If You Go

Here I share information about the places I've been while living abroad. Enjoy.

Spain:

 Barcelona: The capital of Cataluña, the autonomous region of Spain. Barcelona is a port city, located on the northeast coast of Spain, on the Mediterranean Sea. It has killer seafood, and great food in general…be sure to go out for tapas with friends and order pa amb tomaquet. Even travelers who speak Spanish may be a bit thrown for a loop by the Catalan language that is spoken in Barcelona (and all throughout Cataluña.) It sounds like a mixture of Spanish and French, but not to worry; there is frequently Spanish translations used with Catalan. Barcelona’s biggest tourist attractions revolve around the famed Catalan architect, Antonio Gaudi. A visit to Barcelona wouldn’t be complete without visiting his numerous buildings and constructions scattered throughout the city. Be sure to see the castells (human towers), the many museums and cultural events, Port Vell, La Rambla (which is hectic, but you should at least see it once), and the futbol stadium for FC Barcelona.

 Parc Güell: One of Antonio Gaudí’s famous building projects, the park started as a housing development for Barcelona’s elite, but was converted into a public park. It was built between 1900 and 1914 and includes houses, a museum, gardens, tunnels, outdoor rooms, and a bit of magic. Be sure to take a seat on the serpentine bench made of azulejos (Catalan tile art) and plan for a whole day to truly experience the park. Bring good walking shoes and a picnic lunch, and challenge yourself to climb to the top of the park for a fabulous view of the city. A camera is a must (don’t be shy, everyone’ll be taking photos.) The park has been free ever since it was converted into a public space, but the Catalan government may be charging non-residents an admission fee in the future. To get to the park, take the metro green line to the Lesseps station; you’ll see signs pointing in the direction of the park.

 La Sagrada Familia: Antonio Gaudí’s most famous work graces the skyline of Barcelona in all of its splendor-scaffolding and all. The huge cathedral is said to be completed by 2025, but it’s been under construction since 1906 (during which tourists have paid increasingly high prices to enter.) But it’s worth it. The towers, stained glass windows, high ceilings, organic architectural forms, and intricate detail will stun anyone, religious or not. Feel free to pray or contemplate in front of the altar and for an small (extra) fee, you can go up into the towers. To get there, walk toward the massive cathedral; you can’t really miss it!

Fundacio Joan Miró: Joan Miró was another native of Cataluña, and his museum and sculpture garden is worth a look. His colorful, abstract, and childlike artworks will dazzle art fanatics and average Joes alike. The museum includes work by other artists such as Rene Magritte, Mark Rothko, Peter Greenaway, and others. To get there, you can walk from the MNAC (metro stop Plaza Espanya on the red line) or you can take a cable car up to Montjuїc.

Museu Picasso: Everyone knows of Pablo Picasso, and his museum always attracts throngs of people in Barcelona; expect super-long lines regardless of the time of day. Hint: most museums are free in Barcelona on the first Sunday of the month! This museum boasts one of the most extensive collections of Picasso’s works and is actually a group of 5 different buildings. To get there, you’ll have to navigate the narrow streets of El Barri Gotic (The Gothic Quarter.)

 Figueres: Located in the Catalan province of Girona, Figueres is home to the famous Dali museum, which is a must-see! The museum was designed by the artist himself, so you can bet that it’s pretty trippy. Other highlights include the Sant Ferran Castle and other historical churches. Figueres is about 37 miles from Barcelona, and 25 miles from Girona.

 Besalu: Besalu is another city located in Girona, Cataluña, Spain. It has a strong Middle Ages history, and one must see the 12^th-Century bridge over the Fluvia river. Also of importance is the Jewish village, with the remains of a Jewish bath and synagogue.

 Girona: Located in the northeast of Cataluña, Girona is about 62 miles northeast of Barcelona, Cataluña’s capital city. Girona is a popular daytrip option for many visiting Cataluña, and it houses a lot of history. Main tourist sites include the cathedral that was used as a mosque by the Moors, the tall city walls and towers, ancient fortifications the protected the city from invaders, Independence Square, and the Jewish Quarter.

Ecuador:

 Cuenca: Cuenca is located in the Azuay province of Ecuador as a UNESCO site. It is situated in the highlands of Ecuador at about 8200 feet above sea level. The city is rather small (about half a million people) but has many cathedrals and churches. Be sure to see the Old and New Cathedrals, both located next to Parque Calderon, a popular weekend hangout for young and old, locals and foreigners alike. Monasteries and museums are also popular tourist draws, as well as Turi, a look-out point that provides a great view of the city. Plazas are charming and great places to people watch or eat an ice cream (as many Cuencanos do, rain or shine, hot or cold.) It is a clean city, but the diesel fuel (especially from the buses) leaves ones lungs gasping for breath quite frequently. Many say that Cuenca experiences 4 seasons in one day; it may be overcast in the morning, raining buckets in the early afternoon, and be warm and sunny by 3pm. Dress in layers and ALWAYS carry an umbrella.

 Saraguro: Take about a 3-hour bus ride to Saraguro, and get more exposure to the indigenous culture. Hiking is awesome here, and afterwards, treat yourself to a traditional Ecuadorian meal of cuy, mote, and potatoes. Listen to traditional music played on indigenous windpipes, drums, and guitars. And take home some textiles or jewelry made by hand. Each piece is unique, as there is no pattern for the jewelry, but the women thread the beads by hand. The people of Saraguro are known for their black dress; women wear black skirts and shawls; men wear knee-length black pants and jackets. Both genders wear a single, long braid down their backs. If you’re super-lucky and have decent connections, you can witness a spiritual cleansing performed in Quichua!

 Ingapirca: Located in the province of Cañar, Ingapirca (“Incan Wall”) is an archaeological wonder. Here one can find the largest known Incan ruins in Ecuador. Highlights include the Temple of the Sun, and without a guide, you may not be able to fully appreciate the history of the ruins.

 Museo Pumapungo: Located next to the Banco Central on Calle Larga n Cuenca, Ecuador, Museo Pumapungo houses lots of history, culture, and wildlife. One can take a gander at the llamas, birds, and butterflies outside, and walk around the ruins behind the museum. Within the museum, one can learn about the different indigenous groups throughout Ecuador and the origins of many traditions in the country. The museum also hosts numerous cultural events year-round, from lectures to art exhibitions.

 Amaru: Located in Cuenca, Ecuador, the Amaru Zoo is a hike in itself. Just to get to the entrance to the park, one must climb a steep mountainside hill for about 30 minutes (or just take a vehicle.) The zoo requires a lot of walking, but it is home to many native species. Don’t expect to see zebras and hippos, but you will spot llamas, Andean bears, and pumas. Admission is super-cheap ($4 for adults) and while looking at the animals, you can also marvel at the view of the majestic mountains and city below.

 Las Cajas: Las Cajas National Park is a must-see for nature lovers and hiking enthusiasts. It is advisable to get a guide if you intend to do some real exploring; it’s very easy (and dangerous) to get lost in Las Cajas. The mountains are gorgeous, and you can delve into the paper tree forest and on top of the sometimes snow covered mountaintops. Intense hiking boots/shoes are a must; it can get muddy and wet. Also, warm clothing and layers are highly suggested!

Giron: You can take a bus from Feria Libre in Cuenca to Giron. It takes less than an hour and costs $1.50, and it's a comfortable bus. The bus will drop you off in the center of town, and you'll have to flag down a truck or taxi to get to the entrance of the park in Giron, where you can see the waterfalls. The first waterfall is about a 10-minute walk from the entrance ($2.00 for foreigners by the way) and the second waterfall is an hour hike away. There's a third waterfall even farther away. Bring good shoes.

Gualaceo: You can take a bus from the Terminal Terrestre on Hyuana Capac and get to Gualaceo in 50 minutes for 65 cents. This town is known for their shoes, so expect lots of shoe stores and merchants!

Chordeleg: Just ten minutes past Gualaceo, Chordeleg is all about their silver. Jewelry shops abound, and take notice of the bedazzled streetlights!

Puerto Lopez: If you choose to travel to Puerto Lopez by bus, be prepared for about an 8-hour journey. However, if you stay at the Hosteria Mandala, you won't be disappointed. Perhaps the only decent hostel in Puerto Lopez, the Mandala is owned by a Swiss/Italian couple, and their hostel features beautiful artwork, 5 huge resident dogs, great food, and clean rooms. They also have a Save the Whales Foundation that outreaches to the Puerto Lopez community. While Puerto Lopez is not super-exciting, you can take a 1 1/2 hour boat ride to Isla de la Plata (the Poor Man's Galapagos.) On the island, you can see blue and red-footed boobies, and other animal and plant life. No, it's not as expansive as the actual Galapagos, but it's way cheaper and a fun day trip! You can also snorkel with sea turtles after hiking the island. A 15-minute tuck-tuck (motor taxi) ride away, you will find Los Frailes, a pristine crescent-shaped beach with white sand and clear blue waters.

Peru:

Nuro: Getting from Cuenca to the coast of Peru was fairly easy…we rented a van to pick us up from a friend’s house, and we travelled straight to the coast of Ñuro. The journey lasted about 6 hours, which includes the time we spent at Immigration. The process was simple; fill out a form with your personal information, present your passport, and voila! Entrance into Peru. The same process was repeated to get back into Ecuador. I was not asked for any other documents besides my passport.

The closest city to the Peru/Ecuadorian border was Tumbes, which also has an airport. From there, we drove along the coast and arrived in Ñuro a few hours later. The landscape progressed from lush and tropical to an almost moonscape (very rocky and dry.) Ñuro is located about a half hour from Mancora. We went through Mancora, then Organos, and finally arrived in Ñuro.

It cost $65 round-trip for private van service, door-to-door. There are also a wide array of “bed buses” available.