Tina’s First Impressions of Cuenca List

Good Cuenca List:

1.  My host house. I have a cozy little upstairs room that sort of looks like a loft with a window looking out into a garden. Love it.

2. My Spanish teachers. Lucia and Olympia. They really know their grammar. Love them. 

3. Being surrounded by mountains. Did you know that mountains surround Cuenca? Love that.

4. The juices. Passion fruit and blackberry and other fruits whose names I can’t remember…..love good juice drinkin’.

5. The fact that the national currency in Cuenca is the American dollar! Okay, I realize I should have already known this about Cuenca and I’m embarrassed to say that I didn’t know it until the day before I left. So if you decide to travel to Cuenca…..say that it was me who gave you the currency knowledge.

Bad Cuenca List:

1. I almost get run over every single day. The traffic is insane! The cars don’t stop…actually they speed up so you will quickly move out of their way! And honk their horn to let you know they’re comin’. Not a fan.

2.  THE WEATHER THE WEATHER THE WEATHER. It rains EVERY DAY and when it rains…it’s COLD. But…then….for a glorious moment, the sun will peek out and then all of a sudden it’s hot. Of course, it goes away and begins to rain again and the temp drops. It’s June and everyone is in winter clothes. What? Not a fan of winter.

3. The sun goes down at 6. (when there is sun, but basically, its dark at 6)

4. Anyone know what a “Tiburón” is? It means shark in English. And it’s a term here used for….certain types of men. I’ll let you figure out the rest. Hehehe.

5. The altitude. I went running this morning for the first time since I’ve been here, and I was doubled over before I finished a mile. I can’t breathe in this high of a city! Shameful.