Tag Archives: vacation

August 30, 2017 · 5:35 am

Ecuador — Hostería la Andaluz; Staying in a Hacienda


Hostería la Andaluza

This magnificent hotel just north of Riobamba, Ecuador, began life as Hacienda Chuquipoguio in 1555, and had been the home of some very rich and powerful families for a couple of hundred years. Today, it is a premier hotel with a lot going for it, not least of which is the exquisite restaurant El Establ0, about which you’ll read on this week’s Fun Food Friday.

Hostería la Andaluza

The entryway is incredible:

Entryway to Hostería la Andaluza

The grounds are incredible.

Hostería la Andaluza

The views are incredible.

View from the “backyard”

The interiors are incredible.

Hostería la AndaluzaTh

The courtyard enclosed by the main hotel building is incredible:

Courtyard at Hostería la Andaluza

The courtyard bunnies are incredible:

Rabbits in the courtyard

That’s just a taste. On Fun Food Friday we’ll explore the restaurant, next week we’ll take a look at more of the old hacienda/hotel, and Friday next week we’ll watch hotel musicians perform native Ecuadorian music to the delight of restaurant patrons.

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August 28, 2017 · 5:35 am

Ecuador — Iglesia de Balbanera; Oldest Mission in Ecuador


Iglesia de Balbanera — Oldest mission in Ecuador

The Catholic Church of Balbanera is some 46 miles/76 kilometers from Alausí and 21 miles/34 kilometers from our next destination just north of Riobamba, Ecuador. The Spanish name for this mission is Iglesia de Balbanera.  This church was built in the year 1534, only 42 years after Christopher Columbus discovered the capital city of Ohio and founded other communities in Georgia, Missouri, and Mississippi (yes, that’s a joke). It was later rebuilt after the devastating Riobamba earthquake of 1797.

Iglesia de Balbanera founded August 15, 1534

In the parking lot adjacent to the mission were many vendors of clothing, scarves, blankets, and other fabrics made of alpaca. The prices were definitely among the best we’d seen for alpaca so far on the trip, and many on the tour loaded up with some real bargains. But the focus today is on this very old structure. Here are some examples of the intricate stonework that embellishes the façade:

Iglesia de Balbanera

Iglesia de Balbanera

The walls are incredibly thick, as you can see in this photograph of a window:

Thick walls of Iglesia de Balbanera

The relatively narrow entry side of the church is deceptive. Stepping inside you can see that this church is quite long:

Iglesia de Balbanera

Two final views of the interior of this historic structure:

Iglesia de Balbanera

Iglesia de Balbanera

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August 25, 2017 · 5:35 am

Fun Photo Friday — Devil’s Nose 2; Ecuador Favorites


Devil’s Nose train prepares for the return

Next week we head to the oldest mission in Ecuador, then go to a hotel that began as a hacienda back in 1555. Until then, here are some final favorites from the Devil’s Nose train route:

Sibambe Station

Doorway

Abandoned Stick Structure

Tracks and Trains

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