Ecuador: Cuenca & Cajas National Park (Day 256-258)

'Panama or Montecristi' hat? This ones is 'Sigsig'...

A Panama hat is a traditional brimmed hat of Ecuadorian origin that is made from the plaited leaves of the toquilla straw plant. Straw hats woven in Ecuador, like many other 19th and early 20th century South American goods, were shipped first to the Isthmus of Panama before sailing for their destinations in Asia, the rest of the Americas and Europe. For some products, the name of their point of international sale rather than their place of domestic origin stuck, hence Panama hats. Panama-hat quality is a heavily disputed subject. There are two main processes in the hat's creation: weaving and blocking. The best way to gauge the quality of the weave is to count the number of weaves per square inch. Fewer than 100 would be considered low quality. There are many degrees of increasing quality, up to the rarest and most expensive hats, which can have as many as 1600–2500 weaves per square inch; it is not unheard of for these hats to sell for thousands of dollars apiece. Such a hat is known as the Montecristi, named after the Ecuadorian city that produces the best Panamas. The second best type is the Cuenca, again, named for an Ecuadorian city.

Cathedral of Cuenca (biggest in Ecuador)

Another view of the cathedral from the plaza

Cuenca is a beautiful city...

A 'mamita' amongst many others...

Moody in Ecuador? Women know what they want...

Fruits' paradise... We tasted a new fruit 'Naranjilla' - delicious!

One day at the market... So cute...

Panaderias are everywhere... that´s a basic one

Cajas National Park

Hotel majestic - The 'Deluxe' part

Hotel Majestic - Our room at the back... a bit less deluxe! but cheaper and we could enjoy being in a luxurious hotel (kind of)... It is not always so messy... only when matresses are very very soft!!!

A giant pizza with Jeje and Catherine... Hmm... Fed up of rice and papas...! Without forgetting the Pilsener for Thierry!