Cuenca: Sunday markets in Gualaeco and ChordelegMay 10, 2009
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Gualaeco indoor market - corn and bean vendors
Gualaeco indoor market
Traditional and modern infused as a family eats at the Gualaeco market
| Sundays are market days in the nearby villages and since everything is closed in Cuenca otherwise, we headed out on our own. You can get a 60 cent bus from the Terminal Terrestre that runs every 15 minutes or so and takes an hour through some nice scenery to get there. Once there, we headed to the two main markets- an indoor one where they were mostly selling fruits, veggies and prepared food. They were cooking cuy over ashy coals just outside (that's guinea pig folks) as well as chicken and preparing different stews and local specialties inside. I bought some lychees (YUM and so cheap here) and a coconut juice. Clare and I stepped up to the second floor overlooking the place and did a good deal of people watching. It was interesting to see the diversity and the generation split- most of the older women were wearing traditional Indigenous wear with long black braids and typical hats while they were often seated with their grandchildren wearing "modern" western clothing. We then headed off to the outdoor market where they were selling fresh fruits and vegetables and enjoyed the hot blazing sun in the main plaza looking over the main cathedral. Next we headed back to the bus loop to catch a 15 minute bus to Chordeleg, a nearby village known for its silver and gold jewellery! YAY silver jewellery! The surroundings are stunning and super green and you see nice, medium sized houses. The typical demonstrations of poverty were rather absent in this region and people seemed calm and happy. Once in Gualaceo we did some serious shopping. There was SOOO much jewellery that it was hard to settle on anything- you want everything but can't so you end up buying nothing. I bought some really intricately worked silver hoop earrings, similar to the style of silver they work in Mompos, Colombia and then got a turquoise and silver jewellery set along with a silver ring with a bright blue cat eye stone. We caught the bus back into town, dropped off our purchases and headed down the street to one of the few restaurants open and dined in an elegant courtyard and had a delicious 3 course Italian meal. YUM. Again we took it easy and headed back to the hotel early since we had to be at the bus station by 9 am the next day to go to the Ingapirca ruins. |
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