Cuenca: My Hometown an International Gem (Mateo)

A good friend of mine once asked me to describe the place I love the most. My answer was a little bit like this:

"Warm lights, elegant quiet streets, loving people and an echo of water flowing through the center of the city" 

This description perfectly fits Cuenca, my hometown, the city I love the most. I will say that it is not only my personal opinion. Cuenca was categorized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. How cool is that?!!. This sweet title is due to Cuenca's magnificent monuments, charming churches, mountains, culture, and cuisine.

And I am telling you, Cuenca has some sweet looking churches. My favorite one by far is the "Catedral Nueva", a beautiful sanctuary from the 18th century:

As a kid, my mom used to take me to the city center, crowded with people as always, we enjoyed the sweet delight of a warm Cuenca milk candy, while we watched the imposing cathedral. As a child, I used to think I was looking at the Taj Mahal!!, yes THE Taj Mahal. I am completely sure that if someone takes his chances, and travels over the immensity of the Atlantic ocean, they will feel like that 8-year-old innocent and ignorant child; amazed and happy.

In my opinion, life priorities are the following, being happy, doing what you love, and eating amazing food. I assure you, Cuenca will thick all those boxes, BUT there is one that will be thrown out of the park; Amazing food.

There are all types of astonishing plates: sweet, spicy, salty, delicious, really delicious, you name it!!

Some of the exquisite dishes in Cuenca include "Cuy", grilled pork, and rehydrated corn with egg. My favorite dish however is "Ceviche", mmh mmh mmmh (my mouth is melting just by the thought of it). It is a very common plate in South America, however, no one prepares it quite like the Ecuadorians. It consists of fresh fish of the Ecuadorian coast with an intense flavor of its own juice and lemon. I would very much recommend it.

After you enjoyed all that delicious food, you probably want to get rid of all those newly gain calories. Cajas is a national park full of hiking routes (to burn those calories), mysterious forests, and legendary fauna. At day Cajas will let you astonished with the condor with a 3.5 meter wingspan (the flagship bird of Ecuador) and speechless with the contemplation of the foggy and bewildering Andes Mountain Range.

At night when the sun hides completely and the wilderness prevents any source of light to be seen, the stars can be admired in all their radiance and blaze. Creating one if not the best places to enjoy the night sky.

For the more intellectual travelers (if you are not food or monument kinda guy/girl), culture and history are strongly entangled with the city itself. Museums such as the "Pumapungo" or "Crespo Toral" tell the intriguing story of the native populations, who were in the metropolis before us, how they lived, eat, and protect mother nature (or the Pacha Mama in Quechua).

Of course, not every treasure to be found in this small picturesque city can be described in words, it has so many more hidden treasures, but now it's your job to find them. Travel well, "Compañero"!!!!!

Bibliography Images:

Karl. “Best Things to Do in Cuenca Ecuador.” Happy Gringo Travel, 8 Sept. 2020, www.happygringo.com/blog/what-to-do-cuenca-ecuador/.

Prakash, Sheela. “Make This Easy Shrimp Ceviche When It's Too Hot to Cook.” Kitchn, Apartment Therapy, LLC., 9 Aug. 2020, www.thekitchn.com/ceviche-recipe-22902965.

“Wallpaper Flare.” Silhouette of Mountain, Night, Sky, Mountains HD Wallpaper | Wallpaper Flare, 2020, www.wallpaperflare.com/silhouette-of-mountain-night-sky-mountains-wallpaper-173067.