2012 Cuenca Perspectives Collage

2012 Cuenca Perspectives Collage
VIVA CUENCA

VIVA CUENCA!

My mission in publishing this blog is first to provide a living history of my settlement and life in Cuenca, and to provide myself and the reader with a journal account delineating my reasons for why I have chosen to settle in Cuenca. Second, the posts are my way of staying in contact with family and friends back in the states, and to provide them with an understanding of a country and culture that most North Americans have little knowledge and awareness. Third, the blog is open to one and all who wish to compare and contrast the experiences of expat bloggers living in Cuenca, so that you can determine whether or not from your perspective Cuenca is an appropriate move for you. Fourth, my blog provides another example of how expats view and interpret life in Cuenca. Ecuadorians and Cuencanos who may read this blog are especially invited to post comments that may enhance all expats understanding and appreciation of Cuneca and its people, or to correct any misinterpretations in my assumptions and perceptions of Cuencano culture. Finally, I hope I can convey the feeling of love and appreciation that grows within me each passing day for this heavenly city nestled in the Andes and its very special people.
Showing posts with label Leo Mola. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Leo Mola. Show all posts

Monday, April 20, 2020

CIRCUITO MAGICO DEL AGUA--LIMA, PERU


When visiting Lima for the first time, I would highly recommend the Water Park. It consists of thirteen fountains, and other entertainment for the kids as well.  The park is large (19 acres), and holds the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest water fountain park in the world.  Therefore, be prepared for some serious walking. or take the train around the park.  Of course, the best time to view the park is in the evening.  Otherwise, one misses the fountains bathed in colored lights, and the hologram program scheduled at various times in the evening which takes place in the largest expanse of water fountains in the park.


 Entrance to the Park














                          







The park was transformed into a water park in 2007 at the price of $13 million U.S. dollars.  Many critics thought the price was outrageous, but it has become Lima's biggest tour attraction.  Lima, because it lacks rain, is also perfect for such a park.  Not a day goes by, that rain prevents the park from being accessible and enjoyed.  There's no raining on our parade.  The park is closed, however, on Mondays.

You can choo-choo around the park. 




Juana Carchi, one of our two Cuecana traveling buddies.



The fountain below was decorated for Valentine's Day.















The Fantasia fountain is the park's premier fountain at a length of 130 yards.  With all of the fountains there are endless changes of colors, and the continuously changing sizes of the sprays. 

I myself,  have never been to Disney World.  However, one reviewer on Trip Advisor commented that after seeing the Disney water presentation, they did not expect much from the Lima water park, but were surprisingly blown away by its size and spectacle.






I had visited the park before in my July 2015 visit to Lima.  My companions and I were tired that evening and almost didn't go.  My friend's husband chose to stay behind at our Airbnb.  My friend and I trekked out to the park, and  were so glad we went.  It rejuvenated us, and we spent a couple of hours walking around, and having time to sit and just enjoy the fountains and the park.  This time in later January, the night was humid; so not quite as relaxing, but still enjoyable.








Children's water park play area.




The fountain below with calibrated sporadic water flows and other surprises was a big favorite of the older kids, teens, and young adults as they maneuvered around the unexpected sprays and drenchings.  Definitely repeated soakings were a promise.  There is also a change area and lockers where people can change into dry clothes after they've had their water fun.  
    







The fountain in the three photos below is a walk-through.









Juana Carchi and her son, Paul Tacuri, our traveling companions in Lima.





Below is the hologram of laser, light, and water presentations from my 2015 visit, because the clarity was far better than my photos of the laser show this year.  Also, the program was different, which may change every year; but I enjoyed the 2015 performance better.  That past performance included classical, pop, and Peruvian folk music.  Besides people, as seen in my photos; it also included nature scenes, flowers, and psychedelic patterns.  I found the 2015 presentation to be more creative and imaginative than this year's program.  




















































One of my favorite spots in the park as seen in the photo above and a number of them below is this pillared walkway which leads to what may be a reception hall.




It is like walking through a colonnade in a Roman palace from antiquity--simply beautiful. 




Paul, Juana, and Leo Mola







Jim, Juana, and Leo













Imagine the immense amounts of water used to facilitate all of these fountains throughout the park simultaneously.  I marvel at the engineering and the computer programming and the power of the pumps for everything required to work without a hitch and be synchronized accordingly.  The people of Lima have much of which to be proud in their urban park, which has a well deserved international reputation.









Monday, April 2, 2012

HOSTERIA DOS CHORRERAS REVISITED

While my brother, Leo and his wife, Carla were visiting in Cuenca, they especially requested to visit the Hosteria Dos Chorreras Restaurant and Inn not far from the entrance to the Cajas National Park.  Their request had been based on an earlier post I had written of this spectacular restaurant of exceptional architectural achievement and landscaping.  If you would like to see the original post and  photos of Dos Chorreras just click on the link below, click on slideshow, and click on the forward arrow, so you can control the speed of viewing each slide:

https://picasaweb.google.com/111741036841400152108/HOSTERIADOSCHORRERAS     


On this trip our friend and driver had one of his friends, Manuel, take us to the restaurant.  On the way, however, Manuel took us on a side trip as we neared the restaurant area to show us the church grounds and church where he, his wife, and two daughters attend Saturday evening mass.  The grounds were attractive, and are known by the name, Capilla y Jardin (Chapel and Garden).  There were various religious icons on display.  Manuel was very proud of his church.  As we walked about the grounds, we viewed some outside wall displays that included plaques and letters of thanks and appreciation to God for those in the parish who had successfully made it to the United States to live and work.  I thought these prayers of appreciation may be unique to this particular church, but I  since have spoken to another friend who was aware of the same custom practiced at another church in Cuenca, so it may be a more common practice than we thought.  You may view the church grounds on the link below, and follow the same modus operendi as in the previous link.


https://plus.google.com/photos/111741036841400152108/albums/5726638190189543297



My purpose for posting again about the beautiful architectural gem, Hosteria Dos Chorrereas was the fact that I thought I had seen all of the rooms in the building from my trip there in November.  However, it didn't take long to discover not only some additional dining rooms, but a bar as well on a lower level.  Last time I also was able to get shots of the interior of some of the cabin rooms, which are housed separately from the main restaurant.  I hoped to show them to my brother and sister-in-law, but the draperies were closed to all of the cabin rooms.  This time, however, I was able to view some of the hotel rooms in the restaurant-inn complex, and those pictures are included.

When Jose Cortez and I visited in November we practically had the entire restaurant to ourselves.  This time, a seminar was being held in one of the upper dining areas, and a bus-load of tourists were on hand as well.  The beautiful gift shop was doing a humming business.  My sister-in-law has some sensational photos of the gift shop.  However, since my brother is as brain-dead as me when it comes to electronics, they haven't figured out how to transfer their photos to me so I can use some of them in these posts.  Nonetheless, there were some photos of the gift shop in the original post above.

What I am especially pleased to report to you is that when Jose and I had dinner in November at Chorrereas, we were not very happy with the meal other than our main entrees.  We shared are disappointment with the manager.  I don't know if other concerns about the meals were expressed as well by other patrons.  I do know that it really felt good to find that management acted on our suggestions.  The manager was sincere when he said they welcomed our comments, and appreciated feedback from their patrons.  He wasn't handing us some public relations b.s. of what he thought we wanted to hear.  The management actually acted on our suggestions!

We had a very good meal.  Not only the entree of trout, which was fine before, but also the sopa de papas was immensely improved.  The broth was now thick and not insipid, and it now included alvocado and a slice of hard boiled egg.  The side dishes were quite good, and the dessert was not only delicious, but came in a larger portion.  The menu is great, because it provides the diner with all the food items in Spanish and their English translation.

So not only do you have a place to visit or spend a night or two of relaxation in natural and architectural splendor, but you also can enjoy a high quality and filling seafood dinner at a reasonable price.  You're welcome to enjoy the additions to the Chorrereas' slide album below, and I consider ourselves extremely fortunate that such a jewel of a place is right in our own backyard of Cuenca.  (Click on the first larger photo and that will allow you to go into slide show mode, and you will find the forward arrow way over to the right:

https://plus.google.com/photos/111741036841400152108/albums/5720318273473267777?authkey=CK67g7Ho-_WiswE