had planned to trade with her at the half way mark.  However, the driver didn't stop. She sucked it up for the team, though.

On the way to and from Vilcabamba, you pass through a village that is home to an indigenous group of people. You see them everywhere.  In this pueblito,  they seem to dominate.  The woman wear one long braid of hair (as opposed to two)  They dress in black. Their skirts are not the hoop type skirts others wear. They are long straight skirts.  They often wear panchos or shawls of deep purple or maroon.  They are quite elegant looking.  The men wear black, as well.  They have a distinctive bowler type sombrero. It would be very interesting to learn about life in that village.

We are in our last two weeks of Spanish. We have learned a lot.  We have also learned we have much to learn. Guitar lessons are going well.  Mis dedos son mejor (fingers are better). We are going to see mi maestro on Friday.  He has a group.  They play salsa, cumbaya, etc. He has an incredible voice and plays excellent keyboard. His set starts at 11:00 pm (once de la noche). This may be harder on us than the horse ride. We haven't been up that late for longer than we care to admit.

Found a place very close to our apartment that makes chicken. You can see the chicken roasting on spits through the window to the place. We have used it twice when we have arrived home late. We had it tonight. A half chicken (larger than the whole chicken at Publix), papas fritas, arroz, maize blanco y salsas is eight dollars. It is roasted perfectly.  The skin is totally brown and crisp and the meat very moist. There is a KFC in Cuenca. We don't know who would go there with this place around.

Fotos: Entrada de la piscina de la hosteleria, la piscina, una orquidea, Vilcabamba, la gringa, la habitacion (3), la calle a Vilcabamba, los guias a Vilcabamba, Parque de Vilcabamba (2), la iglesia Vilcabamba, la iglesia de la fiestas ) la entrada de la hosteleria, los flores 4).