I have arranged with Orlando, a local independent tour guide, to take eight of us to Giron and Yunguilla for a day trip on Wednesday. Orlando arrives at our condo on time, and I am pleased that he has a separate driver for the van allowing him to concentrate on getting to know us and telling us about our day. We quickly learn that Orlando lived in New York for four years and in Boston for 12 years. His command of English is significantly better than the guide we had on Sunday.
Our first stop is a 45 minute drive where there is a monument commemorating the 1825 Battle of Portente. On a clear day it provides a wide view of the Yunguilla Valley, but unfortunately the fog has rolled in.
From here we head to the base of El Chorro waterfall in Giron. El Chorro is one of the longest waterfalls in Ecuador at 102 meters and is located in a cloud forest. It is slightly drizzling as we start our 20 minute walk to the falls. But that doesn't really matter as the spray from El Chorro gets us wet wherever we are not covered by poncho's or raincoats.
From here we head to the base of El Chorro waterfall in Giron. El Chorro is one of the longest waterfalls in Ecuador at 102 meters and is located in a cloud forest. It is slightly drizzling as we start our 20 minute walk to the falls. But that doesn't really matter as the spray from El Chorro gets us wet wherever we are not covered by poncho's or raincoats.
Following a warm-up drink of canelazo which is warmed water, sugar, cinnamon and sugar-cane liquor, we drive to the town of Giron to visit a small military museum with artifacts from he 1800's. An administrator from the museum describes the guns and tells us the history in Spanish and Orlando translates for us. She shows us on a map how Ecuador has given up land to Peru after some of the wars. On the second level there is a long table and portraits of the men who signed a treaty following the 1829 battle of Tarqui. Soon the administrator runs into another room and reappears with a jacket and hat replicating the uniform of the day. She has Vic put it on. We all smile and take photo's.
The driver points the van for Yunguilla. We notice that the elevation is decreasing and the weather is warmer - perhaps 10 degrees F. Giron is 7,000 feet and there are parts of Yunguilla at 5,000 feet. We stop at a small hotel for lunch on the terrace by the pool.
Following lunch we take a loop that goes through the farm and ranch land in her valley. Some of the houses and horse farms are amazing. When we return to Cuenca Evelyn and Burt host all us us for a pizza party at their condo. Fun!
Following lunch we take a loop that goes through the farm and ranch land in her valley. Some of the houses and horse farms are amazing. When we return to Cuenca Evelyn and Burt host all us us for a pizza party at their condo. Fun!
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